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On July 17, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a January 2023 explosion and toxic chemical release at the Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies facility in Geismar, Louisiana. A reboiler at the facility exploded, leading to the release of over 870 pounds (lb) of hydrogen […]
A new study conducted by Johns Hopkins University found ethylene oxide (EtO) levels within Louisiana’s Cancer Alley average twice the threshold level set by the EPA for unacceptable cancer risks. Airborne EtO is dangerous for long-term exposure at any level above 11 parts per trillion (ppt), according to the study. That threshold is very low, […]
On July 12, 2024, the EPA announced a proposed settlement with OMG Partners of Turlock, California, to resolve claims of Clean Water Act (CWA) violations after one of the company’s tanker trucks overturned and a fuel product spilled into the roadway, Laguna Creek, Coyote Creek, and the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. The fuel reached […]
John’s Disposal Service Inc. and John’s Recycling Inc., a Franksville, Wisconsin, waste management company, faces $367,401 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines after a temporary maintenance worker suffered severe injuries when their jacket sleeve was pulled into an engine as they serviced a vehicle, the agency announced July 18. OSHA cited the company […]
Department of Labor (DOL) attorneys obtained a consent judgment in federal court that includes an injunction permanently preventing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from retaliating against employees at up to 59 locations in the state of Washington, the DOL announced July 16. The consent judgment also requires the USPS to pay $183,732 in lost wages, […]
On July 8, 2024, the EPA announced it issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc., alleging the Commerce City refinery failed to comply with air emissions laws. The NOV was issued in partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The agencies allege Suncor violated or is violating […]
Pushback against the EPA’s new regulations for maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water continues to accelerate, with state and public drinking water system officials claiming the costs of removal will be much more than the EPA estimates. PFAS drinking water regulations In April, the EPA finalized the first-ever […]
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 comply with hearing conservation requirements. Do you have a hearing conservation program in place to protect your employees from workplace noise exposure? Are you taking the necessary steps to prevent […]
Ultimately, the goal of every safety professional is to ensure that workers get home safely to their families. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. In that vein, the Song of the Week is a 1997 gem from U.K. indie rock act Cornershop, “Good to Be on the Road Back Home.” Cornershop was formed in […]
Elmer Miller, an Illinois construction contractor operating as Miller Building Systems LLC, faces $354,912 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines after the agency again found workers were exposed to falls from elevation at four jobsites. The agency cited Miller with four willful fall protection violations, OSHA announced July 12. Agency investigators observed violations […]