Regulations & Compliance

On September 30, OSHA published a final rule representing the latest revisions to its evolving Beryllium Standard. The rule, which is effective immediately, retains the ancillary provisions of OSHA’s beryllium standards for construction and shipyards while setting new compliance deadlines and maintaining current exposure limits for beryllium. If you’re in the construction or shipyard industries, this final […]

OSHA recently released a new five-minute video that provides a general overview of what occurs during each of the three phases of its inspection process, including the opening conference, walkaround and closing conference. Those who have been through an OSHA inspection understand how stressful a situation it can be. During an inspection, OSHA’s certified safety […]

On October 1, 2019 the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) announced it will begin an inspection blitz aimed at preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This inspection blitz will target workplaces across Ontario, specifically those in construction, health care, industrial and mining sectors. The start of the blitz happens to coincide with October’s Global Ergonomics Month, […]

As one of the main pillars of OSHA’s Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard, employee training is a critical part of your company’s workplace safety and regulatory compliance. Yet, HazCom training is also one of the most commonly overlooked elements of safety programs, as many employers struggle to make it effective, engaging, and relevant. In our article […]

Today’s workplace is far different than it was in the past. Workers from multiple employers are increasingly working side-by-side at the same worksites, and employers are sharing responsibility for worker safety more and more. When chemicals are involved, confusion can arise over who has obligations under OSHA’s HazCom Standard. We know that, because people often […]

VelocityEHS was in attendance Tuesday morning at the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication’s Fall 2019 Meeting in Arlington, Virginia. Representatives from OSHA and Health Canada, along with industry subject matter experts convened to deliver important regulatory updates, and lend their expertise on a wide range of hazard communication and chemical safety topics including OSHA’s Hazard […]

Job rotation is defined as a systematic procedure that relocates workers between two or more jobs in a workplace. One of the perceived benefits of job rotation is that it will decrease workplace musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by reducing the operator’s exposure to high forces, awkward postures, and high frequencies. Today, many safety professionals rely on […]

Earlier this summer, Health Canada published a number of formal guidance documents and other resources intended to help Canadian hazardous products suppliers navigate their requirements under the recently implemented Hazardous Products Act (HPA), Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) and other WHMIS 2015 legislation. Below, we’ll provide a little background on each of these guidance documents and […]

OSHA is currently requesting action on two concerns that affect employers. OSHA Seeking Silica Standard Feedback OSHA is considering potential revisions to Table 1 of its Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction, and requesting input on additional engineering and work practice control methods to effectively limit exposure to silica for the equipment and tasks currently listed. […]

OSHA just announced its preliminary list of Top 10 Most Cited Violations in 2019 at the National Safety Council Congress and Expo. Among the top risks worker health and safety, Hazard Communication once again lands near the top of the agency’s list, as questions and confusion resulting from its adoption of GHS and the changes […]