Hazmat


Serious Safety Violations Add Up to $60,900 in Fines for Ohio Firm

Violations include failing to provide machine guards on a bandsaw blade, allowing aluminum dust to collect in the shot blast machine, and failing to implement explosion protection measures for equipment and exhaust ventilation systems.

MSHA Proposes Rule on Proximity Detection Systems

Proximity detection refers to a technology that can be installed on mining machinery to detect the presence of personnel or other machinery within a certain distance.

OHS New Product of the Year Award Winners Announced

Take a look at the entire list of winners of the 2011 New Product of the Year awards.

NTSB Faults 54-Year-Old Welds in San Bruno Blast

The board concluded Aug. 30 that the gas release resulted from welds made in 1956 on short pipeline sections that did not meet generally accepted industry practice or welding standards then in effect.

NRC Cites Ohio Nuclear Plant, Increases Oversight

Alleged violations include failure of personnel to prepare adequately for retracting a radioactive source range monitor from the reactor core, which could have overexposed workers.

MSHA Announces Results of July Impact Inspections

Coal mines were issued 232 citations and 24 orders, while metal/nonmetal operations were issued 108 citations and 11 orders.

NIEHS Sets September Workshop on Combined Exposures' Health Effects

Its goals are to identify and prioritize current knowledge gaps and to provide recommendations for research on key topics.

NIOSH Seeks Comments on Revising Carcinogen Policy

Sept. 22 is the deadline. The agency's request poses several questions, including whether a 1 in 1,000 working lifetime risk for workers should be the target level for recommended exposure limits for carcinogens or lower targets should be considered.



ASSE Releases Updated Standard for Handling Explosives in Construction, Demolition Operations

The A10.7 standard is applicable to the storage, handling, and use of commercial explosives and blasting agents in the construction industry.

Big Decisions Pending on Key Canadian Bridge

The Champlain Bridge, a bottleneck on one of Canadian's busiest arteries, will be increasingly expensive to maintain in coming years, engineers warned. Quebec's premier wants the federal government to participate in choosing how to replace it.

Lead Exposure Carries $97,000 Penalty for Ohio Manufacturer

One willful violation was cited for allowing employees to dry sweep in areas where lead is used and processed. OSHA standards require lead to be removed by a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter or other equally effective method.

NFPA Urges Extreme Caution When Using Gel Fuel

Stop, drop, and roll may not extinguish clothing that catches fire involving splattered or spilled gel fuel. A dry chemical extinguisher or baking soda is recommended to extinguish the fire.

Air Force Contractor Cited for Exposing Workers to Hazardous Contaminants

The serious violations include exposing workers to air contaminants including hexavalent chromium, cadmium, and methylene chloride.

DOE Lab Set for $50 Million Upgrade

The renovation of about 89,000 square feet of laboratories, offices, and support space will include more efficient energy controls, HEPA filters for nano research, and a new fire sprinkler system. Construction should begin by Oct. 1.

NIOSH List Highlights Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs

When hazardous drugs must be prepared and administered, there are workplace best practices that can minimize potentially harmful exposure. These include the use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment.

OSHA Pounds American Pulverizer Co. for Electrical, Repeat Violations

The serious violations address hazards associated with cranes, lockout/tagout of energy sources, and powered industrial trucks.

OSHA Brews Up $46,550 in Fines for Georgia Coffee, Tea Manufacturer

Fourteen serious violations involve the company's failure to install isolation devices on the dust collector system to prevent fires and explosions, keep steel beams and floors free of coffee and tea dust accumulation, and develop and implement an emergency action plan and training in the use of fire extinguishers.

Texas Battery Recycling Facility Cited for Exposing Workers to Lead

The serious violation was cited for failing to ensure that employees who worked more than eight hours during a workday were not exposed to lead at concentrations greater than the reduced permissible exposure limit.

$326,300 in Fines Issued to Colorado Dairy, Contractor

"The violations which related to improper management of the anhydrous ammonia system demonstrate a lax attitude towards a potentially catastrophic atmospheric release," said John Healy, OSHA area director in Englewood.

More Data to Be Required on EPCRA Forms

EPA proposed adding parent company information and e-mail addresses to the Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms (Tier I and Tier II) under Section 312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

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