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
On July 21, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it had cited an employer for violations of the respiratory protection standard after the company reported the coronavirus-related hospitalization of seven employees. The agency proposed penalties totaling $40,482 in its citation of Ohio-based healthcare company OHNH EMP LLC.
The SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought uncertainty and a new laser-focus on safety to your workplace. OSHA has tried to help by issuing new guidance about increased inspections and recordkeeping requirements, but the list of issues that keep you up at night has likely grown. Being prepared ahead of time may help you survive […]
In the second quarter (Q2), the EPA finalized 165 settlement agreements with companies small and large across the United States. This represents a decrease in enforcement actions—down from 188 penalties issued in Q1 for 2020. The actions taken resulted in $3,482,842 in fines. Here are some of the highlights.
Motor carriers still must conduct random drug testing of 50% of their drivers. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it may exercise discretion in the enforcement of drug and alcohol testing requirements because the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause disruptions within the industry.
UPDATE: The EPA has added an addendum to this policy which states that it will terminate on August 31, 2020. The EPA reserves the right to terminate the policy sooner than August 31, but if the Agency chooses to do so, it will provide a 7-day notice period. To learn more, keep reading the original […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the nature of work in many industries and brought renewed attention to the importance of workplace safety, but OSHA continues to carry out inspections and issue citations to employers that expose workers to hazardous conditions. We’ve summarized some of the key enforcement cases from the past few months for a […]
The environment, health, and safety (EHS) profession continues to be shaped by technology and software. Sometimes it can be challenging to keep pace with all of these changes, and this is especially true as organizations scramble to adapt to the realities of doing business during a pandemic. On this episode of EHS on Tap, we’re […]
Two recent Clean Air Act (CAA) settlements—one in Iowa and the other in Kansas—serve as a reminder for companies to review their risk management plans (RMPs) to ensure compliance with the EPA’s Chemical Accident Prevention requirements.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted revised policies for enforcing workplace safety and health requirements as states throughout the country begin lifting stay-at-home restrictions and workplaces reopen. The changes include updated requirements for recording cases of COVID-19.
2020 has so far been defined almost entirely by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public health crisis has affected environment, health, and safety (EHS) enforcement along with everything else. Let’s take a look at what’s been happening with enforcement at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from the pandemic’s effect on policy to some recently […]