Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced approval of its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) rule on August 25, 2022. The rule establishes a year-by-year road map so that by 2035, 100% of new cars and light trucks sold in California will be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The regulation realizes […]
On September 15, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an expansion of its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP). The program’s new criteria include violations of all hazards and OSHA standards and will continue to focus on repeat offenders in all industries. Under the agency’s 2010 policy, an employer could be placed in the […]
On August 22, 2022, the EPA announced Smith Frozen Foods Inc. of Weston, Oregon, agreed to pay a $100,000 fine for Clean Air Act (CAA) violations. During a 2016 inspection, the EPA found the company failed to maintain and implement its required Risk Management Plan (RMP) when using and storing anhydrous ammonia, which is used […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it will host the Colorado Trench Safety Summit October 5 in Brighton, Colorado, with the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA) in a joint effort to stem a rise in the number of trenching fatalities in the state. Since early 2021, 7 trenching-related fatalities have been reported […]
The construction industry fall protection standard remains the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) most frequently cited standard for the 12th year in a row, the agency announced on September 20. Patrick Kapust, acting director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented a list of preliminary figures for fiscal year (FY) 2022—the fiscal year ends September […]
On September 8, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the awarding of approximately $1.9 million in grants to 14 nonprofits to fund education and training programs to help workers and employers recognize infectious disease hazards, including the coronavirus, and identify workplace safety measures. In addition to its standard-setting and enforcement authority, OSHA also […]
The EPA recently proposed revisions to strengthen the Risk Management Program (RMP) rule, including enhanced employee participation and transparency for communities on safety decisions. The RMP rule requires industrial facilities with high accident rates to prevent accidental air releases of dangerous chemicals that could cause deaths, injuries, or property and environmental damage or require evacuations […]
On August 26, 2022, the EPA proposed to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), including their salts and structural isomers, as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as “Superfund.” These substances are two of the most widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are […]
Experts have gone back and forth about whether we’re technically in a recession. But as the dust settles, one thing’s clear: companies feel like there’s an economic slowdown—and they’re looking for ways to cut costs. For many companies, safety programs might be first on the chopping block. But if you’re thinking about a program cut, […]
In an opinion dated August 17, 2022, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld federal district court rulings in Delaware and New Jersey that state courts are the proper venue for two climate change lawsuits brought against big oil companies. Two different lawsuits, one filed by the City of Hoboken and the other by the […]