Compliance Updates
Medical Surveillance Change to OSHA’s Silica Standard
Obligations and enforcement for medical surveillance within the OSHA silica standard changed on June 23, 2020. Employers in general industry and maritime operations must now provide medical surveillance for employees who will be exposed at or above the action level...
OSHA Increases Inspections and Revises COVID-19 Recordkeeping Requirements
By Kevin Burns, GSP, Safety Consultant As states reopen and business is somewhat getting back to normal, OSHA announced two revised policies related to COVID-19. OSHA is increasing in-person inspections at all types of workplaces. This includes, but is not limited to,...
Federal EPA Relaxes Environmental Enforcement
The USEPA announced an Enforcement Discretion Policy for the COVID-19 Pandemic. What does this mean for your business? Well, for starters, it means the USEPA will still enforce intentional criminal violations of law. However, this policy might help ease your burden...
OSHA Updating Silica National Emphasis Program
You’ve been hearing about respirable crystalline silica from OSHA and Safex for several years now. If you’re not already aware, exposure to silica dust, which often occurs when cutting, sawing or grinding rocks, concrete, mortar, etc., causes severe lung disease,...
Think You Know Ink (As a Universal Waste)?
Inks play an important role in the operations of many businesses. If you’re operating in Ohio and have waste inks, did you know you may be able to dispose of them as universal waste? Having this knowledge may save you time and resources. The 2017 Ohio EPA rule change...
OSHA Temporary Enforcement Policy Regarding Crane Operator Certification
If your company operates cranes, please be aware that the certification from Crane Institute does not meet OSHA's requirements for crane operator certifications. However, OSHA will not cite employers for certifications received prior to December 2, 2019. Here's the...
ANSI Standard for Aerial Lifts/Mobile Elevated Work Platforms Compliance Update
December 10, 2019, is an important deadline for those who manufacture, own, or operate aerial lifts. Make sure you’re aware of the change in the ANSI A92.22 standards for Safe Use and A92.24 standards for training before it’s time to comply. Changes are coming and...
New Rule for Respirator Fit Testing Protocols to Protect Workers from Airborne Contaminants
Do you have a respirator protection program that requires mandatory respirator use? If so, be sure you know about OSHA’s new Final Rule that came out on September 26, 2019. What changed? OSHA approved two more quantitative fit testing protocols to be used with...
Possible Updates to the Lockout/Tagout Standard
On May 17, 2019, OSHA released a memo requesting information on a possible update to the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)) standard. According to the release,"OSHA is requesting information about how employers have been using control...