Category: Chemicals

Today’s workplace uses thousands of chemicals, many of which are hazardous. The resources in this section will help guide you in the safe and legal identification, storage, transport, and use of these chemicals, and in making sure that your employees right to know how to be safe around such substances is provided, as required by law.

EPA Finalizes Interim Decision on Worker Protection for Ethylene Oxide Pollution

On January 14, 2025, the EPA announced it released the Interim Decision for Ethylene Oxide (EtO), which is a pesticide used on 50% of all sterilized medical devices in the United States and on approximately 30% of dried herbs and spices. “EtO is known to cause cancer, including lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and […]

EPA Proposes Protection from C.I. Pigment Violet 29

The EPA recently announced it has proposed its eighth rule under the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) process to protect workers from inhalation exposure to C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29), a chemical that presents a risk of lung damage. If finalized, the rule would require respiratory protection and cleaning programs in workplaces where PV29 […]

Florida Employer Facing OSHA Penalty in Worker’s Fatality

Southeast Services of the Treasure Coast Inc., a Vero Beach, Florida, drainpipe cleaning and maintenance company, is facing a $16,131 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine following a 24-year-old worker’s death, the agency announced January 16. According to OSHA, the employer could have prevented an explosion at a Port Saint Lucie worksite in June […]

EPA Seeks Comments on Draft Recommendations for PFAS in Water Bodies

On December 19, 2024, the EPA announced draft national recommendations for health-based levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water bodies. The recommendations cover three PFAS: PFAS are a large class of thousands of synthetic chemicals that have been in use in the United States and around the world since the 1940s. PFAS’ ability to […]

CSB Releases Video of Louisiana Fire, Toxic Gas Release Investigation

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a new safety video on its investigation into the August 2020 fire and toxic gas release at the Bio-Lab Lake Charles chemical facility in Westlake, Louisiana, the board announced January 7. The incident occurred when the facility was severely damaged by Hurricane Laura. The safety […]

EPA Announces Final Rules to Ban TCE and PCE

On December 9, 2024, the EPA announced it finalized the latest risk management rules for trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) under the 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) amendments. TCE is an extremely toxic chemical known to cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It also causes damage to the central nervous system, liver, […]

OSHA Terminates COVID-19 Rulemaking

On January 15, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) terminated its healthcare COVID-19 rulemaking (90 Fed. Reg. 3665). The agency decided to focus its resources on developing an infectious diseases rulemaking for healthcare, describing the infectious diseases rulemaking as “the most effective and efficient use of agency resources” for protecting healthcare workers from occupational […]

Pennsylvania Manufacturer Cited for Hazardous Chemical Release

AFCO, a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, soap and detergent manufacturer, faces a $161,310 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine following the agency’s investigation of a chemical gas release that sent a dozen workers to the hospital, the agency announced January 14. OSHA cited AFCO, a manufacturing subsidiary of Zep Inc., with one repeat violation, nine serious […]

EPA Enforcement Roundup Q4 2024

In the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, the EPA finalized 215 settlement agreements with companies small and large across the United States. This represents a decrease in enforcement actions—down from 482 penalties issued in Q3. The actions taken resulted in $7,739,116 in fines. Here are some of the highlights. CAA violations yield biggest fine from […]