Regulatory & Standards


Canada to Require TIH Railcars Be Made of Normalized Steel

The head and shell of tank cars transporting Toxic Inhalation Hazard substances will be required to be made of normalized steel, with the requirement taking effect on July 2, 2021.

CSB Asks EPA to Review 1993 HF Study

In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the safety board cited two of its recent investigations. CSB conducted public hearings in both at which members of the surrounding communities expressed concern about the adequacy of the risk management strategies for the use of HF and the effectiveness of community notification procedures in the event of a catastrophic release.

A written respiratory protection program must be implemented that meets all of the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134. (3M Personal Safety Division photo)

Why Pick a PAPR?

PAPRs are useful and often necessary in many types of hazardous jobs and conditions.

This CSB photo shows the aftermath of the Imperial Sugar plant explosions in 2008 and is found in the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Towards Compliance: NFPA 652 Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust

If explosion preventive measures alone cannot reduce the risk of a dust cloud explosion to an acceptable level, then explosion protection measures must be considered.

Chemical Protective Clothing Selection—Finding the Best Match for Your Hazard

You should strive to gather permeation data for the CPC you plan to use against your actual workplace chemicals.

Commenters Back Association's Bid for Hours Exemption

Two of the waste & recycling industry's largest companies submitted comments in support and asserted that electronic logging devices are incompatible with their industry. "The end result is that ELDs will distract drivers by requiring constant interaction with the ELDs and potentially compromise safety," Waste Management's comments stated.

FDA Issues New Draft Guidance to Aid Voluntary Recalls

FDA said the guidance builds on 18 months of improvements to its recall processes that have resulted in more timely information being available to consumers. Examples include alerts, advisories, or consumer warnings related to products such as pre-cut melon associated with an outbreak of Salmonella infections and recalled vegetables, drugs, homeopathic products, and test strips for home-use monitoring of Warfarin.

Nebraskans Reminded to Check Permit Requirements Before Rebuilding

Local or state permits may be needed before starting to rebuild after a severe storm, straight-line winds, and flooding in much of the state during March, FEMA and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency are reminding state residents.



NFPA to Consolidate Emergency Responder Standards

The National Fire Protection Association Standards Council has approved a plan to consolidate and merge the information currently available in 114 NFPA Emergency Response and Responder Safety standards, guides, and recommended practices into 38 overarching standards.

Railroad Settles Transportation of Dangerous Goods Case

New Brunswick Southern Railway pleaded guilty to two of the 24 charges of violating Canada's Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. Through a settlement, New Brunswick Southern Railway agreed to pay $10,000 in fines and $40,000 to be invested in improving the safety of the transportation of dangerous goods in Canada.

Cal/OSHA to Hold Heat Awareness Conference Call

"When it comes to preventing heat illness, employers with outdoor workers should not wait until it gets hot to review their procedures and ensure their training is effective," said Cal/OSHA Heat and Agriculture Program Coordinator David Hornung. "Workers should know the signs and symptoms of heat illness and what to do in case someone gets sick."

ASHRAE Takes Over Development of Building Water Safety Standard

The proposed ASHRAE Standard 514 will be designated as a safety standard, and the committee will coordinate with SSPC 188, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, to ensure there is no conflict or duplication between the two standards.

ISEA Promotes Fargo to VP Operations and Technical Services

"With more than 20 years of service to the association, Cristine has been an effective and strategic leader within ISEA. Her skills and expertise have contributed to the solid execution of our standards development, membership, and operational strategies resulting in association growth," said Charles Johnson, the president of ISEA. "Supported by talented and dedicated team members, Cristine will continue to play a key role in the success of ISEA."

ASSP Publishing ISO 45001 Implementation Handbook This Year

The handbook will provide small and medium-sized businesses with detailed guidance on how they can apply the voluntary consensus standard to increase employee safety, reduce workplace risks, and improve business outcomes.

FAA Proposes Revised Rules for Commercial Space Launches

The rule follows the National Space Council's 2018 "Space Policy Directive 2" that called on DOT to review and revise the department's commercial space launch and re-entry licensing regulations.

Welders should not weld in confined spaces without ventilation, and they may require respiratory protection if ventilation and the work practices being employed fail to reduce exposures to safe levels.

Welders' Protection By the Book

The protective measures and equipment that welders require are spelled out in OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.252, the welding, cutting, and brazing standard.

ISO Technical Report Helps Assess Nanomaterials' Environmental Impacts

ANSI noted that, among the essential topics pertaining to environmental safety, the Technical Report provides useful information on how investigators should respond to several questions or issues that commonly arise.

DOT to Form Special Committee to Review FAA Aircraft Certification Process

The Department of Transportation announced Monday the establishment of an expert Special Committee to review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) process for the certification of new aircraft, including the Boeing 737 MAX.

DOT clearly has jurisdiction over the truck on the highway, but OSHA regulations generally govern workers’ safety and health and the responsibilities of employers to ensure their safety at the warehouse, the dock, and in all places trucker drivers go to deliver and pick up loads.

FMCSA Helping Stakeholders Prepare for Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse

Commercial Driver's License holders, employers, state driver licensing agencies, medical review officers, and substance abuse professionals will begin using the agency's CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse in January 2020.

FCC Proposal to Help Responders Locate 911 Callers in Multi-Story Buildings

The commission proposed a vertical location accuracy metric of plus or minus 3 meters relative to the handset for 80 percent of indoor wireless 911 calls, tentatively concluding that location accuracy metric—within 3 meters above or below the phone—would be sufficiently accurate to identify the caller's floor level in most cases and would be technically feasible under the timeframes established in the Enhanced 911 rules.

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