Category: Regulatory Developments

EPA Seeks More Public Comment on PBT Chemical Rules

In a move telegraphing a sharp departure from the previous administration, the Biden administration’s EPA opened a 60-day public comment period seeking additional input on five final rules for persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals issued on January 6, 2021, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Safety team, COVID-19 standard

What Might Be in a Federal OSHA COVID-19 Standard?

On January 21, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to consider an emergency temporary standard (ETS) related to COVID-19. If the ETS is deemed necessary, the Order, titled “Protecting Worker Health and Safety,” calls on OSHA to issue it by March 15, today. What might […]

GHS HazCom pictograms SDS

OSHA HazCom Updates Include Labeling, SDS Requirements

On February 16, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed an update to the agency’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), which would align provisions of the rule with the seventh revision of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) published in 2017 (86 FR 9576). An eighth revised edition was published […]

GHS and Hazcom, hazard communication

OSHA Proposes Revised HazCom Standard to Conform to GHS

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed rules to modify the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform to the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) Revision 7, which is more current than the version of the GHS that’s incorporated into the existing HCS.

Environmental justice, law, and regulation

A Look at Environmental Justice Communities and Regulations

President Joseph Biden Jr. has promised to up the ante for environmental justice (EJ) communities by “rooting out the systemic racism in our laws, policies, institutions, and hearts.” Although a complete rollout of Biden’s plan has not yet been revealed, his campaign plans and initial actions allow for some educated analysis as to what industry […]

Oregon and COVID-19, Oregon OSHA

Oregon Proposes Permanent COVID-19 Infectious Disease Standard

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has proposed a permanent standard for workplace COVID-19 exposures. Oregon would become the second state after Virginia to adopt a permanent COVID-19 infectious disease standard.

Virginia state flag as facemask, COVID-19

Virginia Adopts a Permanent COVID-19 Standard

Virginia adopted the nation’s first permanent standard for workplace exposures to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19. The regulation includes requirements for written preparedness and response plans, as well as cleaning and sanitation, personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, training and recordkeeping, and ventilation.

Greenhouse gas emissions, GHG, air

Court Vacates Trump Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule

A three-judge panel in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated and remanded the Trump administration’s greenhouse gas emissions rule on January 19, 2021, 1 day before President Joseph Biden, Jr., took office.