Compliance Updates
OSHA’s New COVID Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard
Updated 11/15: OSHA is suspending the implementation and enforcement of the COVID ETS. It has been legally challenged and awaiting an appeals court hearing. We recommend that employers familiarize themselves with the ETS as some or all of it may go into effect in the...
Getting Prepared for OSHA’s New Heat-Related Initiatives
OSHA is initiating enhanced measures to better protect workers in hot environments and reduce the dangers of exposure to ambient heat. OSHA reports that “Despite widespread under-reporting, 43 workers died from heat illness in 2019, and at least 2,410 others suffered...
What You Need to Know About Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation
Groups across the U.S. are pushing legislation that will impact producers of packaging materials. Learn what it could mean to your business. What is Extended Producer Responsibility legislation? Extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws are designed to reduce...
New OSHA Noise Hazard Program
OSHA announced a new Regional Emphasis Program (REP) to identify, reduce, and eliminate hazards associated with exposures to high levels of noise. The program was announced on June 14, 2021, and is for OSHA Region V, which includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,...
OSHA’s COVID Standard is Out and Here’s What You Need to Know
OSHA released its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) 29 CFR 1910.502 for COVID-19 on Thursday, June 10. It’s directed at healthcare and healthcare support services and aims to protect workers facing the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19. Not sure if your workplace...
Weighing Your Options with New Mask Guidance
Mask rules and mandates are changing fast and furiously. Here’s what employers need to know to navigate the change. The CDC updated guidelines that no longer require fully vaccinated people to wear masks or socially distance. Ohio, among other states, is removing...
Proposed Hazard Communication Changes and Your Chance to Weigh In
What’s one OSHA standard that affects nearly every employer? Drumroll please…. The hazard communication standard. OSHA has recently proposed some modifications and updates to the Hazard Communication standard and is asking for comments on the proposed...
New OSHA Guidance on COVID-19 At Work
OSHA issued new guidance (on January 29, 2021) for protecting workers from being exposed to and/or contracting COVID-19 at work. In this guidance, OSHA reinforces the importance of face coverings and physical distancing, and places a strong emphasis on developing a...
OSHA Oversight and Enforcement Will Rise Under New Executive Order
Employers can expect an increase in the number of federal OSHA inspections related to COVID-19. During his first week of presidency, Joe Biden signed an executive order regarding COVID-19 and OSHA. The order requires that OSHA, “review workplace safety...
Uptick in OSHA COVID Enforcement Expected in 2021
Several state OSHA plans, including California, have issued emergency standards on COVID-19 infection prevention. Based on these actions and the arrival of a new administration, we anticipate OSHA will be ready to up their COVID enforcement game in 2021. To date, OSHA...
Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule Adopted
It’s HERE! Ohio has finalized the adoption of the Federal EPAs Generator Improvements Rule effective October 5, 2020. A summary table of the standards changed under the new rules can be found on Ohio EPA’s website. Our team of environmental, health and safety...
Annual OSHA Required Training
Have you ever wondered which types of trainings are required annually by OSHA? It's a question we often get from customers. Watch this video to learn from Safex's Irene Wang.Open Enrollment Training Online Training Private Training
Federal EPA Back to Regular Enforcement
The USEPA released an Addendum of Termination to their temporary enforcement policy that will go into effect on August 31, 2020. This means that the EPA will not base any exercise of enforcement discretion on the temporary policy for any noncompliance that occurs...
OSHA’s Revision of the Beryllium Standard for General Industry – What You Need to Know
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently passed a revised final rule of the beryllium standard for general industry, set to be enforced September 14, 2020. What changed? Confirmed positive – OSHA revised the definition of a confirmed positive...
Medical Surveillance Change to OSHA’s Silica Standard
Obligations and enforcement for medical surveillance within the OSHA silica standard changed on June 23, 2020. Employers in general industry and maritime operations must now provide medical surveillance for employees who will be exposed at or above the action level...
OSHA Increases Inspections and Revises COVID-19 Recordkeeping Requirements
By Kevin Burns, GSP, Safety Consultant As states reopen and business is somewhat getting back to normal, OSHA announced two revised policies related to COVID-19. OSHA is increasing in-person inspections at all types of workplaces. This includes, but is not limited to,...
Federal EPA Relaxes Environmental Enforcement
The USEPA announced an Enforcement Discretion Policy for the COVID-19 Pandemic. What does this mean for your business? Well, for starters, it means the USEPA will still enforce intentional criminal violations of law. However, this policy might help ease your burden...
OSHA Updating Silica National Emphasis Program
You’ve been hearing about respirable crystalline silica from OSHA and Safex for several years now. If you’re not already aware, exposure to silica dust, which often occurs when cutting, sawing or grinding rocks, concrete, mortar, etc., causes severe lung disease,...
Think You Know Ink (As a Universal Waste)?
Inks play an important role in the operations of many businesses. If you’re operating in Ohio and have waste inks, did you know you may be able to dispose of them as universal waste? Having this knowledge may save you time and resources. The 2017 Ohio EPA rule change...
OSHA Temporary Enforcement Policy Regarding Crane Operator Certification
If your company operates cranes, please be aware that the certification from Crane Institute does not meet OSHA's requirements for crane operator certifications. However, OSHA will not cite employers for certifications received prior to December 2, 2019. Here's the...
ANSI Standard for Aerial Lifts/Mobile Elevated Work Platforms Compliance Update
December 10, 2019, is an important deadline for those who manufacture, own, or operate aerial lifts. Make sure you’re aware of the change in the ANSI A92.22 standards for Safe Use and A92.24 standards for training before it’s time to comply. Changes are coming and...
New Rule for Respirator Fit Testing Protocols to Protect Workers from Airborne Contaminants
Do you have a respirator protection program that requires mandatory respirator use? If so, be sure you know about OSHA’s new Final Rule that came out on September 26, 2019. What changed? OSHA approved two more quantitative fit testing protocols to be used with...
Possible Updates to the Lockout/Tagout Standard
On May 17, 2019, OSHA released a memo requesting information on a possible update to the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)) standard. According to the release,"OSHA is requesting information about how employers have been using control...
Tech Bulletin: Lead is Lurking Where?
When you hear the term, lead poisoning, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Maybe an old building with lead-based paint? Or contaminated water pipes? Although these are rather common causes of lead poisoning today, there’s another source of lead poisoning you...
Tech Bulletin: Ready, Set, Post
You may still have New Year’s champagne leftover or if you’re like us, you keep typing 2018 instead of 2019. None-the-less, it’s time to start thinking about an important 2019 OSHA recordkeeping deadline.Ready? Employers with 250+ employees and employers...
OSHA Recordkeeping Update
The world of record keepers is abuzz with the latest news from OSHA. The Department of Labor is billing the proposed record keeping amendment as one that will better protect personally identifiable information. Employers with 250 or more employees will no longer be...
Tech Bulletin: Final EPA Compliance Deadline for Refrigerant Rule Revision Nearing
When the EPA’s final rule on refrigerant management went into effect in 2016, the final phase for roll out and enforcement deadline of 2019 seemed so far away. January 1, 2019 is now just around the corner. It’s not too early to start planning for these...
7 Things to Know for the Transition to Electronic Manifests for Hazardous Waste
Goodbye paper and hello to the digital world! On June 30, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new electronic manifest system for tracking hazardous waste called e-Manifest. The new process has been under development for several...
OSHA Will Enforce Beryllium Standard Starting in May
WASHINGTON, DC – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced March 2, 2018, that it will start enforcement of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general, construction, and shipyard industries on May 11, 2018. This timeframe...
Tech Bulletin: Universal Wastes – Ohio Rule Change
Tech Bulletin: Universal Wastes - Ohio Rule Change The Ohio EPA has a gift for you this holiday season. Yes, you read that right. Their new rule adopted December 8, 2017, and effective December 21, 2017, adds three waste types to the universal waste list. Unlike many...