Winter’s Not Over Yet; Take Steps to Prevent Ice-Related Falls
There’s a hint of spring in the air in some parts of the country. But in Michigan, employers are being warned about the dangers of ice-related falls.
Archives
Q&A: Pedestrian Travel Paths
Recently, one of our subscribers asked the following question: For pedestrian safety, how wide does a designated protected employee travel path need to be? What type of stationary protective guards are acceptable to prevent forklifts from hitting pedestrians?
Crane Accidents Are Preventable. Are You Checking All the Boxes?
In 2014, OSHA extended the deadline for crane operator certification for three years, to November 10, 2017. Until then, OSHA says it will “consider addressing operator qualifications through additional rulemaking.” Meanwhile, employees continue to suffer when employers fail to provide adequate protection. Learn more here.
OSHA Requests Budget Increase of $42 Million for FY 2017
OSHA’s budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2017 includes a $42 million increase over 2016 levels and 100 additional full-time staff. Keep reading to learn how OSHA plans to use the additional funding and what it could mean for your facility.
When the Whistle Blows, Will OSHA Say You Retaliated? ‘Reasonable Cause’ and Individual Statutes
When an employee “blows the whistle” on an employer’s alleged illegal activity, employers must tread very carefully. If any action has been taken that the employee could claim is unfavorable, the he or she may feel that the action is retaliatory. When that happens, the employee may file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and […]
When the Whistle Blows, Will OSHA Say You Retaliated? The Rules Have Changed
When a worker believes that his employer is breaking federal law, he or she may “blow the whistle” by reporting the employer to regulators, who then open an investigation. Unscrupulous employers may retaliate against whistleblowers by denying them raises, bonuses, or promotions; demoting them; making their lives at work so miserable that they quit; or […]
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case Challenging TMDL Program
In a blow to the agricultural and land development sectors, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging EPA’s 2010 total maximum daily load (TMDL) program for the Chesapeake Bay. The case was launched in 2011 when the American Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the National Association of Home Builders, and others […]
Environmental Groups Send a Letter to the EPW Concerning CCR Rule
Scores of national and state-based environmental groups sent a letter to the leadership of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) expressing their opposition to a bill that would negate many aspects of EPA’s rule governing disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCRs) from electric utilities.
SDS Requirements
Q. Can you provide some guidance on how to satisfy the requirements of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information without revealing the names or Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers of the chemicals we use in our mixtures?
States Ask Supreme Court to Stay EPA’s MATS
The attorneys general (AGs) of 20 states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) because the Agency had no legal authority to promulgate them. The AGs base their argument on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Michigan v. EPA (2015), in which a 5–4 majority ruled that the […]