Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Wellness programs are proliferating under the Affordable Care Act, which increased the available incentive and penalty options for employers. And, they look like a win-win—workers win, because the company funds the initiative that improves their health status. Employers win, because healthier employees are happier, more productive, and less likely to suffer injuries and illnesses. Unfortunately, […]
On May 12, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) warned the state’s employers to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. High temperatures are forecast this week for several areas across the state, including Modesto, Palm Springs, Riverside, and San Bernardino. The agency cautioned employers to closely observe employees working in hotter conditions for […]
A Washington State construction company faces a large fine for numerous repeated safety violations that exposed workers to potential falls and other hazards at a residential construction site in Olympia.
Last Friday, the House voted 221 to 191 to nullify the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final rule (November 18, 2016, FR) to limit venting, flaring, and leaking from oil and gas (O&G) operations on public land. The House exercised its authority under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to kill this major Obama-administration environmental regulation […]
It’s September and the kids are back to school, but the summer heat persists. We just went through the hottest summer since records began in 1940, and the current heat wave has forced school closings and early dismissals throughout the Midwest and the Northeast. Given these sweltering conditions, this week’s EHSDA Song of the Week […]
Record of Noncompliance with CWA Ends in Hefty Penalty for Oil Company In April 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performed an inspection at an oil storage facility in Ingleside, Texas, that included review of the facility’s physical condition, the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan and its Facility Response Plan (FRP). Following the […]
Stating its intention to lower costs and more effectively utilize limited resources, the EPA has proposed a budget for 2019 that would reduce its funding by 23% ($8.7 billion to $6.1 billion) and the number of staff from 15,408 to 12,250. The proposal would eliminate 34 discretionary programs and activities, slashing $598.5 million compared to […]
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) signed a memorandum of understanding this week to improve workplace safety efforts. Announced on Day 1 of the ASSP’s Safety 2024 conference in Denver, the 10-year agreement defines shared principles and aims to improve employee safety training, advance occupational health […]
The EPA recently announced the registration of the new active ingredient glufosinate-P, which controls weeds in conventional and glufosinate-resistant field corn, sweet corn, soybean, cotton, and canola. The Agency also released its final biological evaluation for the active ingredient under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “Glufosinate-P is the first new active ingredient registration where EPA […]
Tornadoes can occur with little or no warning. Taking precautions in advance of the storms, such as developing an emergency plan, learning the warning signs, and monitoring tornado watches and warnings, can help your employees stay safe if a tornado occurs in your area. The first thing employees should know about tornadoes is the difference […]