Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On March 21, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rule changes that will require U.S.-listed companies to provide investors with detailed climate change risk information, including some climate-related financial statement metrics and the disclosure of registrants’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “I am pleased to support today’s proposal because, if adopted, it would provide […]
Industry supplying or importing mercury or products with mercury added to them has new reporting tools available for use, according to a news release issued by the EPA on February 22, 2022. The updated Mercury Electronic Reporting (MER) application and compliance guide was released in time for calendar year 2021 data reporting and will make […]
While universal masking alone provided a reduced level of exposure to infectious particles, researchers with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found evidence supporting a layered approach—physical distancing, ventilation, and masking—to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Results of a study out of NIOSH’s Health Effects Laboratory in […]
The EPA’s annual report on power plant emissions—released on February 18, 2022—reveals a 20% increase in sulfur dioxide (SO2), a 13% rise in mercury, and a 7% increase in carbon dioxide (CO2). The data also showed a 5% increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx) during ozone season (May 1 to September 30) and a 3% increase […]
Thirty-nine U.S. states have failed to provide their revised regional haze state implementation plans (SIPs) as required by Section 304(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), according to a Notice of Intent (NOI) to file suit dated February 7, 2022, sent to the EPA by a coalition of environmental organizations, reports a Sierra Club press […]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released a pair of Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) reports. One report examines the death of a forklift operator crushed by a pallet full of soft drink cans, and the other details a fatal fall from a boom lift while tree trimming. Warehouse incident […]
On December 28, 2021, the EPA released a list of key accomplishments the Agency achieved in 2021 under the Biden administration. The Agency’s achievements include: Tackling the climate crisis Issuing the most ambitious federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks ever; Finalizing action to establish a comprehensive program to dramatically […]
An EHS audit is a key piece of your EHS management system, assessing your compliance with applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards to ensure that your management system performs as intended. How Should You Prepare Your Facility and Staff for an EHS Audit? To prepare your facility […]
What is an incident report? At every workplace, there will be unplanned and undesirable occurrences. The facts and details of these events should be, and in some cases must be, documented in incident reports. For EHS professionals, incident reports usually cover workplace injuries and health and safety issues but they can also include damage to […]
Whistleblowers responsible for completing chemical risk assessments have come forward with allegations that their reports have been and continue to be “improperly altered to completely eliminate or minimize risk calculations,” according to a complaint filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) on behalf of four scientists who work in EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety […]