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Powered Down? Special Requirements for Electrical Lockout/Tagout

When workers will be de-energizing electrical equipment so that they can safely work on or near it, they must use lockout/tagout procedures to protect themselves from unexpected energization or startup of the equipment. But not all of OSHA’s applicable requirements are in one place. Most lockout/tagout requirements are found in 29 CFR 1910.147, however, a […]

Powered Up? Don’t Forget Your Electrical Safety Related Work Practices

Exposure to an unexpected electrical energy release that could result in electric shock or burns or in an explosion caused by an electric arc is covered by OSHA’s standard for Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices, 29 CFR 1910.333. Sometimes, workers cannot de-energize equipment that they will be working on or near. When that happens, it’s important […]

Identifying EHSs

Q. If we have five twenty-pound halon fire extinguishers, what are the federal regulations applicable to ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) for what we have?

OSHA Respirator Fit Testing Bolstered

Industry can expect little relief from OSHA’s respirator fit testing requirements in light of a new National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study that bolsters the Agency’s requirements and adds a recommendation that fit testing be performed for employees who lose a specific amount of weight. According to NIOSH, over 3 million workers […]

Training Under the Amended Pesticide Worker Protection Standard

In November 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the Pesticide Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Yesterday we covered a number of key changes to the WPS—age limits, hazard communication, notification, entry restrictions, application suspension, PPE, and decontamination supplies. Today we will review the new training requirements for workers and handlers—what some people in the […]

The What and When of EPA’s Amended Pesticide Worker Protection Standard

In November 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the Pesticide Worker Protection Standard (WPS). There are staggered compliance deadlines and a dizzying array of issues with which those affected by the amendments must contend. What are the critical changes in the amended standard and when are the deadlines for compliance? The final rule […]

Company’s Unusual Response to Citations Wins Praise from OSHA

When OSHA inspectors returned to an Atlanta food manufacturing facility and found previously cited hazards had reoccurred, the company management took an unusual step: company representatives told OSHA the company accepted responsibility for the safety and health hazards and signed a pre-citation settlement agreement with OSHA on January 15.