Tag: FREE

Tougher RMP Requirements for Retail

Thousands of retail facilities face stricter requirements under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Risk Management Program (RMP) because of a controversial Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) interpretation of an exemption under the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. Today we will review EPA’s reaction to OSHA’s narrowing of the retail exemption. Beginning in July 2016, […]

Are Your Workers Vaping?

Have you included e-cigarettes in your smoking policy? The federal government is discouraging vaping at work for a number of safety reasons. These reasons include a recent federal study that found a number of hazardous chemicals in the flavorings in e-cigarettes. The results of a BLR® human resources poll show that one-half of respondents (50%) […]

High in the Fields: How Two States Are Regulating Pesticide Use for Marijuana

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use. Four of those states and D.C. have also legalized the recreational use of marijuana. A growing number of other states are considering legalization. So, how are pesticides being regulated in marijuana fields, and what are the protections for field workers from pesticides […]

High in the Fields: Marijuana and Pesticides

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use. Four of those states and D.C. have also legalized the recreational use of marijuana. A growing number of other states are considering legalization. So, how are pesticides being regulated in marijuana fields, and what are the protections for field workers from pesticides […]

What the SEC Says about Reporting Climate Change Risks

Peabody Energy Corporation, the largest publicly traded coal company in the world, was recently muscled by the state of New York into revising its shareholder disclosures with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include financial risks associated with climate change and potential regulations. Yesterday we reviewed SEC risk disclosure requirements. Today we will discuss […]

Break a Safety Regulation, Get 1 Year in Jail; Conspire to Do it, Get a Lot More?

Earlier this year, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship was brought to trial on charges of conspiracy to violate mandatory federal mine safety and health standards, conspiracy to impede federal mine safety officials, making false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and securities fraud. Blankenship faced up to 31 years in prison on the […]

What HazMat Placard Does That Package Need?

Yesterday we discussed the relationship between labeling under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) labeling requirements. Today we will offer some placarding tips for shipments of DOT-regulated hazardous materials. Quick Review Placards, like labels, are used to graphically communicate a cargo’s hazard. Generally, […]

GHS or DOT—Which Label Should You Use?

What’s the relationship between labeling under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) labeling requirements? Which label must you use? Can you use both? Today we will help answer these questions, and tomorrow we will offer some placarding tips for shipments of DOT-regulated hazardous […]

RMP—What Happens When You Don’t Follow Your Plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been under pressure to update and better manage its Clean Air Act Risk Management Program and is moving ever closer to a proposed rule that will modify the program. The Agency continues to scrutinize facilities that are required to have risk management plans. Today we will review a […]