03/15/2016
For failing to notify the National Response Center (NRC) of a reportable discharge of a hazardous substance, a Houston-based oil and gas company will pay $400,000 to Federal and State environmental agencies and serve a two-year probation term.
03/11/2016
IATA has released an updated version of its Lithium Battery Guidance Document, revised on March 9 to reflect the latest changes for lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries shipped by air.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a $56,000 civil penalty against a Wisconsin university for hazmat violations after the TSA found “highly flammable” research-grade alcohol and corrosive epoxy resin in a student researcher’s baggage at the airport.
03/10/2016
The US DOT’s hazmat training standard for “hazmat employees” includes a specific provision that requires employers to certify that the hazmat employee has been “trained and tested, as required by this subpart." Hazmat employers often wonder: Is a copy of the test requried to prove to DOT that an employee has met the hazmat training standard at 49 CFR 172.704?
03/09/2016
In a joint press release issued on March 8, the United States Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a criminal sentence for a CEO of a Costa Mesa, CA aviation company.
03/08/2016
The Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) authorizes US EPA to require chemical manufacturers, importers, and processers to monitor and report on their activities once every four years. This year, 2016, is an important year for facilities subject to TSCA—it’s the first year in which new, broader chemical data reporting requirements take effect...
03/07/2016
In the Federal Register today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed minimum training requirements for new commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The proposed rule includes a section devoted to hazmat training requirements for CMV drivers who wish to add a hazardous materials (H) endorsement on a Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL).
03/04/2016
On Wednesday, March 2, the US Supreme Court chose not to hear a petition to block EPA rules to limit mercury and other toxic air pollutants emitted from coal-burning power plants—the Mercury Air Toxics Standards (MATS).
03/03/2016
New restrictions on lithium battery air shipments take effect on April 1, but shippers are reporting that some passenger airlines are already rejecting shipments of stand-alone lithium-ion batteries (UN 3480).
03/01/2016
On-the-job injuries and illnesses cost US businesses 1 billion dollars per week, according to the 2016 Liberty Mutal Workplace Safety Index. With losses this staggering, it’s no wonder EHS professionals take safety training seriously. OSHA maintains a number of safety standards that address on-the-job hazards, ranging from fire safety to handling explosives, from using a respirator to operating certain machines, and much, much more.
In 1995, US EPA passed the Universal Waste Rule, which created relaxed standards for managing common hazardous wastes like light bulbs, batteries, mercury-containing equipment, and more. While universal wastes are subject to less stringent regulations than “fully-regulated” hazardous wastes, there are still rules to follow to manage them properly. Use this guide to spot and correct common universal waste errors before they result in a notice of violation during a Federal or State inspection.