Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On August 5, 2021, the EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army announced upcoming community engagement opportunities for public input into their efforts to revise the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) definition. Redefining WOTUS is a two-part process for the agencies. The first rulemaking will restore the WOTUS definition to the version in […]
Industrial robots come in two major types: fixed robots that work from a fixed platform and mobile robots that move around the workplace. Both kinds of robots can pose hazards to humans. For fixed robots, the hazard is typically controlled by physical guards that prevent humans from entering the robot’s swing radius or point of […]
OSHA renewed its alliance with CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training—to provide guidance and training resources for construction safety. CPWR and the agency agreed to a new 5-year alliance to address hazards such as falls, silica exposure, trenching, and working in hot and cold weather, as well as foster outreach efforts that include elevator […]
The future of trichloroethylene (TCE) in an industrial process called vapor degreasing is balanced to some extent on the outcome of an EPA proposal under which the Agency would use its authority under Section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prohibit the manufacturing (including importing), processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE […]
Although citizen scientists have always had a place in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) monitoring and surveillance regimen, information from the public now holds a prominent place in EPA’s new agenda. Yesterday we discussed two new projects using citizen scientists that the EPA is undertaking that could have a profound effect on facilities in […]
The U.S. Senate October 26 confirmed the appointment of Doug Parker as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health—a move applauded by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and National Safety Council (NSC). Parker, former head of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), becomes the first permanent head of […]
Even the most militant environmentalist would have difficulty making the case that U.S. industry has not shrunk its carbon footprint and continues to do so. A recent hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety was filled with reliable facts and figures that demonstrate businesses in multiple sectors are acting individually and […]
In a truly safe workplace everyone is accountable for preventing accidents and injuries. How about your workplace? Do you get an “A” for accountability? If you’re reviewing the structure and content of your safety and health process with an eye to improving effectiveness, you might want to take a look at accountability. How much responsibility […]