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A federal court ordered a Milford, Connecticut, sports bar to pay a total of $359,485 in back pay, emotional distress damages, withheld compensation, and punitive damages to employees who were fired after participating in an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection, the agency announced February 7. Department of Labor (DOL) attorneys filed suit in […]
On February 1, 2024, the EPA announced two new proposed regulations to protect communities and the environment from the health risks posed by certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that are also referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their resistance to breaking down in the environment over […]
TEMPO, which stands for Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution, is the first-ever space-based instrument to monitor air pollutants hourly across the North American continent during daytime. Recognized by TIME magazine as one of the best inventions of 2023, this National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) instrument tracks pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, aerosols, sulfur dioxide, […]
On February 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for a new emergency response standard to replace the agency’s nearly 44-year-old fire brigades standard (89 Fed. Reg. 7774), which was established in 1980. Emergency response has been covered by a patchwork of hazard-specific OSHA standards, none of […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine electrical safety. Some workers may have more exposure to electrical hazards than others, but all workers should understand the dangers of electricity and how to take the proper precautions. The Occupational Safety […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been busy lately and that’s not going to change over the next few years. EHS Daily Advisor wrote last week about the EPA’s enforcement and compliance initiatives for 2024-2027. This inspired the Song of the Week, an environmentally themed classic from Pixies called “Monkey Gone to Heaven.” The song […]
New Jersey transportation company Dana Container faces $437,860 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties for one willful, three repeat, and four serious violations, OSHA announced January 31. The agency cited Dana for one willful violation because it didn’t properly maintain safety data sheets for chemicals, including corrosives. Three repeat violations involved chemical container labels […]
Last year, lawsuits against major chemical manufacturers resulted in settlements totaling more than $11 billion. This year, as the EPA brings even more regulations into play and awareness of the extent of the harm from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination continues to grow, analysts predict substantially more lawsuits will be filed, resulting in even […]
AJLS Enterprises Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin—operating as Schoep’s Ice Cream—faces $145,097 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties for 12 serious safety violations, the agency announced January 29. OSHA inspected the ice cream plant in response to reports of workers being exposed to anhydrous ammonia. Investigators found that the plant lacked sufficient process safety […]
A draft risk assessment published by the EPA reveals the potential for elevated cancer risk from radiation from the use of coal ash as fill material in building sites. Coal ash is the residual “leftover” from burning coal for energy, and it contains many toxic metal contaminants like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. “Coal ash … […]