Chemicals

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that the overall incidence rate of workplace injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work decreased by 2.9 percent in 2015, with 104 cases per 10,000 full-time workers – down from 107.1 in 2014. The data also suggests an overall decrease in the severity of […]

Suppliers of hazardous chemicals to Canadian workplaces can now access additional guidance for complying with new WHMIS requirements, which were modified in 2015 to incorporate the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Health Canada has published this new content as Phase 2 of its Technical Guidance on the Requirements of the […]

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published a fact sheet to help employers develop effective strategies for Process Safety Management (PSM). The fact sheet identifies and discusses the ways that facilities enrolled in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), and who therefore have been recognized by OSHA for safety performance above industry average, use […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has blocked efforts by OSHA to more strictly enforce its Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. The PSM standard mandates that all businesses handling, manufacturing, or storing large amounts of certain hazardous chemicals take specific steps to prevent unexpected releases. Fertilizer retailers are especially impacted. In 2001, […]

Reaffirming its commitment to holding both host employers and staffing agencies responsible for training workers on hazards they may encounter on the job, OSHA has levied fines of over $700,000 against an auto parts manufacturer and the staffing agency it was using. The businesses were cited for numerous violations, including failing to adequately train workers […]

In the material handling industry, even when most of the major hazards are identified and addressed, a small or careless mistake can still result in serious injury. Below are four common warehouse hazards should not be overlooked. 1. Pallet Rack Collapses Incidents involving pallet rack collapses often stem from materials not being properly stowed in […]

A new free content offer from the VelocityEHS chemical management solution provides a wallet card, available in two formats, which can help supplement OSHA-required HazCom training on GHS pictograms and the six required elements of a shipped label. One side of the card features all nine GHS pictograms and the hazards they represent. The reverse […]

Recent changes to Britain’s Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations have introduced new reporting requirements for chemical producers, distributors and consumers in the U.K. Revisions to the REACH and CLP hazard communication standards following GHS adoption have prompted a comprehensive reclassification of chemical hazards throughout the E.U. Chemicals that were not previously classified as […]

VelocityEHS is providing safety professionals with even more opportunities to create and print compliant workplace labels through its expanded compatibility with Brady’s newest label printer releases. VelocityEHS users can now create and print workplace labels in the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) format on Brady’s three new printer models, including BBP30, BBP35 and BBP37. The expanded […]

What is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical with a strong, pungent odor and a variety of associated health hazards. This chemical, which is used in the production of many materials, has a wide variety of applications across several industries. Formaldehyde is used to create resins, adhesives for plywood and carpeting, paper products, insulation, polyurethane, […]