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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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 […]
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 […]
The EPA announced a new guidance memo on September 30, 2021, withdrawing the previous guidance memo issued on October 9, 2020, that carved out exemptions for excess emissions in startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM) events for larger emitters. Industry analysts believe this signifies difficult permitting approvals ahead, as well as new State Implementation Plan (SIP) […]
The EPA has issued a draft policy assessment, “Policy Assessment for the Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter, External Review Draft,” dated October 2021, which concludes “scientific evidence, air quality analyses and the risk assessment for a type of pollution called fine particulate matter can ‘reasonably be viewed as calling […]
When looking at your commitment to safety culture and your workers’ perceptions of safety in the workplace, it is best to examine your leadership style and safety management system. Get into the habit of thinking about the process of recognizing hazards and finding ways to control them. Here are 5 leadership strategies that can help […]
The EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on September 29, 2021, stating the EPA is lacking an agencywide strategic action plan to address harmful algal blooms (HAB). The OIG report indicates this has been a serious Agency deficiency since Congress appointed the EPA administrator “as the leader for federal actions focused on […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a Bloomingdale, Illinois, nursing facility with violations of the agency’s COVID-19 healthcare emergency temporary standard (ETS). OSHA cited West Suburban Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for a repeat violation of the respiratory protection standard and five serious health violations and is seeking $83,675 in penalties. “Simply wearing a […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently unveiled its preliminary list of the top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year (FY) 2021 in early October at the 2021 NSC Safety Congress & Expo. Check out our infographic below to learn details about what made this year’s list and help keep […]
Is your warehouse prepared for the arrival of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspector? Warehouses and storage are on the agency’s primary industry target list under its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for COVID-19. In fact, OSHA already has cited and fined a Naperville, Illinois, logistics center following an outbreak of COVID-19 in which […]
The 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) data collected under the EPA’s GHG Reporting Program (GHGRP) revealed that reported emissions from large industrial sources were 9% lower than in 2019. The EPA released the information on October 6, 2021, and attributes the decrease to “both the economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing, long-term industry […]