Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
An op-ed opinion piece entitled “The Supreme Court votes for clarity from Congress. How refreshing” by George F. Will in The Washington Post drew an opposing viewpoint letter to the editor entitled “The court erred in EPA case,” published June 11, 2023. Will’s original opinion piece took the stance that “the nation will be better […]
On June 22, 2023, 3M Company announced a momentous $10.3 billion settlement in its mass torts lawsuit with thousands of plaintiffs over the company’s alleged contamination of municipal drinking water by per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” Subject to court approval, the agreement: Provides funding for public water systems (PWS) across […]
Many parts of the country are experiencing significant rainfall that’s leading to widespread flooding and catastrophic damage in some areas. In addition, the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, is underway. Hurricanes are often accompanied by a storm surge that can also lead to significant flooding, so it’s important for […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) and the criteria for an SVEP case. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is well known for not only setting the standards for safety, […]
Exit routes are a big deal when it comes to safety inspections. If your emergency exits are blocked for whatever reason, inspectors aren’t going to have much sympathy for you. Recently, inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited discount retailers Dollar Tree and Dollar General for repeat exit route violations. Accordingly, the […]
On July 11, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it issued a pair of six-figure fines to employers in Missouri and New Jersey. BCP Ingredients Inc., located in Verona, Missouri, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Balchem Corp., faces the larger of the fines—$393,798—after agency inspectors found dozens of serious safety and health […]
Dr. John Howard was trained as a physician in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and occupational medicine and worked in clinical medicine until 1991. From 1991 to 2002, he served as the Chief of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the State of California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency. In 2002, Dr. Howard was […]
On July 6, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report on a fatal incident on December 8, 2020, at Optima Belle LLC in Belle, West Virginia. The board also recently closed two other investigations. During Optima Belle’s production of a sanitizing compound for Clearon Corporation, a dryer at the […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine how to build a safety program in eight steps. Implementing a safety program is integral for preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace, increasing productivity, and engaging employees with safety. Whether […]
Rex Lumber LLC faces $184,385 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines after a 20-year-old worker trying to clear a jammed roller in its Troy, Alabama, sawmill was crushed and killed after stored energy caused the infeed unit to close on him, the agency announced July 5. OSHA issued a willful citation for allowing […]