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.
Free Special Report: What to Expect from an OSHA Inspection
General Duty Clause Citations OSHA’s General Duty Clause is the “gap filler” in enforcement actions that address recognized hazards where no specific OSHA standard exists. In 2014, more than 1,500 GDC violations were cited, with nearly $5 million in penalties. In this webinar, BLR Legal Editor Ana Ellington will discuss the broad application of the […]
Before his resignation, Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn, publically apologized for emission defeat or cheat devices found in Volkswagen diesel passenger cars sold in the U.S. Volkswagen now faces serious and costly violations under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program is complex and far-reaching, with a variety of permitting requirements. How should you prepare for your facility’s NPDES inspection? Avoid violation with these tips.
By: Charles B. Palmer and Miguel A. Manriquez You send workers up on the flat roof to fix an HVAC unit. Is the work considered “maintenance,” covered under OSHA’s general industry fall protection rules, or “repair,” subject to OSHA’s construction rules? You send workers in to a tank to clean and paint it. Is the […]
An environmental monitoring system called IVAN (Identifying Violations Affecting Neighborhoods) is an environmental justice tool available to folks in California communities for reporting environmental concerns. What is IVAN? The partnership among local, state, and federal agencies and community groups, which started in 2009, has been implemented in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles, the Imperial […]
Once again, a major health and safety violation has cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this case, a marine terminal operator in Seattle has been found to have multiple serious health and safety violations and is facing more than $400,000 in fines. Labor & Industries (L&I) recently cited the marine terminal operator […]
On July 9, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a 60-day temporary enforcement policy for its Confined Spaces in Construction standard, which became effective on August 3, 2015. The administration is postponing full enforcement of the new standard to October 2, 2015, in response to requests for additional time to train employees […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released new instructions for its inspectors to ensure the consistent enforcement of its revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). So what will inspectors be looking for in your hazard communication (HazCom) program if your facility is inspected? Keep reading to find out. OSHA revised the HCS in March 2012 to […]
Recap: Under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) rules, and most state variations of the RCRA rules, there are three classes of generators: large quantity generators (LQGs), small quantity generators (SQGs), and conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQGs). The classes are defined by the amount of hazardous waste generated each month. If you […]
On July 9, OSHA announced a 60-day temporary enforcement policy for its Confined Spaces in Construction standard, which became effective August 3, 2015. The agency is postponing full enforcement of the new standard to October 2, 2015, in response to requests for additional time to train and acquire the equipment necessary to comply with the […]