Category: Environmental

The 4 biggest safety hazards in the lumber industry

Logging remains one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. Federal statistics were used by the publication USA Today to rank the most dangerous private-industry jobs in America. The fourth-highest job fatality rate was reported for logging workers, who have led the national rankings in some years. In this article, we discuss the biggest safety hazards in the industry and what can be done to prevent accidents.

Q&A: How to determine if solid waste is hazardous waste

In this EHS Hotline Q&A, a subscriber asked whether solid waste is hazardous waste. Before you can decide what class of generator you are, and therefore the level of regulatory responsibilities with which you must comply, you need to know if you’re generating hazardous waste. Anyone who generates waste materials must determine if the waste is hazardous as defined by RCRA.

Identifying and classifying chemical hazards

OSHA’s hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §1910.1200) remains a compliance pain point for businesses, as it was the second-most cited standard in fiscal year (FY) 2023.

Protecting the workforce from PFAS

PFAS exposure can vary by occupation and work activities, with chemical manufacturing, firefighting, the aerospace industry, construction, and electronics manufacturing being among the most likely to result in exposure.

Ace your next EPA inspection

While agency audits can feel anxiety-inducing for EHS professionals; they don’t have to be a negative experience. When you know what to expect before an after the evaluation, you can better prepare your facility and workers.

It’s getting hot in here – OSHA heat standard on the horizon

Because there’s currently no federal heat stress standard, OSHA continues to address workplace heat hazards by citing employers for violations of the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, which requires employers to provide a place of employment free from recognized hazards. OSHA claims that between 2015 and 2020, it has conducted approximately 200 heat-related inspections each year, many of which resulted in citations under the General Duty Clause.

Back to basics: Preventing mold exposure

There are many hazards in the workplace, but one of the most insidious is mold. Exposure to mold and fungus can lead to health problems for workers, so you need to keep an eye on it. In this EHS Daily Advisor article, learn the basics.