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Regulatory Compliance News & Updates
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FEATURED NEWS
2026-06-04T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsFleet SafetyAnnual inspections - Motor CarrierCMV Parts and MaintenanceFocus AreaMaintenance and periodic inspectionsUSAEnglishBrakesVehicle maintenanceTransportationCMV Inspections
Stop right there! Brake Safety Week is near
Everyone’s favorite 7-day brake safety event has been announced for August 23–29 this year, meaning it’s time to start getting your vehicles and drivers inspection-ready!
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) hosts Brake Safety Week, a week-long inspection and compliance enforcement event, each year to offer brake-safety awareness and to collect important brake-related data.
Drum and rotor focus
The focus this year is on drums and rotors. Brake drum and rotor issues can have a serious negative impact on a vehicle’s brake efficiency. There’s the possibility that broken pieces of drums and rotors can become dislodged from the vehicle enroute and damage other vehicles or lead to injuries or fatalities to the public. Inspectors will be on the lookout for any drum or rotor issues to help keep roadways safer.
What you need to know about inspections
CVSA-certified inspectors will perform routine inspections on commercial vehicles from August 23–29 with a special focus on brake components and systems. Some jurisdictions will also use performance-based brake testers (PBBT) to help assess a vehicle’s braking performance.
If an inspector finds any commercial vehicle with brake-related out-of-service violations, that vehicle will be removed from roads until the violations are corrected.
Stay proactive
Brake Safety Week helps remind drivers and motor carriers to keep up with proactive vehicle maintenance and safety procedures. Law enforcement use this opportunity to highlight the importance of brake safety and offer some educational outreach.
To help prepare for this year’s Brake Safety Week event, the CVSA recommends:
- Learning about the different vehicle components checked during inspection, and
- Viewing the inspection procedure to know what to expect at https://www.cvsa.org/programs/operation-airbrake/operation-airbrake-inspection-procedure/.
A flyer with brake drum and rotor tips to help avoid violations is also available at https://www.cvsa.org/programs/operation-airbrake/focus-area/.
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RECENT INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
2026-06-03T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsExceptions - HazmatHazmat SafetyHazmatIn-Depth ArticleFocus AreaEnglishTransportationUSA
Small packages can lead to big problems
Small packages don’t always get the same level of attention as larger hazmat shipments. They’re quicker to prepare, usually move through the system faster, and can seem lower risk at first glance. However, that’s when problems can start to show up. When limited quantities and other exceptions are involved, it’s easy to assume the requirements are reduced across the board, which isn’t the case in most situations.
These shipments still have rules that need to be followed. When those rules are misunderstood or not applied in the right way, small packages can create the same compliance issues as larger shipments. In some cases, they can be even more confusing because the requirements look different than standard hazmat shipments.
Limited quantity mistakes
Limited quantity provisions are designed to provide relief from certain requirements, but they don’t eliminate all of them. One of the most common issues is misidentifying whether a material meets the limited quantity exception. That decision must be based on the hazard class, packing group, and the quantity of the inner and outer package. If any of those don’t meet the limits, the shipment can’t move under the exception.
Another frequent problem is assuming that once a shipment qualifies as a limited quantity, everything else becomes optional, which is not the case. Marking requirements still apply, and in many cases, the limited quantity mark is either missing or not applied in the correct way. Orientation arrows get overlooked on liquids, and packaging requirements don’t always get the attention they should.
Misused exceptions
Exceptions can be helpful, but only when they’re used correctly. A common mistake is applying an exception from memory or based on how something was handled in the past. Over time, those habits can drift away from what the regulations allow. It’s also not unusual to see exceptions applied to materials that don’t qualify in the first place.
There’s also confusion around how exceptions affect other requirements. Reduced marking or labeling under one exception doesn’t automatically apply to everything. Shipping papers, packaging standards, hazard communication, and training requirements all need to be reviewed together. When one piece is assumed instead of verified, it can lead to gaps in compliance.
Simple checks
The best way to avoid these issues is to slow down just enough to verify the basic requirements. Start by confirming that the material actually meets the criteria for a limited quantity or other exception. That includes checking the hazard class, packing group, and quantity limits against the regulations instead of relying on memory.
From there, take a close look at the package. Make sure the correct marks are applied and clearly visible, check for orientation arrows when required, and confirm the packaging meets the applicable standard. It also helps to step back and look at the full shipment to make sure all remaining requirements are still being met.
Small packages can move quickly, but that doesn’t mean they should move without a second look. In the end, it comes down to consistency. Using exceptions correctly, applying the right markings, and double checking the details can keep small packages from turning into bigger compliance issues.
Key to remember: Small packages can create big compliance issues when limited quantity rules and exceptions are misunderstood or applied incorrectly. Take some extra time to verify the requirements before they turn into violations down the road.
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2026-06-03T05:00:00Z
NewsPersonal Protective EquipmentBenzeneMethylene ChlorideFormaldehydeWalking Working SurfacesWalking Working SurfacesCarcinogensEnglishAsbestosCadmiumIndustry NewsIndustry NewsLeadSafety & HealthConstruction SafetyGeneral Industry SafetyMaritime SafetyAcrylonitrileSafety Color CodingCotton DustEthylene OxideRespiratory ProtectionSigns and MarkingsCoke Oven EmissionsFocus AreaToxic and Hazardous Substances - OSHAUSA
OSHA to hold public hearings on multiple proposed rules
OSHA will hold a series of informal, virtual public hearings on multiple proposed rules beginning on August 19, 2026. The majority relate to respiratory protection requirements for different chemical substances. All of the proposed rules were published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025, except for the Walking-Working Surfaces proposal, which was published on April 6, 2026.
| Standards Impacted 29 CFR | Standard Name |
| 1910.1044 | 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane |
| 1910.1051 | 1, 3- Butadiene |
| 1910.1003 | 13 Carcinogens (4- Nitrobiphenyl, etc.) |
| 1910.1045 | Acrylonitrile |
| 1910.1001 | Asbestos |
| 1910.1028 | Benzene |
| 1910.1027 and 1926.1127 | Cadmium |
| 1910.1029 | Coke Oven Emissions |
| 1910.1043 | Cotton Dust |
| 1910.1047 | Ethylene Oxide |
| 1910.1048 | Formaldehyde |
| 1910.1018 | Inorganic Arsenic |
| 1910.1025 and 1926.62 | Lead |
| 1910.1052 | Methylene Chloride |
| 1910.1050 and 1926.60 | Methylenedianiline |
| 1910.1017 | Vinyl Chloride |
| 1910.134 | Respiratory Protection |
| 1910.144, 1910.262, 1910.265, and 1915.90 | Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards |
| 1910.28 | Walking-Working Surfaces |
The hearings are open to the public, but only individuals who file a Notice of Intention to Appear (NOITA) may testify, provide documentary evidence, or ask questions. For more information, see www.osha.gov/deregulatory-rulemaking.
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2026-06-03T05:00:00Z
NewsWater PermittingChange NoticesChange NoticeWater ProgramsWater QualityIndustrial WastewaterFloridaEnvironmentalWater ProgramsEnglishFocus AreaCWA Compliance
Florida amends on-site sewage treatment and disposal rules
Effective date: June 8, 2026
This applies to: On-site sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS)
Description of change: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection amended the regulatory requirements for OSTDS. In addition to streamlining specific permit application processing procedures, the final rule amends the requirements for:
- Installing and locating OSTDS,
- Abandoning OSTDS,
- Treatment receptacle construction standards,
- Registration requirements for septic tanks and Master Septic Tank Contractors,
- Registration certificate renewals,
- Discipline and penalties for registered persons,
- Certification of partnerships and corporations as septic tank contracting businesses, and
- Service and registration fees.
Related state info: Industrial water permitting — Florida
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2026-06-03T05:00:00Z
NewsChange NoticesChange NoticeWater ProgramsIndustrial WastewaterEnvironmentalCWA ComplianceEnglishMichiganFocus Area
Michigan adds requirements to wastewater collection systems
Effective date: April 29, 2026
This applies to: Wastewater collection systems with more than 50 connections and retention treatment basin (RTB) facilities
Description of change: The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy amended regulations for wastewater collection systems and RTB facilities by requiring:
- Facility classification, and
- Collection system operators to have system-specific certification (and recertify every 3 years).
The rules also streamline wastewater construction permitting, clarifying requirements for privately owned, publicly used systems when applying for Part 41 Permits.
Related state info: Industrial water permitting — Michigan
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2026-06-03T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsProtective SystemsRecordkeepingSafety & HealthConstruction SafetyExcavationsRecordkeepingUSAEnglishFocus AreaCompetent Person
Washington state trenching, excavation rule now in effect
Washington state’s trenching and excavation rule took effect June 1. The rule amends chapter 296-155 WAC, Safety standard for construction work, Part N, Excavation, trenching, and shoring, to require employers to include a risk analysis in their written work plan before any work involving a protective system begins. The work plan can be found on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website or employers may create their own.
The adopted rule also:
- Creates a standalone definition section and adds a new definition of "work plan,"
- Requires a competent person to remain onsite during all trenching and excavation work, and
- Addresses recordkeeping and training requirements of the trench excavation work plan.
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