Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
While EPA has yet to issue formal definitions for terms such as nanotechnology or nanoscale materials under any statute, the Agency understands those terms in the context of three conditions or elements: The material’s particle size measures typically between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers in at least one dimension. The material exhibits unique or novel […]
Get to know your ATGS. Get clear instructions from the installer on how to use your ATGS. Check that your ATGS is always on and plugged in to a power source. The ATGS cannot monitor leaks if it’s off. Believe it or not, EPA says, plenty of citations have been handed out after inspectors found […]
How do I calculate tonnage for substances under REACH? Each registrant has to calculate the yearly tonnage for the registration dossier. The yearly tonnage is calculated as the volume per manufacturer/importer per calendar year, unless stated otherwise. For phase-in substances that have been imported or manufactured for at the least 3 consecutive years, quantities are […]
If no one in your supply chain purchases materials from EU suppliers or exports to the EU, there is no REACH impact on your business–yet. But, don’t think other countries or U.S. states won’t adopt copycat legislation as has been done with other laws. China is already developing China REACH. Be prepared. Roles Under REACH […]
1. Water-reactive, pyrophoric, self-reactive—such as lithium aluminum hydride, butyl lithium, potassium cyanide, and sodium azide. Does not include acidic water-reactive chemicals. Store in secure, sealed secondary container in a dry location, e.g., a dry box or desiccator. Isolate from other groups. Separate from aqueous solutions and protect from water. In refrigerator: Double-contain in bins or […]
Here is an overview of some important aspects of REACH that may affect YOU. What is REACH? Fundamentally, REACH shifts the burden-responsibility and costs-to the private sector, your business, to demonstrate that the chemicals you produce, use, and place on the market in large quantities are safe for humans and the environment. This is referred […]
Note that the rule is not regarded by EPA as more stringent than existing regulations. This means that states authorized to run the federal RCRA program are not required to adopt the rule. In fact, while some states have adopted it since promulgation, others have expressed their opposition to it, and the rule may not […]
Many times it’s because workers in areas with many chemicals are tempted to store chemicals alphabetically by common name to make them easy to find—but this is very dangerous practice. Here are a few tips for safe chemical storage: Always store minimum quantities, as specified by OSHA. Purchase chemicals in smallest quantities needed. Inventory chemicals […]
If you need to determine if a specific carbon nanotube is on the TSCA confidential inventory, you can submit a Bona Fide Intent to Manufacture or Import. The required contents of bona fide intents are listed at 40 CFR 720.25 and are intended to substantiate that a company genuinely intends to manufacture the substance and […]
OSHA likes the idea too–as long as employees have immediate access. “Immediate access” means that, in emergencies, the MSDS should be available during the workshift when it was requested. In nonemergencies, it should be available by the next workshift at the latest. Your electronic MSDS system should be: Reliable. Electronic systems must provide reliable access […]