Proposed Changes to OSHA PSM: How it May Affect Your Site
In September 2022, OSHA formally announced proposed amendments to the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard in response to Executive Order 13650. This executive order, signed in 2013, required OSHA and EPA to perform “modernization” efforts to their respective PSM and Risk Management Program (RMP) standards. EnSafe attended OSHA’s PSM Stakeholder meeting in October 2022 to […]
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Written Health and Safety Programs are Just Good Common Sense
To Write or Not to Write – That is the Question Whether your business is undergoing a self-imposed health and safety audit, a voluntary audit from an accredited organization, or a not-so-voluntary inspection through a regulatory agency, one of the first items likely to be requested by the auditor is a copy of your written […]
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Regulatory Changes Expected as Findings Suggest Increased Risk from EtO Emissions
Prompted by findings of increased cancer risks associated with ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering regulatory changes that will affect the use of EtO, a colorless, odorless, flammable gas typically used for sterilization of medication equipment but is also used to make other chemicals and products like antifreeze and […]
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U.S. EPA Announces Intent to Designate PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances
On Friday, August 26, 2022, U.S. EPA announced its intent to designate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as CERCLA hazardous substances. U.S. EPA posted a pre-publication notice for the Federal Register listing, including Supplemental Information describing the basis for designation. This rulemaking marks the first time U.S. EPA has used its authority under […]
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Alternative Protective Measures, The Bridge Between Lockout Tagout and Machine Guarding
The requirements for using Lockout Tagout (LOTO) to control hazardous energy during machine servicing and maintenance are clearly prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.147, but OSHA enforcement citing of the LOTO Standard consistently remains in the top 10 most frequently cited standards. Why? LOTO requirements are not always consistently or correctly followed, and they’re often viewed […]
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Performing Confined Space Assessments: Keys to Success
When one of the largest Liquified natural gas (LNG) plants in the country is relying on us to identify all its confined spaces, perform hazard assessments on those spaces, and determine whether each one is a “permit required confined space” (as defined in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] standard, here’s how we do […]
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SAFETY CULTURE: THE ICEBERG EFFECT
A strong, positive safety culture results in reduced injuries and lost time by valuable resources, improved morale and productivity, and greater loyalty to the organization. Safety culture and the desire to have a strong safety culture are often discussed, but what exactly is safety culture? In basic terms, safety culture is the “preferred way things […]
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Changes to Vermont Stormwater General Permit 3-9050
Landowners in Vermont are feeling the effects of the latest Stormwater General Permit 3-9050 requirement for stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. Sites with three or more acres of impervious surface that do not currently have coverage under previous operational general permits are now required to seek coverage under General Permit 3-9050. Affected sites are beginning […]
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PFAS Health Advisories Published/Updated for 4 PFAS
U.S. EPA has published and/or updated Health Advisories (HAs) for the following four PFAS: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) – 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) – 0.02 ppt Hexafluoropropylene Oxide (HFPO) Dimer Acid and its Ammonium Salt, also known as “GenX chemicals” – 10 ppt Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid and its Potassium Salt (PFBS) – […]
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OUCH! Laceration Prevention
Statistics The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported that in 2020, there were over 59,000 cuts and lacerations involving time away from work sustained by private employers in the U.S. A large majority of these lost time injuries involved the hands and fingers. These injuries are painful, impact employees and their families, and […]
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