Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Each year in the United States, about 4,500 workers die from work-related injuries, and more than 50,000 die from work-related illnesses. More than 3 million suffer nonfatal occupational injuries or illnesses; 2.8 million are treated in the emergency department; and 140,000 are hospitalized. The price tag to employers reaches $250 billion each year. Although employers […]
Those facilities that meet the definition of a “qualified facility” may self-certify their SPCC plan and amendments rather than use a professional engineer (PE). Determinations about environmental equivalence and impracticality still require a PE certification even at qualified facilities, if they are included in the SPCC plan.
Promptly upon EPA’s publication of its Clean Power Plan (CPP) in the Federal Register, a coalition of 23 states requested that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit stay the rule and consider its petition for review. The CPP requires that states take actions to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from existing […]
By John J. Meola John J. Meola, CSP, safety director for Pillar Engineers in Richmond, Virginia, provides insight into the process and challenges involved in striving for zero-incident goals in a preview of his upcoming webinar on November 17.
In a proposal, the EPA is seeking to extend its Clean Air Act (CAA) Refrigerant Management Program covering air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment to non-ozone-depleting substances (ODS) that are Green House Gasses (GHGs). Specifically, the proposal would add hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a non-ODS that contributes to climate change, to the list of regulated refrigerants. HFC-134a, the most […]
Q. Regarding the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act: In the FAQ guidance from EPA, I cannot find any mention of water meters. Are they exempt?
Construction stormwater noncompliance issues often arise from miscommunications between contractor and developer, or even from simple errors that occur on the construction site. These issues have the potential not only to delay construction but also to be extremely costly if a regulator issues a fine.
In May, 2015, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed guidance document for its personnel on complying with Executive Order 13673, Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces. The document is not yet finalized, however, it does offer insights into how OSHA and other agencies within the DOL intend to interpret and act upon the Order. […]
Most employers don’t think of executive orders—documents issued by the Office of the President that affect the management of government operations—when they think of safety compliance. But an executive order issued in 2014 means that your OSHA compliance may now be linked to your eligibility for government contracts.
In anticipation of BLR’s upcoming underground storage tank (UST) Master Class, Emily Remmel sat down with copresenter Dennis Oberdove, owner and president of Tank Integrity Services, to get a sense of the daily troubleshooting issues that arise on the ground when testing UST systems.