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Fatigue

Do You Train on the Risks of Fatigue?

Fatigue is an often underrecognized risk factor in many work environments. Any work environment that contains key risk factors such as long working hours, on-call work, seasonal highs, shiftwork, physically and mentally demanding work, boring and monotonous work, safety-sensitive work, and driving operations put their workers at a higher risk of fatigue-related incidents.

Hourly/Annual Emissions Tests and NSR Permits

The EPA’s proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule (August 31, 2018, Federal Register (FR)) to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing power plants includes a new approach to the Agency’s New Source Review (NSR) program.

Wastewater Tanks

EPA Looking for Input on Potential POTW Diversion Rule

Back in April 2018, ex-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the Agency intended to begin rulemaking “to provide certainty surrounding the use of ‘blending’ by wastewater treatment plants.” The EPA has now scheduled three meetings to receive public input on how blending might be permitted to account for infiltration and inflow (I/I) into separate sanitary sewers. […]

Security cameras

Security Cameras Catch Some Crazy Things …

A properly functioning security system is always on, ready to capture any threats to your workforce, property, or other essential assets. Sometimes, though, they bear witness to the best (or worst) of humanity’s “hold my beer” moments. All you need to do is head to YouTube and search for something like “security camera fails” to […]

States Take the Lead in Finding Uses for Produced Water

The EPA and several departments of the state of New Mexico recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which the parties will explore the opportunities, benefits, cost, and risks of making further use of wastewater from oil and gas (O&G) operations in the state. O&G wastewater, more commonly called produced water, is defined in […]

Power Plant

Power Plants Take an Interest in Dry Cooling

The use of ambient air to cool and condense steam at electric power plants is a costly alternative to water cooling, but the use of air, or dry cooling, is being gradually adopted by energy companies, reports the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Dry cooling or hybrid cooling—a combination of air and water—occurs in 3% […]

tablet in the field

How to Measure the Success of Your Safety Programs

The reality of budgetary pressures is not new to Safety departments.  Especially during economic slowdowns when executives focus in on cutting costs, it has always been vital for safety professionals to be able to justify their activities. 

Chemicals, laboratory

The Differing Views on EPA’s Approach to Chemical Conditions of Use

After the EPA extended the public comment period on its problem formulation documents for the first 10 chemicals that will receive risk evaluations under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), major stakeholders provided radically divergent views of both the documents and the EPA’s approach to developing them.

GHG, vehicle emissions

Dissecting the Revocation of California’s CAA Waiver

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) and the EPA’s proposed amendments (August 24, 2018, Federal Register (FR)) to regulations governing corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards (NHTSA) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (EPA) for model years (MYs) 2021–2026 passenger cars and light trucks will likely face legal challenges should the agencies promulgate final rules […]

Flammable aerosol

What’s Required for Storing Flammable Aerosols in Flammable Lockers?

See how Safety.BLR.com® experts answered the following question: “We have a general industry Texas customer whose business insurance company is requiring that they store all their flammable aerosols in flammable lockers, even if there is less than 25 gallons. Is this true?”