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EHS Inspections: Gain Insight While Boosting Engagement

Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) leaders know that great safety and compliance performance is rooted in vigilance—not just from EHS staff, but from all employees. Maintaining this vigilance isn’t always easy amid the day-to-day pressures of operations. But with regularly scheduled and properly managed EHS inspections, EHS managers can mitigate hazards and capture important data, […]

EPA Approves South Coast CA Warehouse Rule

In a final rule published October 11, 2024, in the Federal Register, the EPA took final action on a revision to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California state implementation plan (SIP). This revision concerns the regulation of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and particulate matter (PM) associated with warehouses as […]

EPA Proposes Adding PFAS to TRI and Extends TSCA Reporting Deadline

The EPA recently published a proposed rule to add 16 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 PFAS categories to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), which is a list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) to comply with the National […]

NIOSH Unveils Winners of Respirator Fit Challenge

On October 23, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced the winners of the third and final phase of its Respirator Fit Evaluation Challenge. NIOSH issued the challenge, seeking practical solutions that provide real-time results on filtering facepiece respirator fit. In Phase 1 of the challenge, entrants submitted concept papers outlining their […]

The Hidden Cost of Secondary Trauma in the Workplace

Workplaces, regardless of the industry, can be demanding and expose us to difficult situations. Whether it’s working in a high-hazard industry, witnessing a traumatic incident, experiencing emotionally challenging day-to-day events or seeing a colleague struggling with a toxic work environment, there are many instances where people may be exposed to secondary trauma, also known as […]

Texas Furniture Maker Faces $257K OSHA Fine

Artco-Bell Corp., a Temple, Texas, school furnishings manufacturer, faces a $257,183 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine after a worker sustained serious, permanent hand and arm injuries, the agency announced October 21. According to OSHA, the worker’s injuries could have been prevented had the employer installed required machine guards. Agency investigators learned that in […]

EHSDA Song of the Week: Sick of Myself

Amazingly enough, October is winding down and we’re heading into the colder months, which means most areas will be inundated with respiratory diseases like influenza, RSV, and COVID. This week, EHS Daily Advisor wrote about indoor air quality and preparing for respiratory disease season, so the Song of the Week is Matthew Sweet’s power pop […]

EPA Orders Vermont to Improve NPDES Permitting Oversight

The EPA has put the state of Vermont on notice that it must make corrections to its administration of the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program or lose the authority altogether. In a letter dated September 6, 2024, the EPA Region 1 administrator informed Vermont authorities it had received a joint petition from […]

EPA Proposes Updated Recommendations for Sustainable Products Purchasing

The EPA recently announced a proposed update to its Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing, which help federal government purchasers and other buyers use private sector standards and ecolabels to buy products that are more sustainable and climate-friendly and contain safer chemical ingredients. This update marks the first time in nearly 10 […]

Avoid Fines for CAA Chemical Accident Prevention Violations

The EPA announced food producer Hiland Dairy Foods Company LLC of Norfolk, Nebraska, has agreed to pay a $93,107 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act’s (CAA) chemical accident prevention provisions. According to the EPA, the company stores more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, a regulated toxic substance, and […]