Q&A: Climbing Ladders
Recently, a subscriber asked us the following question: Is there a requirement for using rungs versus rails when climbing on fixed vertical ladders or portable step/extension ladders?
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8th Graders Getting the Message About Safety and Health
They may not yet have a job yet, but eighth graders in one school district are learning valuable lessons about occupational safety and health. Get details here about an innovative partnership.
Keys to Effective Safety Observations
Behavioral observations are a tool to improve safety performance and enhance employee engagement. If it’s been a while since you assessed your observation program and methods, you’ll want to keep reading for a proven method from safety expert Shawn Galloway.
OSHA vs. Dust: 3 Tips for Controlling Asbestos Hazards
Asbestos has been valued throughout much of human history for its versatility (it’s a fibrous mineral that you can spin into cloth!) and its unusual properties (it’s fireproof! And very strong!). It has been used in building materials and insulation, car parts, and clothing. Unfortunately, because asbestos dust can cause chronic lung disease and cancer, […]
Hydraulic Reservoirs
Q. Why are “process” tanks like hydraulic reservoirs considered as storage in the calculations?
Proposal Would Amend Title V Petition Process
More than 20 years after first issuing rules governing the process by which parties can petition the EPA to consider possible Clean Air Act (CAA) infractions contained in Title V operating permits, the Agency is proposing a new set of requirements pertaining to such petitions and the overall petition process. The stated intent of the […]
Hazwaste Generator Emergency Preparedness
As a hazardous waste generator, are you prepared in the event of an emergency? Does your facility have a “contingency plan”? Both large quantity generators (LQGs) of hazardous waste and small quantity generators (SQGs) of hazardous waste must comply with certain specific emergency preparedness and prevention procedures. These procedures involve use of response equipment and […]
The SPCC Outlook for Hazardous Substances
The EPA has issued its first biannual update of its work on a proposal for a final rule that would subject facilities holding hazardous substances to the same requirements applying to facilities holding threshold amounts of oil. The update indicates that the proposal is still in its early stages, and therefore, any views on what […]
OSHA vs. Dust: 3 Tips for Controlling Combustible Dust Hazards
Until recently, most environment, health, and safety (EHS) professionals thought of dust primarily as a housekeeping or nuisance issue—with the exception of health hazards, like coal dust and asbestos, that can cause chronic lung disease or cancer. But in 2008, when a sugar dust explosion killed 14 people and injured 36 others at the Imperial […]
Focus on HAZWOPER Respiratory Protection
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is celebrating respiratory protection this year on Tuesday, September 6. It’s called N95 Day for users of N95 level filtering respirators. In the spirit of N95 Day, we will take this opportunity to focus on respiratory protection requirements specific to hazardous waste operations.