Category: EHS Administration

Shell Board Members Personally Sued Over Claims of Mismanaged Climate Strategy

ClientEarth filed suit in February 2023 in the Court of England and Wales against the board members of Shell PLC for failing to manage the material and foreseeable risks posed to the company by climate change. The lawsuit, the first known attempt to hold board members personally liable, “alleges Shell’s 11 directors have breached their […]

Air Products Wins Court Battle to Resume Louisiana Carbon Sequestration Project

A decision reached in a federal court in Air Products v. Livingston Parish is predicted to set precedence across the United States for carbon sequestration projects. In this matter, in 2021, Air Products Blue Energy LLC announced it was building a $4.5 billion clean energy complex that would span several parishes near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. […]

NSC Awarding Grants for Ergonomics Research

On March 22, the National Safety Council (NSC) announced it is awarding $285,000 in grants to research promising safety solutions to reduce the instances of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) through two newly launched grant programs: the Research to Solutions (R2S) grant and MSD Solutions Pilot Grant 1.0. The grant programs are part of the NSC’s […]

Sterilization Company Faces $838,800 Cal/OSHA Fine

Parter Medical Products, Inc., of Carson, California, failed to protect its employees from overexposure to ethylene oxide (EtO), a toxic chemical, according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), prompting the agency to issue 18 citations, including 6 citations for willful, serious violations. Penalties total $838,800, the state agency announced March 21. […]

Clean Water Act Under Fire Again: The Legal Landscape of WOTUS

The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States (WOTUS) and regulating quality standards for surface waters.  Under the CWA, the EPA has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. The EPA has also developed national water quality criteria […]

Back to Basics: Oil Spills

Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine oil spills and OSHA’s recommendations for preparedness. Oil spill emergencies pose great threats to both the safety of workers and the environment. According to OSHA, employers are responsible for protecting workers […]

BP Faces $156K OSHA Fine in Refinery Explosion

On March 16, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced citations and penalties following an investigation into two workers’ fatal burns at an Oregon, Ohio, refinery’s crude unit operated by BP Products North America Inc. The agency cited BP with 10 serious violations and one other-than-serious violation and proposed penalties totaling $156,250. As workers […]

Dollar General Facing $1 Million in New OSHA Fines

Discount retailer Dollar General faces over $1 million in new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines for violations at four stores in Florida and Georgia, the agency announced March 13. OSHA inspected stores in Ocala, Florida, and Columbus, Georgia, finding repeat violations, including blocked exits and fire extinguishers, locked exit doors, and improperly stacked […]

Georgia Manufacturer Faces $423K OSHA Fine

A LaFayette, Georgia, insulation manufacturer faces Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines totaling $423,432 after a line operator suffered severe head trauma after being caught in a machine’s roller, the agency announced March 6. OSHA cited Bonded Logic Inc. for 2 willful, 2 repeat, and 10 serious violations. Agency inspectors found the employer willfully […]