Boiler MACT
Q. Will a source having four large gas fired boilers with fuel oil back up trigger the Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology Standards (MACT) if it burns oil to avoid high natural gas prices?
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Can Lawmakers Extend NAAQS Reviews?
The air regulatory agencies and industries of many states have been frustrated by EPA’s decision to revise its National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone in 2015. One of the major complaints is that the 2008 ozone NAAQS are still in effect. Therefore, states now face the prospect of implementing two different ozone standards […]
RMP Changes Are Here … Almost
It has been 3 years since the ammonium nitrate explosion in West, Texas, killed 15 people, injured hundreds, and caused widespread damage. Just a few months after that event, President Obama’s Executive Order (EO) 13650 set into motion actions by numerous government agencies designed to enhance the safety and security of chemical facilities and reduce […]
A New Worry for Safety Managers—Climate Change
Sure, in a global sense, you’re worried about climate change—for your kids and future generations. But, now, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH), it’s a new worry for you professionally. Now you have to consider the effects of climate change for your workers, i.e., your current workers. Today we will review findings […]
Protecting Workers from Lead Exposure Would Have Saved This Employer from Additional Citations
At a municipal storage facility in Danville, Pennsylvania, a painting contractor was conducting abrasive blasting to remove paint from water tanks. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection showed that the workers were overexposed to airborne lead—and to other airborne contaminants as well. If the employer had paid attention to its lead compliance, it […]
These Workers Were Overexposed to Lead … By Any Standard
At a municipal storage facility in Danville, Pennsylvania, a painting contractor was conducting abrasive blasting to remove paint from water tanks. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection showed that the workers were overexposed to airborne lead. As a result, OSHA issued several serious and willful violations against the employer for violations of the […]
MIOSHA Urges Vigilance in Wake of Recent Employee Fatalities
Michigan OSHA (MIOSHA) is encouraging employers and employees “to use extreme care and safety diligence in all work activities.” Find out what’s behind this warning.
OSHA: Poultry Plant Cited in Dangerous Chemical Release
The nation’s largest chicken producer failed to use proper safety procedures, which caused a significant release of a highly hazardous chemical. Find out how the agency reacted to this repeat violation.
The Pitfalls of Noncompliance
Following safety regulations isn’t just the right thing to do—it keeps employers on the right side of OSHA enforcement and saves money by avoiding fines, legal fees, and more. Keep reading to learn about seven companies that ran afoul of OSHA regulations and paid the price.
Study Identifies Workers at Highest Risk of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Most employers are aware that occupational noise has the potential to cause permanent hearing loss in exposed workers. Less well known, and less studied, is the link between occupational noise exposure and tinnitus. A new study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) looks at both conditions, teasing out their individual prevalence, […]