Absurd Facility Related News from the Week
Every so often there’s a facility-related story that is too strange to ignore. This week, there were two. Since it’s Friday, let’s have a weird news roundup.
Category: Safety
Now Hear This—October is National Protect Your Hearing Month
October is National Protect Your Hearing Month! In workplaces where noise levels exceed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) action level of 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) as a time-weighted average, employers must have a hearing conservation program. Along with reducing noise levels and noise exposures, selecting appropriate hearing protection, audiometric testing, and recordkeeping, employee […]
Stepping Up Your Foot Protection Program
Many employers have questions about what specific footwear would best fit their foot protection programs. Experts at Safety.BLR.com® recently stepped in to answer two questions on the subject—see what they had to say, plus download a free guide from Tingley to get your program on firm ground!
OIG Says That Fatalities and Injuries Are Underreported
Despite OSHA’s 2014 rule strengthening provisions that require employers to inform the agency about work-related fatalities and serious injuries and illnesses, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that OSHA’s data on these incidents are deficient as is its assurance that employers abated the hazards that contributed to the incidents.
Interest Groups Petition Court to Block OSHA’s Suspension of Electronic Recordkeeping Rule
Three public interest groups have petitioned the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to order OSHA to lift its suspension of portions rule requiring employers to electronically submit certain information about injuries and illnesses that occur in their workplaces to OSHA. According to the petition, OSHA suspended the requirement to submit the information […]
How Compliant Are Your LOTO and Machine Guarding Practices ?
Does your safety program effectively protect workers when they are exposed to moving machine parts and hazardous energy? The machine guarding and lockout/tagout (LOTO) standards are consistently on the list of the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards—read on for a Q&A on the basics, as well as an opportunity to join our live […]
As an Industrial Supply Company, What Do I Need in My Hazcom Inventory?
Complete Question: I am developing an updated hazardous material inventory for my Hazard Communication (HazCom) program. We are a industrial supply/hardware supply company that maintains an inventory of paints, thinners, lubricants, and cleaners etc. The employees do not use these substances, but do handle them from receiving, to the shelf, to the customer. What should be […]
EPA Proposes High-Efficiency Spray Requirement for Coating Operations
A new EPA proposal states that existing emissions limits for hazardous air pollutants generated by three industry sectors engaged in coating operations are sufficient to protect people from cancer risks.
Are You Prepared for Industrial Stormwater Monitoring?
Several states now have looming deadlines for discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), making it a good time of year to evaluate your industrial facility’s stormwater monitoring practices. Improper monitoring—or just plain forgetting to monitor—can lead to a number of costly violations for facilities operating under industrial stormwater permits, so it pays to make sure you’re doing […]
Deadline Approaching for Comments on Proposed OSHA e-Recordkeeping Rule
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking comments from employers by September 28, 2018, regarding a proposal to amend its controversial Obama-era e-recordkeeping rule.