Regulations & Compliance

People who work in the maritime industries know that safety is always the number one priority. This is much more than just a saying, though. Whether you’re in marine construction, shipping, commercial fishing, transportation, offshore oil and gas exploration, or dockside support services, the hazards that surround the maritime industries and the marine environment are […]

There are many manufacturing jobs that exist, each with their own set of hazards. For machine shop employees who work with metalworking fluids (MWFS), designed to cool their machines and remove metal particulates produced as the machines operate, potential hazards stem from exposure to these common substances. Workers can breathe in aerosols created from machining, […]

The OSHA final rule governing respirable crystalline silica calls for employers in general industry and maritime to create regulated areas in order to limit employees’ exposure to silica dust in the workplace. But what exactly is a regulated area?  Who can go in or out of it?  What happens inside? In this entry, we’ll try […]

This week marked the culmination of the years-long effort to align OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard with GHS, the UN’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. But it’s not the end! As Winston Churchill might say, it’s just the end of the beginning! OSHA has indicated an intent to review and potentially align […]

As reported in the Wall Street Journal late yesterday, the U.S. House has approved the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act by a vote of 403-12. The bill is poised to require an unprecedented analysis of many hazardous chemicals to determine their safety and environmental impacts. It would set new exposure standards […]

The OSHA final rule governing respirable crystalline silica calls for all covered employers to maintain a written exposure control plan. But what exactly needs to be in this plan? Who should create or update it? How should it be used? This guide will try to provide some clarification as to exactly what OSHA is looking […]

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is scheduled to publish its new occupational health & safety standard ISO 45001 in October, 2016. The new standard is being developed with guidance from an international committee of OH&S experts representing more than 50 countries and 20 leading industry organizations including the International Labor Organization (ILO). Its purpose […]

What exactly does the new Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica final rule mean for employers in terms of training? Who must be trained? On what precisely? We’ll break it down for you here, and answer the most commonly asked questions. Under the new rule, what do employees need to be trained on?  First of […]

President Obama has issued a proclamation declaring today, April 28, Worker’s Memorial Day in the United States, and calling “upon all Americans to participate in ceremonies and activities in memory of those killed or injured due to unsafe working conditions.” OSHA, the AFL-CIO, NIOSH and other organizations are also preparing to observe the occasion. According […]

As industry experts begin to analyze the new  1700+ page respirable crystalline silica PEL rule released by OSHA late last week, it’s becoming clear that the expansive nature of the rule will result in new responsibilities for workplaces. Two of the largest involve revised safety data sheets (SDSs) and required workplace signage. The new rule […]