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2014 EPCRA Enforcement Roundup What do a wood door manufacturer, an organic food company, a wire manufacturer, a cheese manufacturer, and an oil sands crude refinery have in common? On the surface, it would appear they are pretty different, but when it comes to compliance with EPCRA, all reached settlements with the EPA during […]
In Lawrence Raab’s poem, “Attack of the Crab Monsters,” a biochemist bewails the fact that his research has outstripped his preparedness to deal with its potential hazards. “It’s the old story, predictable/as fallout,” the narrator opines, “the rearrangement of molecules.” The narrator’s molecules have been rearranged into the form of a crab-monster—“I’m not used to […]
The 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) state that by December 22, 2019, the EPA must have at least 20 high-priority chemical substances undergoing risk evaluation. Additionally, by this date, at least 20 chemical substances must have been designated as low-priority substances, or substances for which a risk evaluation is not warranted […]
What do you get when you combine a small, unmanned remote-controlled aircraft with a functional attachment—a still camera, video camera, or infrared camera; a LiDAR range detection system; or some kind of tool? You get today’s multifunctional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). They’re faster than a human on foot, more powerful than your digital camera and […]
In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by KPA, we hear from Jade Brainard, senior product director for KPA EHS software solutions, about how to assess the effectiveness of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. Q: How should my organization assess the effectiveness of our ESG initiatives? Assessing the effectiveness of […]
What shape is your energy control program in? Are you set up for an accident-free year or are you risking citations and penalties?< The lockout/tagout regulations are perennially ranked among OSHA’s top 10 violations. Last year, for example, there were more than 3,000 violations of the standard, with penalties mounting to nearly $4 million. These […]
When federal OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in 2012, a compliance clock started ticking. And when Cal/OSHA began adopting the federal rule, it retained federal OSHA’s deadlines, meaning California employers don’t have extra time to comply with the changes.
In 2012, the Henry RAC Holding Corporation—a New Jersey-based rifle manufacturer—was labeled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a “severe violator,” and placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP). As a result, the company was subject to follow-up inspections by OSHA. In a 2016 follow-up inspection, OSHA cited the company for […]
In the third quarter (Q3), the EPA finalized 515 settlement agreements with companies small and large across the United States. This represents a significant increase in enforcement actions—up from 260 penalties—issued in Q2 for 2023. The actions taken resulted in $14,629,489 in fines. Here are some of the highlights. RCRA violations yield biggest fine from […]