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Four Factors for Recycling Hazardous Waste Secondary Materials Without Shame—I mean Sham

New Definition of ‘Sham Recycling’ Sham recycling refers to claims by a hazardous waste generator that the waste is being recycled when it is in fact being discarded. A new definition at 40 CFR 261.2(g) codifies EPA’s concept of sham recycling: “A hazardous secondary material found to be sham recycled is considered discarded and a […]

What Will Cause Your Workplace Fire?

It was around 4 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, when the AMF bowling alley in Huntsville, Alabama, caught fire. As a cloud of smoke spread over the sleeping city, firefighters entered the building to fight the blaze, which is believed to have started in the bowling alley’s kitchen. While the firefighters moved through the building, […]

What’s in Store for Hazardous Waste Generators?

In the June 11, 2014, Federal Register (FR), the EPA published an Information Collection Request (updated in the October 14, 2014, FR) asking for public comment concerning the hazardous waste generator rules under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Specifically, the Agency asked that the comments address the following components of the generator rules: […]

Training to Prevent Crushing Injuries

In October 2014, a worker at Portland Specialty Bakery in Portland, Oregon, was trying to clear jammed dough from a bagel-making machine. The worker placed a piece of dough over the machine’s safety sensor, lifted the guard, and reached into the machine for the jammed dough. His hand was caught and crushed. The same bakery […]

Got Hazardous Waste? Can You Avoid Becoming an Episodic Generator?

Under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) rules, and most state variations of the RCRA rules, there are three classes of generators: large quantity generators (LQGs), small quantity generators (SQGs), and conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQGs). Note: It is critical to remember that most states have been delegated the authority to run […]

Are Your Workers in Danger of Crushing Injuries?

Manuel Aquino, 70 years old, had worked for Art’s Equipment Rental in Sharonville, Ohio, for 13 years. His job duties included keeping the equipment clean, so on March 3, Aquino was pressure-washing a front-end loader in his employer’s yard. Something went wrong, and Aquino was crushed between the bucket on the loader and the body […]

Recent Trends in Environmental Jobs

Environmental Engineers Environmental engineers design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology. Table 1 outlines median salaries for environmental engineers from 2010 to 2014, nationwide, and for the states with the highest and lowest median salary. Note: […]

The Importance of Training in Instructional Design

How important is it for trainers to be trained in instructional design? Very important, says James Guilkey, PhD, president and cofounder of S4 NetQuest (www.s4netquest.com) in today’s Advisor. “If trainers are asked to be designers, they have to be familiar with adult learning theory in instructional design if they are going to be effective,” Guilkey […]

12 Changes in Store for EPA’s MSGP for Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activities

Twelve changes to the 2008 federal MSGP for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity are included in EPA’s draft 2013 MSGP. Coverage under the 2008 MSGP, which expired September 29, 2013, is administratively extended until the 2013 permit is issued, provided facilities submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to be covered by the new permit […]

Cord-and-Plug-Connected Equipment: What Does OSHA Say?

Yesterday, we looked at OSHA’s answers to some employers’ questions about training certification and LOTO verification. Today, we’ll look at what OSHA has to say about workers performing maintenance on plug-and-cord-connected equipment covered under an exception in the LOTO rules. Employers often write to OSHA asking for clarifications of its requirements. Sometimes, OSHA writes back. […]