Archives

MMR: 3rd Circuit Narrows PSD Permit Applicability

A decision in Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation LLP v. EPA by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit found that a Clean Air Act (CAA) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permit wasn’t required to restart operations at a St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, refinery, even though the facility has been idle since […]

Back to Basics: Natural Disaster Response

Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine the essential steps for safely responding to natural disasters. Severe weather emergencies and other natural disasters can strike any workplace or home, often without warning. In the United States alone, there are […]

EHSDA Song of the Week: Cuts You Up

Eighty-four percent of sharps injuries—injuries from a needle or sharp object—occur among healthcare workers, according to a recent analysis from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These can expose workers to bloodborne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases. This disturbing statistic leads us to […]

EPA Must Improve Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Enforcement

An EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, dated September 6, 2023, recommends that the EPA enhance oversight to ensure all refineries remain in compliance with benzene fenceline monitoring regulations. “Oversight by the EPA and delegated authorities has not ensured that all refineries that exceed the action level reduce their benzene concentrations at their fencelines,” […]

National Priorities List Update

The National Priorities List (NPL) includes the most seriously contaminated Superfund sites across the nation. These sites contain uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. The list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at nonfederal sites included on the NPL are eligible to receive federal funding for […]

Ohio Contractor Facing $548K in OSHA Fines

A Millersburg, Ohio, roofing contractor faces $548,801 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines, the agency announced September 14. The agency cited JMH Roofing LLC with 8 willful and 2 repeat violations for again exposing workers to deadly fall hazards of up to 19 feet (ft) at 4 residential roofing jobsites in Canton, Uniontown, […]

Faces of EHS: John Toomey on Humility and Being Genuine

John Toomey is an international speaker, writer, and thought leader. He has a background in high performance roles in professional sport, including seven Australian Rules Football clubs, and culture development roles in two A league soccer clubs, and as coach of an Olympic gold medalist. He holds a physical education (PE) degree from Deakin University, […]

NIOSH: Healthcare Workers Most Injured by Sharps

Most sharps injuries—84 percent—occur among healthcare workers, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirmed in a recently released analysis. Injuries from a needle or other sharp objects can expose workers to bloodborne pathogens (BBP), such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases, NIOSH said in the September […]

Are You Ready for EHSDA’s Emergency Preparedness Week?

Join us next week (Sept. 18-22) for a full week of free online events and digital resources around emergency preparedness that you can use to plot your safety leadership strategy. Register for event sessions today. Monday, Sept. 18 Educational Webinar | Is Your Emergency Action Plan Up to Date? Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT Speaker: Brandy Zadoorian, CSP, CSD, CEO […]

OSHA, WHD Investigating Poultry Plant Fatality, Child Labor Violations

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wage and Hour Division (WHD) are investigating workplace safety and child labor violations at a Hattiesburg, Mississippi, poultry plant following the death of a 16-year-old worker, the DOL announced September 11. “As federal investigators continue to try to understand how a 16-year-old died […]