EHS Today Standards RSS Feed

EPA's Brownfields Grants Help Revitalize Communities

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:40:00 EDT

In DeKalb County, Ga., plans are underway to clean up and redevelop major industrial areas served by transit and infrastructure in community areas. Toledo, Ohio, will expand an urban agriculture growing area and make way for an expansion of a hospital and high school. These efforts and more are made possible by EPA's $69.3 million in Brownfields grants to help communities clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and create jobs while protecting public health.

OSHA to Create Federal Whistleblower Advisory Committee

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:12:00 EDT

On May 17, OSHA announced it would create a federal advisory committee to strengthen its whistleblower protections.

EPA: QEP Field Services Agrees to Pay $4 Million and Install Pollution Controls to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Clean Air Act

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:13:00 EDT

EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a settlement with QEP Field Services Co., formerly Questar Gas Management Co., to settle claims that QEPFS's compressor stations – which remove water and compress natural gas for transportation through gas pipelines – are sources of air pollution. According to EPA, the compressor stations emit hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which can increase the risk of asthma attacks and are significant contributors to the formation of ozone.

New Government Safety Data Initiative Promises Insight into Nation's Public Safety Activities

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:46:00 EDT

The White House Office of Science and Technology has launched Safety.Data.Gov, a new government initiative that aims to provide better access to federal safety data and foster innovative ideas that could impact public safety.

OSHA Cites Cleveland Cement Contractors for Safety Violations Following Casino Parking Garage Collapse

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:21:00 EDT

An eager crowd stood in line for hours on May 14, waiting their turn to enter Ohio’s first casino, Horseshoe Casino Cleveland. Thousands of gamblers translate to thousands of needed parking space, so could the rush to provide parking for all those people have led to safety shortcuts? On May 9, OSHA cited Cleveland Cement Contractors Inc. for six serious safety violations, including not following design and construction standards, following an investigation into the partial collapse on Dec. 16, 2011 of the casino's second floor parking garage.

DeMoulas Super Markets Reach Agreement with OSHA to Correct Workplace Hazards, Enhance Employee Safety

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:56:00 EDT

OSHA has reached a settlement with Massachussets-based grocery store chain DeMoulas Super Markets Inc., in which the company agrees to correct all hazards and take steps to enhance safety and health for workers at all of the chain's 60-plus Market Basket stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. OSHA issued $589,200 in fines to the grocery store chain in October 2011 after OSHA inspectors identified fall and laceration hazards at the stores.

HazCom Gets a Facelift

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:45:00 EDT

Ten things you need to know about OSHA’s new hazard communication standard.

OSHA Wants Workers to Chill Out; Launches Campaign To Prevent Heat-Related Illness

Mon, 07 May 2012 15:01:00 EDT

As the weather heats up, so do OSHA’s outreach initiatives to educate workers and their employers about the hazards of working outdoors in hot weather. Each year, workers suffer injury and even death from exposure to too much sun and heat.

MSHA: Ten U.S. Miners Died In First Quarter of 2012

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EDT

In the first 3 months of 2012, a total of 10 miners died in work-related accidents, according to MSHA.

OSHA Launches New Construction Fall Prevention Campaign

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:16:00 EDT

At the April 26 Action Summit for Worker Safety and Health, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis honored Workers' Memorial Day and revealed a new OSHA campaign focusing on fall prevention in the construction industry.

OSHA's Michaels Commemorates Workers' Memorial Day in Audio Message

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:16:00 EDT

Every year on April 28, the nation recognizes Workers' Memorial Day to remember and honor the workers who lost their lives while on the job. This year, in advance of Workers' Memorial Day, OSHA Administrator Dr. David Michaels recorded an audio message about worker safety and rights.

OSHA Alliance Waves Safety Through the Construction Zone

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:26:00 EDT

Roadway construction zones can be a particularly dangerous place to work, with hazards including construction vehicle backovers or runovers and more. In an effort to better protect these construction workers, OSHA announced that it has renewed its alliance with the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners.

GAO Chief: We Don’t Know Why OSHA Standards Take So Long

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:37:00 EDT

Experts agree there are several factors contributing to the slowdown in the standards-setting process at OSHA: procedural requirements, the shifting priorities of the agency and the administration based on the political climate and the fact that OSHA is one of only three government agencies that must meet a higher standard of judicial review. And all of those factors appear to have helped create an environment at OSHA where administrators and managers are afraid to pull the trigger on standards they have been working on for years. And it appears to be getting worse.

OSHA Directive: Communicating with Families of Victims of Workplace Fatalities

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:47:00 EDT

When someone suddenly dies in an accident, families want answers to questions: What happened? Who’s at fault? Will someone be punished for creating the situation or causing the accident? This also is true of the families of victims of workplace fatalities, and a new directive from OSHA guides OSHA representatives in communicating investigation procedures with family members following a workplace fatality.

Buckle Up: Delta Air Lines, OSHA Sign Seatbelt Compliance Agreement for Baggage Vehicles

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:18:00 EDT

Delta Air Lines' baggage handling vehicles soon will be equipped with seat belts to better protect workers, according to the settlement agreement OSHA announced on April 16. OSHA also is urging others within the airline industry to comply with seatbelt requirements.