Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
As today’s workplace becomes more complex, regulation of that workplace increases. In this section, you’ll find the practical advice you need to understand exactly what OSHA, other federal agencies, and their state counterparts, require of you, and to comply in the ways that best satisfy both your and their needs. Look also for important court decisions, advice on how to handle enforcement actions, and news of upcoming changes in workplace health and safety law.
Free Special Report: What to Expect from an OSHA Inspection
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited two project contractors after a demolition contractor lost his legs when a concrete mezzanine platform on the west wall of a building at the former Boston Edison power plant in south Boston collapsed during demolition and asbestos abatement operations. Two other workers suffered injuries, the agency announced […]
The EPA continues to expand the functionality of its interactive Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Dashboard and its Enforcement and Compliance History (ECHO) website. These tools provide information on environmental compliance and enforcement for communities across the United States. “Through improved transparency, advanced technologies and community participation, these tools empower the public to help EPA assure compliance […]
For the last few years, many “big box” retailers have found themselves the subject of hazardous waste enforcement suits after California enforcement agencies conducted “dumpster dive” inspections to determine exactly what kind of waste is being disposed of by these companies. These retailers include Target Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Whole Foods Market California Inc., and […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine OSHA’s top 10 most frequently cited violations in FY 2022. Every year, OSHA releases a list of the top 10 most violated workplace standards. Recently, Patrick Kapust, acting director of OSHA’s […]
A recent decision by an EPA administrative law judge (ALJ) rejected an EPA argument of its interpretation of the Manufacturing Process Unit (MPU) exemption. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) governs the EPA’s authority to regulate the proper management of hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste. The Act determines the boundary where the manufacturing process […]
On October 27, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it cited an Ohio manufacturer with eight willful violations, one repeat violation, six serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation after the company’s seventh severe worker injury in five years. Cited violations included exposing workers to machine hazards by failing to properly guard and lock […]
The recent report “How the EPA’s lax regulation of dangerous pesticides is hurting public health and the US economy” by the Brookings Institution highlights ways the EPA is lagging behind the rest of the world in regulating pesticides to protect human and wildlife health. The report lists approximately 85 agricultural pesticides that are still approved […]
A computer glitch that caused some public comments not to be received by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has resulted in the agency’s reopening the comment period for 11 proposed rulemakings and one request for comment. One of the impacted proposed rulemakings is the controversial climate-related disclosures, The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures […]
The construction industry fall protection standard remains the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) most frequently cited standard for the 12th year in a row, the agency announced on September 20. Patrick Kapust, acting director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented a list of preliminary figures for fiscal year (FY) 2022—the fiscal year ends September […]
On September 27, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced $1,191,292 in penalties after a heavy equipment operator performing demolition died when a partially demolished floor collapsed and the 11,000-pound excavator and its operator fell 80 feet. It was the employee’s first day on the job, according to OSHA. The agency cited JDC Demolition […]