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What Will Inspectors Look for in Combustible Dust Inspections?
We recently discussed in this blog OSHA’s revised Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. Along with that revision OSHA’s shared its instructions to inspectors on what how to conduct the inspection, what to look for, how to build a case for a citation and which...
OSHA Updates Its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program
In 2007, after a number of combustible dust incidents, OSHA issued its National Emphasis Program on Combustible Dusts. After years of inspections and gained knowledge about combustible dusts in industry, OSHA maintains this National Emphasis Program is now updating...
Making Changes to Equipment or Operations? Do You Need a Construction Air Permit?
What Are Construction Air Permits and How Do We Determine If We Need One? Whenever you plan on making changes to equipment or operations, before you ever get started, your company should always determine whether or not you will need to obtain a construction air permit...
Which Annual Environmental Training Should You Add to Your Calendar?
Recently we covered the required annual OSHA safety training requirements your company should be scheduling each year. What about the most common annual EPA or environmental training requirements? RCRA Hazardous Waste Training is required for anyone handling or...
EPCRA Tier II: Does the March 1 Deadline Apply to Your Facility?
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) requires facilities to report emergency and hazardous chemical information each year to their state and local emergency response officials and local fire departments. This is a federal requirement, but...
OSHA Injury Posting Requirements
It's that time of year again when employers need to post and submit last year's injury and illness data. Here is a list of timeframes and more information about which companies this affects: Posting Injury and Illness Data All employers who are required to maintain...
Which Annual Safety Training Requirements Should You Add to Your Calendar?
Annual safety training is a best management practice and is most often required when conditions in the workplace change. However, the OSHA standards don’t specifically require annual safety training for all of its topic areas, just a handful of them. Employee Access...
2023 EPA and OSHA Compliance Deadlines
It’s a new reporting year and time to plan for 2023 reporting and compliance deadlines. Mark your calendars with these important dates! Please note, if the deadlines fall on the weekend, in parentheses, we’ve included the date you should get your reporting in by....
Be Safe When Ringing in the New Year
Has this year been a crazy one? Did you love it, or is it one you'd like to forget? Either way, there’s a likelihood that there will be a lot of celebration this year when saying goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023. Regardless of whether you plan on going out, or...
Christmas Safety
Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year, but it can also be a time for accidents. Distractions: The holidays and all that come with them can be a big distraction. There’s all the shopping and other errands that need to be done. Workers may be attending a...
EPA Proposes Changes to Air Permitting Regulations for New Sources
Companies with operations subject to the Clean Air Act are required to submit their plans for any operational or physical changes before they occur to see if they'll have a significant affect on air quality. This program is called the New Source Review...
EPA Issues Changes to 6H NESHAP for Paint Stripping & Surface Coating
EPA has issued Final Rule updates to 40 CFR Part 63, subpart HHHHHH, the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources. This NESHAP standard applies to companies...
OSHA Considering Changes and Updates to the PSM Standard
OSHA Considering Changes and Updates to the PSM Standard OSHA has been accepting comments on several proposed changes to its Process Safety Management, or PSM standard. PSM is an OSHA regulation that is concerned with processes at your facility that use highly...
Thanksgiving Safety Tips to Share With Your Employees, Family and Friends
As a safety consultant, we make sure that our teams know about safety in all aspects of their life, not just the OSHA kind at work. Safety at home is just as important as safety at work. Below are some tips for Thanksgiving Safety, including a link to download a...
What’s the Difference Between the HAZWOPER’s Emergency Response Plan and an Emergency Action Plan?
Being prepared for emergencies at your facility is vital, and having that plan communicated to your employees is even more critical. OSHA references a couple of different plans in its regulations, one is the Emergency Action Plan and then OSHA’s HAZWOPER standard...
Fit Testing Questions Answered
Once you conduct an evaluation to determine what type of respirator your workers will be required to use to protect them from the contaminants around them (that is, what type, Assigned Protection Factor (APF) needed, what filters and/or cartridges are required, etc.),...
SMETA Audits
SMETA AUDIT: What you need to know What is a Smeta audit? SMETA or Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit is the leading global ethical audit and assurance methodology that helps companies to assess their suppliers’ performance against a set of criteria. It covers labor,...
Waste Disposal Facility Audit Checklist
What is a waste audit? There are two types of audits: manual and automated. A waste audit can be conducted in a variety of ways, depending on the organization and its goals. Generally, there are two types of audits: manual and automated. Manual waste audits involve...
Safety Auditors: There is more to it than you think!
Safety Auditors: There is more to it than you think! What is a safety audit? A safety audit is a comprehensive review of a company's safety practices, procedures and compliance with safety regulations. The goal of a safety audit is to identify potential hazards and...
Environmental Audits: What You Need to Know
Environmental Audits: What you need to know What is in an environmental audit? An environmental audit is a tool used to investigate, understand and identify the effects of certain activities on the environment. Depending on the type of audit and the focus of the...
Lithium Batteries: Safety Hazards and Their Impact on Businesses
More lithium and lithium-ion batteries are being used in products today and just like any material, if we understand how to use it safely, it should not pose any problem. (Note: Lithium batteries are single-use batteries and lithium-ion batteries are the rechargeable...