Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Initial training is certainly critical on the job, especially when it comes to safety training. But one-and-done training is not adequate for fostering continuous improvement in your organization—or continuous professional development in your employees. In today’s Advisor, we look at how one well-known international organization provides ongoing learning opportunities throughout its workforce. Jiffy Lube® International […]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 22,000 people die annually from overdoses of prescription painkillers, which now contribute to more deaths than all illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Workers who use prescription painkillers—particularly those in safety-sensitive positions such as operating machinery—may be at increased risk for incidents, […]
EAB Throws Out Huge TSCA Penalty Earlier this year, EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) reversed a $2.5 million penalty against Elementis Chromium, Inc. for the company’s failure to report under TSCA Section 8(e) information contained in an occupational epidemiology study on hexavalent chromium. The study showed that occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium is associated with […]
OSHA first proposed a confined spaces rule for the construction industry in 1980—but only finalized its confined spaces in construction rule on May 1, 2015. In the interim, OSHA issued a rule covering confined space entry in general industry (1993) and the shipyard industry (1994). But the new confined space in construction rule does not […]
What are nanoscale materials? Nanomaterials are chemical substances that have structures with dimensions at the nanoscale—approximately 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). To get an idea of their size, a human hair is approximately 80,000 to 100,000 nm wide. The thinking is that nanomaterials may have properties different from the same chemical substances with structures at […]
Some spaces are not designed for continuous human occupancy. Manholes, crawl spaces, tanks, and other confined spaces can be difficult to get into and even more difficult to get out of. Once inside these spaces, workers may face life-threatening hazards that include toxic substances, electrocutions, explosions, and asphyxiation. For more than twenty years, employers have […]
Employer Trip Reduction (ETR) Under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, states that have areas designated as extreme or severe nonattainment for ozone were required to revise their state implementation plan (SIP) by adopting regulations to implement ETR programs and reduce work-related vehicle trips and miles traveled by employees. In 1995, Congress amended the law, […]
In today’s Advisor, we receive guidance from one of BLR’s experts on when volunteer training should or should not be paid. Here’s the question: Do you have to pay employees for time spent in a voluntary training session offered during their lunch hour? And here’s how our expert responded: Lunch-and-learns are used by some employers […]
According to the CDC, there were 2,122 reported cases of West Nile virus disease in U.S. residents in 2014. The disease is carried by birds and mosquitoes and transmitted to people by mosquitoes. A total of 47 states and the District of Columbia reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes in 2014. […]
Bicycle commuting is on the rise, increasing by more than 62% nationwide from 2000 to 2013, according to the League of American Bicyclists. In bicycle-friendly communities, rates have increased more than 100% over that same period. If your workers are going to give bicycle commuting a try this summer, encourage them to stay safe with […]