ATE: Lead in Drinking Water
Q. Regarding the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act: In the FAQ guidance from EPA, I cannot find any mention of water meters. Are they exempt?
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News: Life-cycle of RFS to be Reviewed
In an announcement that was welcomed by both the supporters and critics of ethanol as a renewable fuel, EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) said it intends to “begin preliminary research on lifecycle impacts of the EPA’s renewable fuel standard (RFS).”
Tips to Help You Comply with Stormwater Construction Regs
Construction stormwater noncompliance issues often arise from miscommunications between contractor and developer, or even from simple errors that occur on the construction site. These issues have the potential not only to delay construction but also to be extremely costly if a regulator issues a fine.
Recognition of Tank Gauging Hazards Leads to Increased Liability
As late as 2014, workers who died during tank gauging and other activities that involved opening the thieves’ hatch on oilfield tanks were recorded as resulting from “natural causes.” As a result, surviving family members were not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. A recent court case out of Colorado could change that. Jim Freemyer, a […]
Protecting Oil and Gas Workers: The Latest Recommendations
In December, 2014, OSHA formed an Alliance with NIOSH and the National Service, Transmission, Exploration & Production Safety (STEPS) Network to identify hazards faced by oil and gas workers, and to make protective recommendations. Earlier this year, the Alliance issued a Tank Hazard Alert aggregating its findings on oilfield hazards and possible solutions. Some of […]
Oil and Gas Flowback Operations: Releasing a Killer
It was the deaths of the healthier oilfield workers that raised a red flag. The nine oilfield workers who died between 2010 and 2015 while performing tank gauging or sampling were initially ruled by medical examiners to have died of natural causes. But a lot of those workers were too young, and too healthy, for […]
NIOSH Launches National Center for Productive Aging and Work
NIOSH recently announced the launch of its new National Center for Productive Aging and Work (NCPAW), which will focus on the safety of workers of all ages, promote their lifelong well-being, and advance the concept of productive aging.
Q&A: Vial and Syringe Disposal
Recently, we received the following question from a customer: How should we dispose of our vials and syringes? Should they be discarded separately from wastes contaminated with blood or OPIM?
OSHA: No More Counting Inspections
Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) David Michaels, PhD, announced a new enforcement strategy during the 2015 National Safety Council Congress & Expo in which the Agency will no longer count the number of inspections it conducts in an effort to emphasize quality over quantity.
OSHA Further Extends Confined Space Enforcement Deadline
OSHA’s Confined Spaces in Construction standard was published in May 2015 and took effect in August. A temporary enforcement policy was in effect for all covered employers through October 2. OSHA has now extended that temporary enforcement policy through January 8, 2016, but only for employers engaged in residential construction work. Nonresidential construction employers please […]