Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On November 28, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urged healthcare industry leaders to take steps to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence. Recommended steps to prevent workplace violence in hospitals include ensuring workers receive adequate training, having sufficient staffing levels, providing ongoing assessment of patients […]
The EPA published the Final Fifth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), which will serve as the basis for the Agency’s regulatory considerations over the next 5-year cycle under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The updated list includes a substantial expansion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—an important first step toward identifying additional […]
On November 28, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) asked for public comment on its program for certifying approved respiratory protection devices. NIOSH is authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977 to test and approve respirators used by construction workers, […]
The EPA recently announced opportunities for public input on new and existing programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Agency seeks input as it puts together core design aspects of multiple IRA programs. The engagement strategy in program implementation includes: Issuing a request for information (RFI) for public input to inform program design; […]
On November 22, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced new citations and $341,842 in new proposed penalties for discount retailer Dollar General. OSHA already had placed Dollar General Corp. and its parent Dolgencorp LLC in the agency’s severe violators enforcement program (SVEP) and has proposed penalties totaling $15 million. OSHA inspectors found merchandise […]
Last month, a letter signed by 160 organizations was sent to President Joseph Biden Jr. requesting that he take action to direct the EPA to implement discharge standards for ships’ ballast water that comply with the Clean Water Act (CWA). EPA administrator Michael Regan also received a similar request from 34 members of Congress. “Ballast […]
On October 20, 2022, the EPA announced additional actions, including a proposed rule, for the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which, according to an Agency news release, are a “crucial component of President Biden’s ambitious agenda to combat the climate crisis while advancing American manufacturing and innovation.” The proposed rule sets a 40% reduction for 2024 […]
The biggest indoor air concerns for decades were exposure to radon, mold, and tobacco smoke. The focus has now shifted to respiratory infections and wildfire smoke, and newer requirements stress the importance of ventilation and air filtration. Here’s what you need to know about indoor air quality. Check out our Back to Basics: Spotlight on […]
The EPA continues to expand the functionality of its interactive Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Dashboard and its Enforcement and Compliance History (ECHO) website. These tools provide information on environmental compliance and enforcement for communities across the United States. “Through improved transparency, advanced technologies and community participation, these tools empower the public to help EPA assure compliance […]
A proposed rule issued by the EPA on October 13, 2022, signifies the Agency’s intent to include additional large industrial sources in the requirements to account for “fugitive emissions” in determining whether a physical or an operational change at their facility is a “major modification,” which would need a major New Source Review (NSR) permit […]