Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
As today’s workplace becomes more complex, regulation of that workplace increases. In this section, you’ll find the practical advice you need to understand exactly what OSHA, other federal agencies, and their state counterparts, require of you, and to comply in the ways that best satisfy both your and their needs. Look also for important court decisions, advice on how to handle enforcement actions, and news of upcoming changes in workplace health and safety law.
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In a final rule published October 11, 2024, in the Federal Register, the EPA took final action on a revision to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California state implementation plan (SIP). This revision concerns the regulation of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and particulate matter (PM) associated with warehouses as […]
The EPA recently published a proposed rule to add 16 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 PFAS categories to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), which is a list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) to comply with the National […]
Artco-Bell Corp., a Temple, Texas, school furnishings manufacturer, faces a $257,183 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine after a worker sustained serious, permanent hand and arm injuries, the agency announced October 21. According to OSHA, the worker’s injuries could have been prevented had the employer installed required machine guards. Agency investigators learned that in […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) this month announced the release of new inspection guidance for animal slaughtering and processing facilities. Previous guidance applied to poultry establishments, but the updated guidance is intended to reduce injuries and illnesses resulting from occupational hazards in the meat processing industry. Here’s what you need to know about […]
The EPA has put the state of Vermont on notice that it must make corrections to its administration of the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program or lose the authority altogether. In a letter dated September 6, 2024, the EPA Region 1 administrator informed Vermont authorities it had received a joint petition from […]
The EPA recently announced a proposed update to its Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing, which help federal government purchasers and other buyers use private sector standards and ecolabels to buy products that are more sustainable and climate-friendly and contain safer chemical ingredients. This update marks the first time in nearly 10 […]
The EPA announced food producer Hiland Dairy Foods Company LLC of Norfolk, Nebraska, has agreed to pay a $93,107 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act’s (CAA) chemical accident prevention provisions. According to the EPA, the company stores more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, a regulated toxic substance, and […]
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in September ruled against the EPA in United States Sugar Corp. v. EPA, unanimously deciding that the EPA erred in retroactively classifying industrial boilers built before 2020 as new sources of emissions. These boilers are used to create heat, electricity, and other forms of energy by burning materials like […]
On October 16, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the release of new inspection guidance for animal slaughtering and processing facilities. Previous guidance only applied to poultry establishments. The updated “Inspection Guidance for Animal Slaughtering and Processing Establishments” is intended to reduce injuries and illnesses resulting from occupational hazards in the meat processing […]
On September 4, 2024, the EPA announced it issued draft Class VI permits to Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC for three proposed wells to be dug for the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Ector County, Texas. These are the first draft permits the EPA has issued in Texas for Class VI wells under […]