Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In its Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan, released in February 2019, the EPA noted that in 2018, it initiated the regulatory development process for listing the two most problematic PFAS—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)—as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund).
Workplace injuries and illnesses are undercounted, and the United States needs a more robust occupational safety and health surveillance system, a panel of experts concluded in a recently issued report.
I really thought we would have flying cars by now. Growing up watching cartoons like the Jetson’s or movies like Back to the Future, we were led to believe that everyone would be flying around with jetpacks and hoverboards. Unfortunately, no one has invented anti-gravity boots yet, so we still need tools like ladders to […]
Opposing opinions by three U.S. appeals courts (two issued by the same circuit on the same day) have led to a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to address the core Clean Water Act (CWA) question—Is a point source discharging pollutants to navigable water via a groundwater pathway the functional equivalent of a direct discharge […]
More studies are needed to understand how to prevent and handle infectious disease outbreaks in the workplace, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Capturing and destroying harmful emissions from pharmaceutical processes can be challenging. It’s not because the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are difficult to destroy, but rather their concentration spikes that complicate things. These process streams raise safety concerns, both when they’re collected in vents and when they reach the final combustion equipment. This article discusses the […]
In response to one frequently asked question (FAQ) on the EPA’s emergency management site, the Agency clarified when combustible agricultural dusts are subject to reporting under Section 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
Just before the holiday season, EPA issued its final rule for waste pharmaceuticals management. Due to the complex nature of handling waste pharmaceuticals within healthcare facilities, it became clear to EPA that these waste streams could no longer be managed with existing RCRA waste regulations. EPA previously tried to promulgate rules regarding pharmaceutical waste streams […]
Ensuring compliance with federal or state occupational safety and health laws and regulations is only part of a workplace safety and health professional’s job. Often, safety managers also handle aspects of an employer’s workers’ compensation program. The two aspects of the job have different demands.
In a 2016 settlement agreement with 10 environmental groups, the EPA committed to providing funds to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) to convene a committee to study the effectiveness of the Agency’s Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The NAS has now published its final report, which includes recommendations to put the MSGP […]