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EHS Monthly Round Up - January 2023
In this monthly roundup video, we’ll review the most impactful environmental, safety, and health news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental, safety, and health news. First, let’s take a look at what’s happening in safety and health.
If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to post your OSHA 300A Summary. Employers are required to post the Summary in a conspicuous place from February 1st through April 30th.
As required by law, OSHA increased its penalties for inflation in mid-January. Penalties went up 7.7 percent, effective January 17th.
Also in January, OSHA released its long-awaited Fall 2022 regulatory agenda. Along with numerous proposed rules in the works, three major final rules are slated for 2023 – COVID-19 in healthcare, Injury and Illness tracking, and an update to the hazard communication standard.
OSHA recently released two new letters of interpretation, which address exit signs and lockout/tagout. Specifically, OSHA states that the International Standards Organization emergency exit symbol can be located beside the mandatory EXIT text on an existing sign.
The second letter addresses the applicability of lockout/tagout and the maintenance and operations of cathodic protection rectifiers when working on pipelines.
New York’s Warehouse Worker Protection Act was signed into law in December and takes effect in late February. It protects warehouse distribution workers from undisclosed or unlawful work speed quotas and includes protections for workers who fail to meet these quotas.
In 2021, a worker died every 101 minutes from a work-related injury, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A total of 5,190 fatal work injuries was recorded in the U.S. in 2021, an 8.9 percent increase over 2020.
Turning to environmental news, EPA automatically added nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, to the Toxics Release Inventory, or TRI, list. Four PFAS were added since they are no longer claimed as confidential business information.
EPA released its Fall 2022 regulatory agenda in early January. Included are major regulations impacting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, waters of the United States, and modifications to the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act.
There are also a number of rules related to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants in various rule stages.
And finally, beginning with model year 2027, heavy-duty trucks will be required to meet clean air standards that are 80 percent more stringent than current requirements.
EPA says this final rule is aimed at reducing smog- and soot-forming emissions, increasing the life of governed vehicles by up to 250 percent, and increasing emissions warranty periods up to 450 percent.
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EHS Monthly Round Up - October 2024
In this October 2024 roundup video, we'll review the most impactful environmental, health, and safety news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental, health, and safety news. Please view the content links in the transcript for more information about the topics I’ll be covering today. Let’s get started!
A Government Accountability Office report says OSHA can do more to protect warehouse and delivery workers from ergonomic injuries. The report recommends several steps for OSHA to consider, including ensuring compliance officers can easily obtain data on when musculoskeletal disorders occurred.
OSHA updated its inspection guidance for animal slaughtering and processing industries. Inspections will focus on several hazards, including sanitation, ergonomics, and machine guarding. Among other changes, compliance officers will conduct inspections during off-shift times and identify workplace activities that impact employees most at risk such as temporary employees.
OSHA urges workers involved in hurricane cleanup and recovery efforts to be mindful of hazards, especially those associated with restoring electricity, removing debris, and trimming trees. Proper training, experience, and familiarity with related equipment helps ensure worker safety.
And finally, turning to environmental news, EPA extended the 2024 Chemical Data Reporting deadline to November 22 due to technical difficulties with its electronic reporting tool. The 2024 report covers activities that occurred between calendar years 2020 and 2023.
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EHS Monthly Round Up - May 2023
In this monthly roundup video, we'll review the most impactful environmental, safety, and health news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental, health, and safety news. Please view the content links in the transcript to take a deeper dive into the topics I’ll be covering today. With that said, let’s get started!
First, let’s take a look at what’s happening in safety and health. The week of May 1 marked the 10th annual Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. Employers were encouraged to have safety talks or demonstrations on the use of fall protection.
A new National Emphasis Program on fall prevention covers all industries, with a focus on construction and specific general industry activities. It took effect May 1; however, programmed inspections will begin after a 90-day outreach period.
With the start of lawn-care season, a recent OSHA case highlights some of the risks involved. The Agency found a lawn service contractor operating in Kentucky ignored safety requirements to save time.
A forklift operator suffered fatal injuries after falling into a recycling baler while trying to remove a jam. Investigators found a lack of training and communication were contributing factors.
In response to larger, more frequent wildfires, the state of Washington has proposed permanent wildfire smoke rules. They include year-round requirements for employers that will be in effect whenever there’s a risk that workers will be exposed to wildfire smoke.
And finally, turning to environmental news, EPA finalized changes to the new source performance standards for Automobile and Light Duty Truck Surface Coating Operations. The rule adds more emissions requirements for such operations.
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EHS Monthly Round Up - December 2024
In this December 2024 roundup video, we’ll review the most impactful environmental, health, and safety news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental, health, and safety news. Please view the content links in the transcript for more information about the topics I’ll be covering today. Let’s get started!
OSHA’s personal protective equipment in construction final rule takes effect January 13. Employers must ensure PPE is of safe design and construction for the work to be performed and properly fits employees.
OSHA extended the comment deadline to January 14 for its proposed heat illness prevention rule. This gives stakeholders two more weeks to review the proposal and comment on it. An informal public hearing on the rule is scheduled for June 16.
OSHA released its Fall 2024 regulatory agenda on December 13. Many final and proposed rulemakings have been pushed into the first half of 2025, and a few have been bumped into the third quarter of the year.
OSHA updated its arc flash guidance for employees working on energized electrical equipment. Arc flash incidents can ignite clothing, cause structural fires, and cause severe or fatal burns. The guidance covers protecting employees from arc flash hazards, common electrical work myths, establishing boundaries around arc flash hazards, and being aware of arc flash hazards.
Warehouse, delivery, and retail workers are at increased risk for injuries and illnesses during the holidays due to higher volumes of work to meet consumer demand. OSHA reminds employers to protect workers by ensuring they’re trained to recognize and prevent hazards.
And finally, turning to environmental news, EPA released its Fall 2024 regulatory agenda on December 13. It includes projected publication dates for several final and proposed rules that may impact industry compliance with air, land, and water regulations.
Thanks for tuning in to the monthly news roundup. We’ll see you next month!
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EHS Monthly Round Up - February 2025
In this February 2025 roundup video, we'll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news. There’s a lot going on, so let’s get started!
Under a new Executive Order, federal agencies must eliminate 10 regulations for each new one they introduce. This applies to all new rules, regulations, or guidance issued by government agencies such as the Department of Labor, which includes OSHA, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
A new OSHA fact sheet outlines employee rights and protections when filing a whistleblower complaint. Employers may not retaliate against employees who exercise their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
OSHA will not cite employers for COVID-19 recordkeeping violations under its Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard. These regulations are specific to healthcare settings. The provisions remain in effect, but until further notice, OSHA will not enforce them.
New guidance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that employers use individual, quantitative fit-testing for hearing protection. This helps evaluate how well workers’ hearing protection reduces noise levels and ensures a proper fit.
And finally, turning to environmental news, states across the country continue to consider and implement regulations related to PFAS. These “forever chemicals” are long-lasting chemicals that may pose risks to human and environmental health. A recent study anticipates that more than half of the states in the U.S. are likely to consider PFAS-related policies this year.
Thanks for tuning in to the monthly news roundup. We’ll see you next month!
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.