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Employee Training: Don’t Forget RCRA

When you think of RCRA, you think of manifests, “cradle to grave” hazardous waste management, transportation, container management, and endless hours of recordkeeping. However, one important aspect of RCRA for EHS managers is training. There are specific training requirements for personnel at hazardous waste TSDFs and large quantity generators (LQGs). Small quantity generators (SQGs) are […]

Don’t Sink Workers’ Health with Inadequate Facilities!

When you have a predictable number of workers in a specific location for a predetermined length of time, figuring out how many toilets you have to provide, and your policy on restroom breaks and access (if you even need one), is probably straightforward. But what about mobile work crews? And what of construction and agriculture […]

“In the Field and on the Floor”: 3 Steps to Ensure the Effectiveness of Your Employee Training Program

Step 1: Know Which Agency Rules Apply The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), OSHA, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) each have separate training rules, but there is often overlap among the various training requirements. For example, an employer may have workers managing hazardous waste and have the […]

Is Your Workers’ Health in the Toilet? How Many Toilets?

It’s one of the most basic public health and sanitation measures: the toilet facility. It’s also one of the most basic human needs: the need to eliminate. Despite this, restroom availability and use have been a persistent sticking point between employers and their workers—one with implications for worker health and safety. As such, the availability […]

Who Owns This UST?

Although it may seem obvious that if you ever owned or operated an underground storage tank (UST) that you are responsible for compliance or cleanup in case of a leak, the fact is that many USTs have long and complicated histories, and identifying the responsible party when, for example, the tank had multiple owners is […]

Temporary Workers and I2P2 Programs: Program Components

Temporary workers are a high-risk group for serious injuries and illnesses. One way to help ensure that they don’t fall through the cracks between the leasing agency’s safety program and the host employer’s safety program is for both employers to implement an effective I2P2 program. Yesterday, we looked at the regulatory requirements that cover I2P2 […]

Biofuel Considerations: Safe Handling of Ethanol—For Your Tank

Ethanol is a renewable, domestically produced fuel that can be made from grains, such as corn or wheat, or from cellulose sources, such as prairie grass or agricultural, forestry, or municipal wastes. In the United States, ethanol is primarily made from corn. EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks regulates tanks storing petroleum and biofuels. Under […]

Temporary Workers and I2P2 Programs: A Critical Program for a Critical Group

Sometimes, two heads are better than one. It ought to be that way with temporary workers, who have essentially two employers, both of whom are supposed to be looking out for their safety. But in practice, miscommunication and poorly defined responsibilities lead to gaps in worker training, hazard identification, and supervision that have served to […]

E-pinion: Should We Continue to Celebrate Earth Day?

Some of us remember what it was like before the first Earth Day, and all of us have been exposed to the lore. For example: Visible smog enveloping our major cities. Native-American chieftains crying in canoes afloat burning rivers. Brown sludge and odor emanating from industrial complexes—some residents of communities with such facilities referring to […]

Why Employee Engagement Matters

In a BLR webinar titled “Worker Safety: How to Implement Truly Effective Training That Reduces Injuries, Costs, and Lawsuits,” Michael D. Lawrence of Summit Safety Technologies discussed how businesses can improve their training programs. Employee engagement is very important in ensuring transfer and retention of knowledge. That’s because employee engagement: Drives customer loyalty, which creates […]