Category: Enforcement and Inspection

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.

Free Special Report: What to Expect from an OSHA Inspection

Building Managers on the Hook for Lead Paint Safety Requirements

Property management companies (PMC) performing or offering to perform regulated renovations without EPA certification in pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities will be subject to stronger enforcement and compliance regulations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule in the future, according to a November 4, 2021, EPA news release. “Health impacts from exposure […]

EPA Proposes Methane Emissions Reduction Rule

In response to the U.S. and E.U. pledge to slash methane emissions worldwide 30% by 2030 at COP26 in Glasgow, on November 2, 2021, the EPA announced a proposed rule to cut methane emissions, including reductions from existing sources nationwide. “As global leaders convene at this pivotal moment in Glasgow for COP26, it is now […]

U.S. Supreme Court’s Surprising Decision to Weigh in on EPA’s CAA Authority

Just as Present Joseph Biden Jr. was preparing for the global climate summit (COP26), the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) announced it will hear four cases, likely to be consolidated, to determine the EPA’s authority to regulate emissions from power plants under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The October 29, 2021, announcement was the equivalent of […]

EPA to Reconsider Ozone Air Quality Standards

In response to lawsuits brought by states and environmental groups, on October 29, 2021, the EPA filed a motion in the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit indicating it “will be reconsidering the 2020 Ozone NAAQS Decision, with the intention of completing the reconsideration by the end of 2023.” Under the Trump […]

OSHA Fines Wisconsin Foundry More Than $200,000

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) November 2 cited a northern Wisconsin foundry with one willful, seven serious, and five other-than-serious violations in a 51-page citing document. Waupaca Foundry of Marinette, Wisconsin, faces $200,895 in proposed penalties. Two workers suffered severe injuries this summer, and OSHA initiated three separate safety and health inspections. In […]

The Three Key Parts of an EHS Corrective Action Plan

Corrective action is an important aspect of EHS management that is used to fix operational issues, keep employees safe, and reduce environmental impacts. Corrective actions can originate from a specific incident that spontaneously occurs, an internal audit that discovers something is amiss within an organization, or a regulatory agency inspection that seeks to determine if […]

Prepare for High-GWP Refrigerant Restrictions

The EPA will likely restrict the use of some common hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, including R134a, R410A, and R407C, in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, as well as some foam production operations. The EPA has granted, or partially granted, 11 petitions submitted by industry and environmental groups in response to the recently passed American Innovation and […]

EPA Announces Actions During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week was established by Congress in 1999 to occur each year during the last week in October. “Lead can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including decreasing IQ, focus, and academic achievement in children,” reports the EPA. “While lead is dangerous to all children, not all children are equally exposed to […]

ASSP, NSC Welcome Parker Confirmation to OSHA

The U.S. Senate October 26 confirmed the appointment of Doug Parker as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health—a move applauded by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and National Safety Council (NSC). Parker, former head of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), becomes the first permanent head of […]

CourtWatch: Lawsuit Claims EPA Purging Boards of Industry Members

Dr. Stanley D. Young, a former member of the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Council, filed suit on October 7, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia accusing the EPA of purging its advisory boards of industry members. “The [EPA] has a problem with dissent. In an unprecedented purge, EPA eliminated all industry […]