Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The air pollution in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska (Fairbanks), is among the worst in the nation, and the EPA is doing nothing about it. That’s the view of several citizen groups that with the assistance of major U.S. environmental organizations are now suing the Agency for inaction for the third time in 2 years. […]
A U.S. district court judge in West Virginia has ordered the EPA to meet the requirement in Section 321(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), which states that the Agency “shall conduct continuing evaluations of potential shifts in employment” and “threatened plant closures and reductions in employment” resulting from “administration or enforcement” of the Act. […]
Q. We recently purchased an existing building, but renovations need to be completed prior to moving into the building. What types of indoor/outdoor activities would trigger the need for a permit?
If you employ workers with intellectual or developmental disabilities, you’re dealing with a population that needs some targeted attention in order to prevent injuries. These workers are often found in light manufacturing, recycling, assembly, janitorial tasks, industrial laundries, landscaping services, and warehouse work—jobs that don’t require high-level skills but that pose a higher-than-average injury risk. […]
Whole Foods Market recently found itself on the business end of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous waste enforcement action that will cost the company over $4 million in penalties and projects. Where did this retail food giant go wrong, and how can you learn from its mistakes? Today we will review the issues […]
Babies born in the year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last set a human health assessment for ammonia are adults now, and it looks like it’s not as risky now than it was back then. What does EPA’s new assessment portend for facilities that use ammonia and the standard set by the Occupational Safety […]
One of the most misunderstood portions of the OSHA confined space standard for general industry is the rescue requirement. Many employers don’t manage their confined space entry risks because they fail to adequately assess the hazards and recognize the need for rescue services.
How many times has your company asked a contractor to work on energized equipment? How many times has an electrician chosen to not turn a circuit off because it was an inconvenience? Have you ever worked with a contractor who has an attitude of, “Yes we can work it hot since our competition won’t do […]
For years—decades really—OSHA has reinforced the same recommendations for programs to improve workplace safety and health. Twenty-seven years after the initial guidance, the agency has tweaked those recommendations. Keep reading to find out what’s changed and why it matters.
OSHA has agreed to extend the date the Agency was to begin enforcing the antiretaliation provisions of the final rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. Enforcement of the provisions that went into effect August 1, 2016, was already extended once to November 1, 2016. With the latest announcement, employers have until December […]