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Pesticide label

Pesticide Labels: OSHA Outlines Differences between FIFRA and HazCom

Employers must comply with several sets of federal environment, safety and health laws and regulations. OSHA has outlined where federal pesticide labeling requirements end and where hazard communication requirements begin and where the two overlap.

Air pollution

EPA’s NESHAP Proposal Includes No Emission Changes for HCl

The EPA is proposing minor amendments to its National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the hydrochloric acid (HCl) production source category. Required under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, the Agency’s residual risk and technology review (RTR) would find, first, that the 2003 NESHAP for the source category is protective of […]

Balancing environmental enforcement and business

Higher EPA Penalties for Noncompliance Are in Effect

Although delayed by the government shutdown, the EPA has finalized regulations adjusting its civil penalties to account for inflation. Therefore, effective February 6, 2019, the maximum civil penalties that the EPA may impose for violations of various environmental statutes have increased by just over 1 percent.

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling GHS chemicals hazcom

Hazard Communication Strategies for Success

Environmental, health, and safety (EHS) managers must be constantly aware of the numerous and ever-changing chemicals that are present at their facility, as each chemical presents unique risks to the workforce and other onsite personnel. Seemingly innocent mistakes such as storing a chemical improperly or mislabeling a container can lead to potentially catastrophic consequences. Therefore, […]

Gavel, scales of justice and law books

State Court Jurisdiction Upheld by 7th Circuit in Environmental Case

Two types of jurisdiction were central to a case in which two plaintiff companies deposited hazardous waste generated in Colorado into industrial wells in Illinois. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) found that the injections were conducted without the required Class I permit and brought charges against the companies before the Illinois Pollution Control Board […]

Under RCRA, What Do ‘More Stringent’ and ‘Broader in Scope’ Mean?

Section 3009 of Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) allows EPA-authorized states to promulgate hazardous waste regulations that are more stringent (MS) than counterpart federal hazardous waste (hazwaste) rules. If the EPA authorizes the MS provisions, they become part of the federal hazwaste program, which means that the EPA may enforce […]

workplace violence

The Costs of Ignoring Workplace Violence

According to OSHA, nearly 2 million American workers report that they are victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, even more instances of violence go unreported at organizations each year. Why? Because of a lack of preventive measures, policies, or mandated workplace violence training programs. And the costs are potentially huge.