The iSi Blog
Featuring the Latest From OSHA and EPA as Well as Other Regulatory and iSi Updates
Join Our Email List!
Stay informed of upcoming regulations — get our blog articles and other updates sent directly to your email. Subscribe today!
What’s the Difference Between OSHA’s General Industry and Construction Standards on Asbestos?
With so many entities regulating asbestos – EPA to OSHA to State Governments to even City and County Governments – we see a lot of confusion. These regulations cross over and intertwine with each other and it’s sometimes difficult to remember which rule is required...
EPA Looks to Add Air Emissions Reporting Items
EPA has announced a several changes to its Air Emissions Reporting Rule, or AERR that would make reporting of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) consistent from state to state, add electronic reporting of stack tests, decrease and standardize emissions thresholds, create...
OSHA Issues New National Emphasis Programs for Warehousing, Distribution Centers and Certain Retail Stores
OSHA’s latest National Emphasis Program (NEP) is targeting warehousing and distribution center operations, mail/postal processing and distribution centers, parcel delivery/courier services and certain retail stores with high injury rates. An NEP is a temporary...
OSHA Issues Final Rule Which Updates Electronic Injury and Illness Reporting, Adds Industries and More Requirements
OSHA has issued a final rule changing some of the requirements for electronic injury and illness reporting, adding some new companies and increasing some of the reporting requirements. What’s New Companies with 20-249 employees whose NAICS codes were listed on...
iSi Summer Toolbox Topics: Fireworks Safety
One of the favorite events of the 4th of July holiday for many people is shooting fireworks. Contrary to what we may have seen and done in our teenage years, fireworks can actually be pretty dangerous. Here are some tips to remember and share for a safe holiday:...
Forklift Top 6: Common OSHA Compliance Pitfalls for Powered Industrial Trucks
We have been seeing more and more issues regarding OSHA powered industrial trucks (forklift) compliance. OSHA currently has a number of powered industrial trucks local and regional inspection emphasis programs in several states. This means if you have an OSHA...
OSHA’s Heat-Related Hazards National Emphasis Program
OSHA has issued a new NEP on heat-related hazards. In this article, we’ll discuss what it includes, which companies will be targeted and what OSHA inspectors will be looking for in their inspections. What’s an NEP? A National Emphasis Program, or NEP, is a temporary...
What the Haz?
A Deeper Dive Into the “Haz” Words in OSHA, EPA and DOT and Where They Can Crossover Every once in a while, we will get a call from someone looking for “Hazmat” training. To you, the word hazmat may mean one thing, but we guarantee to someone else it probably means...
CSB Issues Safety Alert Regarding Emergency Pressure Relief Systems
The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has issued a safety alert regarding emergency pressure relief systems as the agency is continuing to see them playing their part in major chemical incidents. Who is the CSB? The CSB is an independent federal agency who investigates the...
OSHA Memo to Affect Way Agency Issues Certain Penalties, With Potential for Significant Increases
OSHA’s Director of Enforcement and Director of Construction have joined together to issue two memos to its Regional Administrators and State Plan Designees to alert them on how to interpret penalties in certain cases. Instance-by-Instance Citations First, the memo...
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...
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...
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...
Hazmat Employee Training Requirements Every Employer Must Know
What does HAZMAT stand for? Hazmat stands for HAZardous MATerials, and is a term commonly used to refer to materials that could be dangerous to people, the environment or property. These types of materials may include explosives, flammable liquids, radioactive...
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.),...
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...
iSi’s Top 12 General Industry Safety Audit Findings
Safety regulations are enforced by OSHA, and in some states such as California and Indiana, by a state safety agency. How do you make sure you have your bases covered? A safety audit can determine your current status and what your vulnerabilities are. iSi’s general...