Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision in County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, the EPA issued draft guidance dated December 4, 2020, to clarify how the Agency intends to apply the decision on a case-by-case basis.
Two big news stories that you have no doubt been following lately are the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and the presidential transition. However, what is a little less widely known is that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the so-called “forever chemicals” that have become a concern for environmental regulators as well as environment, health, […]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated its guidance on how employers can navigate federal antidiscrimination laws while requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The EPA’s Air Enforcement Division (AED) released a study revealing that as many as 500,000 diesel pickup trucks have had emissions controls removed within the last decade. Tampering with these emissions control devices is estimated to produce “more than 570,000 tons of excess oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 5,000 tons of particulate matter (PM)” in […]
As the United States prepares for President-Elect Joe Biden to take office on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021, the Trump administration continues to take numerous administrative actions on climate, energy, and environmental issues. The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at the New York University School of Law created a “Midnight Watch” website to track […]
Employers have reported a lower recordable injury rate and a decreased number of near-miss incidents due to an increased focus on health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released by the National Safety Council (NSC). However, some organizations also reported that the focus on pandemic-related risks sometimes took attention away from […]
Filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with exhalation valves, as well as a surgical mask or an unregulated face covering, can reduce a wearer’s aerosol emissions, according to a report released on December 9 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). With modifications, the respirators can offer the same level of source control as […]
The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines are apparently close to mass distribution across the country. It’s a welcome development but also one that may put employers in a quandary: Should they require employees to be vaccinated, and, if not, what should they do to keep workers safe?
On December 14, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed rescinding the requirement that commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers annually prepare and submit a list of their convictions for traffic violations to their employers. The requirement duplicates a separate requirement that motor carriers obtain the motor vehicle record (MVR) for each driver they employ […]
Data captured by Reuters conclude that U.S. air monitors routinely miss “major toxic releases and day-to-day pollution dangers….”