Regulations & Compliance

July 1 is the deadline for companies covered by Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to submit Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data to the EPA for chemicals manufactured, processed, or otherwise used during 2016. A facility must submit a TRI report if it: Is in an industry sector with a NAICS […]

Triclosan and its Uses Triclosan is a solid crystalline chemical used primarily as an antibacterial agent in a variety of consumer products. Originally used as a cleaning scrub in hospitals in the 1970s, triclosan is now present in soap, detergent, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, surgical cleaners, pesticides, and even toys, although its efficacy and safety have […]

You already know that workplace accidents can have devastating consequences. You understand that effective EHS management must involve active identification and control of hazards, which is the primary intention behind risk assessments. You may even use job safety analysis (JSAs), to perform formal risk assessments that break down jobs into their constituent tasks in order […]

According to OSHA, over 43 million workers in the United States are exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace each year. Employers are responsible for providing these workers with barrier-free access to safety data sheets (SDS) — in their work areas, during their work hours — for every hazardous chemical kept on-site. OSHA’s alignment of […]

EPA recently issued a final rule that updates refrigerant management requirements under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. The rule, which was published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2016 and is now in effect as of January 1, 2017, extends existing requirements and sales restrictions for ozone depleting refrigerants to certain substitutes, […]

In 2012, the EPA published 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart OOOO, more commonly known as Quad-O, which set forth substantial new methane emissions monitoring and reduction requirements, as well as provisions mandating that owners and operators in the oil and gas industry implement comprehensive leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs throughout their facilities. In June of […]

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” These are the wise words of Peter Drucker.  And they are true for many aspects of life; your personal finances, your career path, operation of a business, and yes even ergonomic improvements. The challenge is using the right measures to drive and manage your ergonomics improvement […]

On January 13, 2017, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a new final rule amending regulations for hazardous liquid pipelines. The rule becomes effective on July 13, 2017 and creates new compliance obligations for system owners and operators that are intended to maintain pipe integrity and prevent pipeline accidents. Let’s review some […]

As the deadline to file Tier II Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reports quickly approaches, VelocityEHS is reminding safety professionals to submit their 2016 inventory forms by March 1, 2017. Facilities with hazardous materials present at or above the threshold amounts established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are subject to the annual reporting obligations. What is […]