Environmental Health and Safety Blog | EHSWire

John Quatermas - EHS Consultant

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Topics: OSHA, health and safety, Construction H&S, Emergency Response, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, Hazardous Materials, Compliance, worker safety, Hazard Communication Standard, environmental air monitoring, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish

The Importance of Following OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200

Diego Tolosa, CHST

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Topics: OSHA, Personal Protective Equipment, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, HazCom, Hazardous Materials, Compliance, Occupational Health, Occupational Safety, MSDS, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish

Get an EHS Design Expert at the Table!

Paula Kaufmann - CIH

I recently read an article titled “Implementing Safety during Design: a Case Study” in the March 2009 edition of AIHA publication, The Synergist. The authors discuss how incorporating safety systems or measures in the design phase of a construction project can result in large cost savings for the overall project budget. Studies have shown that implementing safety during the planning phases of a project, compared with after construction costs, have a 1:10,000 ratio. This equates to $1 pre-construction costs versus $10,000 post-construction abatement. The authors focus on safety concerns following the guidelines established by The Institute for Safety through Design (established in 1995 by the National Safety Council's Business and Industry Division).

As an industrial hygienist, I have often been frustrated when working on remedies for minimizing exposure to chemicals, immediate safety concerns, chemical storage and waste handling concerns after the occupancy of new laboratory facilities. Construction design planners rely heavily on architects that create beautiful layouts, but often fail to incorporate the fire safety, hazardous material handling and life safety issues that are detailed in NFPA 45: Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals and NFPA 101: Life Safety Code®. The design planners and architects frequently look to the local fire department or permit authorities to approve the plans. These groups may be well versed in commercial building codes, but often are not experts in the potential hazards present in a laboratory operation. The costs of retrofitting a new facility to meet NFPA guidelines and OSHA standards can be staggering. The “take away” is to get an EHS professional involved in the upstream design process. Often cost of another “expert” is discouraged by the planners. Then again, studies (and our experiences) have shown that not getting the right experts at the planning table can be “penny wise but pound foolish”.

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Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, EPA, H&S Training, Hazardous Materials, Compliance, Occupational Safety, TSCA & R.E.A.C.H., TSCA, Lab Safety & Electrical, Fire Safety, R.E.A.C.H.

What You Should Know About Access to Your Employment Medical Records

Paula Kaufmann - CIH

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Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, H&S Training, Compliance, Occupational Health, Mold, Fire Safety, Medical Records

How I Set off the Radiation Detectors at the US / Canadian Border

Bruce Groves - CIH

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Topics: health and safety, General Industry H&S, Emergency Response, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, Compliance, emergency response training, Medical Records

Employers who have chemicals listed on the Environmental Hazardous Substance (EHS) list in quantities that exceed 500 pounds at any given time during 2008, were required to complete and submit an annual Community Right to Know Survey. In addition, substances on the federal list of extremely hazardous substances had to be reported if they are present at the designated threshold (usually less than 500 pounds), as well as any chemical requiring a Material Safety Data Sheet that is present on site in quantities that exceed 10,000 pounds. This is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Employers were required to complete and submit the survey by March 1, 2009.
The survey had to be submitted to the state environmental protection agency (such as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection), and copies sent to the Local Emergency Planning Commission, local police and fire departments, and the local hospital.

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Topics: H&S Training

Meeting OSHA Fire Safety Requirements

John DeFillippo

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Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, H&S Training, worker safety, Occupational Safety, Fire Safety, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under 29 CFR 1910.120 – Hazardous waste operations and emergency response requires workers who work at hazardous waste sites who may be exposed to safety and health hazards1 to receive initial and refresher training from qualified instructors. Initial training must be completed prior to work on hazardous waste sites. The following training discussion follows OSHA guidance in interpreting the standard. OSHA-approved state programs, however, may have differing interpretations or regulations.

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Topics: OSHA, health and safety, General Industry H&S, Construction H&S, Emergency Response, H&S Training, Hazardous Waste Management, HazCom, Hazardous Materials, Compliance, Occupational Health, TSCA & R.E.A.C.H., emergency response training, environmental air monitoring, Occupational Training, Safety Training in Spanish