EHS Daily Advisor
by Guy Burdick
National – The hazard communication standard (HCS) is the second most frequently cited federal workplace safety and health standard, surpassed only by the construction industry’s fall protection standard. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the HCS 4,102 times between October 2018 and September 2019 during 2,276 inspections for fines totaling $5,105,026. Industries most frequently cited for hazard communication violations include manufacturing, construction, wholesale trade, waste management and remediation services, and accommodation and food services.
Month: July 2020
EPA Proposal Strengthens Regulations and Protects Children from Exposure to Lead-Contaminated Dust
Washington, DC – The EPA released a proposal Wednesday to reduce the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors and windowsills after lead removal activities to better protect children from the harmful effects of lead exposure. The proposed, tighter standards would increase the effectiveness of work done to remove lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities, known as abatement, and lower the risk of lead exposure by ensuring that lead-based paint hazards are effectively and permanently eliminated following completion of the work.
For the full article, please click here.
Merkley Criticizes Years of EPA Delays, Urges Congress to Ban Asbestos Now
KTVZ
Washington, DC – Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., lead sponsor of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, released the following statement last Monday marking the four-year anniversary of the signing of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. The Lautenberg Act gave the Environmental Protection Agency the power to ban asbestos and required the EPA to have completed its review of asbestos by today’s date—but neither a ban nor a final review have been completed.
Advisors Say Many Exposed to Asbestos Omitted from EPA Evaluation
Bloomberg
by Pat Rizzuto
Washington, DC – The EPA’s analysis of asbestos underestimates the extent to which people are exposed to the mineral and its potential to cause cancer and other diseases, an agency science advisory panel said. “Most exposures are not being captured,” said Henry Anderson, a retired physician serving on the EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals, which was critiquing the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft evaluation of asbestos’ risks throughout a June 8-11 meeting.
For the full article, please click here.
Public Virtual Meeting to Peer Review EPA Draft Risk Evaluation for Asbestos
National – On June 8-11, 2020, EPA will hold a public virtual meeting of the TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals on the draft risk evaluation of asbestos (originally scheduled for April 27-30, 2020). The agency will use the scientific advice, information, and recommendations from the SACC, as well as public comments, to inform the final risk evaluation. The meeting will be virtual (conducted on the phone and webcast only) and will include closed captioning.
Click here for meeting information and to review the Draft Risk Evaluation.
Experts and Other Advocates Speak Out Against EPA’s Flawed Draft Asbestos Risk Assessment
ADAO
Washington, DC – The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization hosted a press conference on Thursday, featuring a panel of experts, including EIA Managing Director Brent Kynoch, to discuss the exclusions in EPA’s Draft Asbestos Risk Evaluation that will keep Americans at severe risk of deadly exposure to asbestos. The panel also featured Dr. Arthur Frank, Dr. Richard Lemon, Dr. Celeste Monforton, and others. For the full article, click here.
To view the panel’s comments in their entirity visit their Facebook page
EPA Has Rescheduled the SACC Peer Review of the Draft Risk Evaluation for Asbestos
National – On June 8-11, 2020, EPA will hold a public virtual meeting of the TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals on the draft risk evaluation of asbestos (originally scheduled for April 27-30, 2020). The agency will use the scientific advice, information, and recommendations from the SACC, as well as public comments, to inform the final risk evaluation. The meeting will be virtual (conducted on the phone and webcast only). All written comments received by June 2 will be provided to the SACC for their review prior to the meeting. Registration to provide oral public comments during the SACC meeting is being accepted until noon, June 2.
US Department of Labor Issues Guidance to Ensure Uniform Enforcement of Silica Standards
Washington, DC – OSHA recently issued a compliance directive designed to ensure uniformity in inspection and enforcement procedures when addressing respirable crystalline silica exposures in general industry, maritime, and construction. The new directive provides OSHA compliance safety and health officers with guidance on how to enforce the silica standards’ requirements. The directive also provides clarity on major topics, such as alternative exposure control methods when a construction employer does not fully and properly implement Table 1, variability in sampling, multi-employer situations, and temporary workers.
EPA ANNOUNCES TERMINATION OF COVID-19 ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION
EPA
Washington, DC – Businesses and others that suspended environmental monitoring and reporting during the Coronavirus pandemic should plan to resume those activities as of September 1, 2020. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced recently that its temporary policy regarding the exercise of enforcement discretion during the COVID?19 public health emergency will end on August 31, 2020.
OSHA: Surgical Masks Not a Replacement for Respirators in Non-Covid-19 Respiratory Hazards
EHS Daily Advisor
by Guy Burdick
National – Exceptions from respiratory protection regulations allowing the use of surgical masks only apply to healthcare facilities and emergency medical services, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminded employers. Other employers must provide respirators, the agency explained in guidance discussing the differences among cloth face coverings, surgical masks, and respirators.