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EHSDA Song of the Week: Catch Me Now I’m Falling

Fall protection is a major concern for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which recently unveiled a National Emphasis Program focused on preventing falls from height across all industries. The latest Song of the Week features a classic Kinks track from 1979, “Catch Me Now I’m Falling,” that focuses on falls, albeit from a […]

Faces of EHS: Alejandra Ramos on ESG Boosting EHS

Alejandra Ramos is a field administrator for Skanska in North Texas. She is the responsible party for several areas of the construction process in the field and administratively. Prior to beginning her career with Skanska, she worked in her family’s construction and landscaping businesses. She has always enjoyed the many aspects of construction and knew […]

EPA Proposes First Tribal CWA Protections

The EPA announced proposed federal baseline water quality standards (WQSs) for water bodies on Indian reservations that don’t have Clean Water Act (CWA) standards, ensuring protections for over half a million people living on Indian reservations, as well as critical aquatic ecosystems. Congress’s established goal in passing the CWA 50 years ago was that waters […]

Dollar General Facing $3.4 Million in New OSHA Fines

Dollar General Corp. and its parent, Dolgencorp LLC, face $3.4 million in new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines, the agency announced May 23. OSHA unveiled citations resulting from inspections at nine Dollar General locations in Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Violations included blocked exit routes and electrical and fire hazards. The agency […]

CourtWatch: EPA Sued Over Lack of Updates to Wastewater Regulations

In April 2023, a coalition of 13 environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the EPA, alleging the Agency has violated the Clean Water Act (CWA) by failing to make mandatory updates to wastewater pollution regulations for seven industry sectors. The suit asks the court to direct the EPA to review its decision to not revise […]

Back to Basics: Young Workers

Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine the employer responsibilities when employing young workers, and the safety of young people at work. As summer approaches, many employers may be hiring young people for temporary work or summer jobs. […]

EHSDA Song of the Week: On Fire

As we approach summer, businesses need to start thinking about keeping their workers safe in the heat. There are increased legislative efforts to ensure that the proper precautions are in place to protect workers from heat illness. To that end, the EHSDA Song of the Week is Van Halen’s “On Fire,” an electrifying blast of […]

Environmental Justice in Action

The Biden administration made it clear from day 1 that addressing environmental justice (EJ) issues would be a top priority. With the initial groundwork completed, the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an interim resolution agreement in their EJ investigation into the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Lowndes […]

EPA Considers Additional PFAS for CERCLA Designation

Last month, the EPA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) asking the public for input regarding potential future hazardous substance designations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. “Today’s announcement highlights EPA’s commitment to transparency and the use of the […]

EPA Proposes New Carbon Pollution Standards

On May 11, 2023, the EPA announced proposed new carbon pollution standards for coal and natural gas-fired power plants that will protect public health, reduce harmful pollutants, and deliver up to $85 billion in climate and public health benefits over the next two decades. “The proposal for coal and new natural gas power plants would […]