Archives

Air emissions, pollution

State AGs Join EtO NESHAP Conversation

In a comment letter, Illinois Attorney General (AG) Kwame Raoul and 10 other state AGs have urged the U.S. EPA to propose regulatory revisions that will adequately protect the public and the environment from the risks posed by emissions of ethylene oxide (EtO) from commercial sterilization and fumigation operations. High on the list of requested […]

Title V Permitting Petitions Get a New Look

Noting that the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) petition process for Title V permits will benefit from additional clarity and transparency, the EPA has issued a final rule that establishes three new provisions for petitions.

Safety supervisor, leader

Early Intervention Key to Better Worker Safety

I don’t have to tell you that worker safety is a big deal—like a $161.5 billion big deal (the total cost of worker injuries, according to recent available data). Or, another way to look at it is $1,100 per worker or $39,000 per medically consulted injury. As I said, I don’t have to tell you […]

Healthy, happy worker

NIOSH Develops Research Agenda for Healthy Work Design

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a research agenda into healthy work design and worker well-being. The institute recently released a final version of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) for Healthy Work Design and Well-Being. A draft version was released March 2019.

Chemical manufacturing

TSCA Fees: EPA Issues Preliminary List of Affected Manufacturers

The EPA has published preliminary lists of manufacturers (including importers) that will need to pay fees to defray the costs of risk evaluations the Agency must perform on 20 substances that have been designated high priorities under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Each of the 20 high-priority substances has been matched […]

Energy infrastructure

EIA Forecasts U.S. and Global Energy Cases, CO2 Emissions

According to projections by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the United States from burning fossil fuels to generate energy will decrease during the early to mid-2020s but will then begin to increase all the way to 2050. The reason, says the EIA, is that “economic growth and increasing […]

Silica dust at construction site

Crystalline Silica: OSHA Revises Its National Emphasis Program

On February 4, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for enforcement of the construction, general, and maritime industry standards for respirable crystalline silica exposure. OSHA canceled the 2008 Crystalline Silica NEP in October 2017. The replacement NEP addresses enforcement of OSHA’s amended standards for respirable crystalline silica—promulgated March […]

Respirator Fit Test

The Respiratory Protection Standard: From Dust to Smoke to Coronavirus

Nationwide, approximately 1.4 million workplaces provide at least some of their employees with respiratory protection. Studies indicate that at these workplaces, gaps exist in their written respiratory protection program, their understanding of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, or the administration of the program. These gaps lead to issues in mandatory compliance or recommended […]