EPA Final Rule: Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases: Changes to Provisions for Electronics Manufacturing to Provide Flexibility [PDF]

EPA Final Rule: Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases:  Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems; Revisions to Best Available Monitoring Method Provisions [PDF]

EPA Final Rule: Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: 2011 Critical Use Exemption from the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide [PDF]

EPA Proposed Rule: Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur: Extension of Comment Period [PDF]

OSHA Proposed Rule: Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements: NAICS Update and Reporting Revisions [PDF]

PHMSA Notice: Clarification on Division 1.1 Fireworks Approvals Policy [PDF]

 National Preparedness Month is wrapping up.

In addition to preparing your families for emergencies, make sure that your facility is also prepared for disasters that may strike your workplace.

Emergencies can take many forms – from a chemical spill to a severe weather event to a terrorist attack.  A good contingency plan will address each possible scenario that could effect your workplace,  as well as actions that will be taken to minimize further damage.

This month, an earthquake shook Virginia and a good portion of the east coast. We felt it in Tipton, PA; and for many of us, it was our first experience with such a phenomenon.

For many facilities in the east, earthquake preparedness isn’t necessarily something we’ve spent a lot of time planning for - because until now, earthquakes haven’t really been prevalent in the area.  Severe snowstorms, power outages, floods and very cold weather – yes.   Earthquakes and volcano erruptions - not so much.

But now that an earthquake has happened here, and is among the possibilities for disaster;  it’s time to dust off that plan and add a chapter.    I think I’m still okay without a volcano chapter, though.

For those of you who are already have a plan for earthquakes – good for you!    But just like you check the batteries in your smoke detectors when Daylight Savings Time rolls around, National Preparedness Month is a good time to double-check your facility’s contingency plans for anything that might be missing, or for any changes that may need to be made.

It’s also a great time to check your spill response kits to make sure that they’re well-stocked and ready to go in the event of a spill.

And, if your facility doesn’t have a contingency plan, there’s never a better time than now to get started!    The EPA has some good information to help   http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/preparing.htm.

Your local emergency management agency (EMA) is also another excellent resource.    Often, they have templates to help get you started, and many will even help you write your plans.   Local EMA staff can also help you identify response resources and assets that you may not be aware of – and they may even be able to help you coordinate a respone drill with local fire or hazmat teams.

Creating and maintaining a contingency plan takes a dedicated effort – but it sure beats the alternative!   If I need a backhoe after an emergency, I take comfort in knowing that I don’t have to find a phonebook to locate one… and that I won’t be meeting the county hazmat team for the first time.

DOE PROPOSED RULE: Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Standards for Direct Heating Equipment  [PDF]

PHMSA RULE: Hazardous Materials [PDF]

EPA RULE: Federal Underground Injection Control Class VI Program for Carbon Dioxide Geologic Sequestration Wells [PDF]

EPA RULE: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles [PDF]

EPA RULE: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Plating and Polishing; Withdrawal [PDF]

EPA NOTICE: Risk and Exposure Assessment Planning Documents; Availability: Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead [PDF]

When I was in college, I was given a wonderful opportunity to follow a group of ROTC cadets for a month as part of a feature article for a local newspaper.

It was a fantastic experience.  I got to meet some really amazing people, tour parts of the Pentagon that most civilians don’t get to see, stay in an army barracks, and really gain a deeper understanding of the level of commitment and dedication that our armed forces has.

So what does this have to do with fall prevention?

One crisp Saturday morning, these cadets boarded a bus to go practice their repelling skills.    After a lunch of MRE’s, (I got lucky and didn’t pull the chipped beef one) we all donned harnesses and checked our ropes as the instructor reviewed safety protocols.  

One part of his instruction has stuck with me to this day: “You can die from a five foot fall or a 50 foot fall.  The only difference is the time it takes to hit the ground.”

Although the likelihood of dying from a five foot fall is smaller than from the 50 foot fall, his point is still valid:  the potential exists.  And, in the workplace, OSHA requires employers to evaluate hazards and create plans to eliminate them.    OSHA is currently working on a general industry standard for fall protection.  The construction standard for fall safety is 29 CFR 1926, Subpart M.

If there is a potential for a “drop” of more than four feet, employers need to provide some kind of fall protection for their employees.    For anyone just getting started on a plan, OSHA  has a dedicated webpage with additional guidance.  http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html

Fall protection harnesses and lanyards may be part of the plan.    Safety rails and ladder safety gates may also play a role.  Even the simplest of plans has the potential to  help someone avoid one of the more than 800 fatal falls that occur in industry each year.

My 10 year old son, Nolan, asked if I would share with my co-workers his LEGO creation of PIG® Mat in action. Even mad scientists need to clean up with the best mat around, right?

Each day, we review the Federal Register to keep up-to-date on what’s happening down in DC. Although this review doesn’t capture all activity, it will provide an overview of some of the bigger things that the EPA, OSHA and others are working on.

Final Rule:  TSCA Inventory Update Reporting Modifications; Chemical Data Reporting; Correction

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-06/pdf/C1-2011-19922.pdf

Notice: Final Reports; Availability: Aquatic Ecosystems, Water Quality, and Global Change; Challenges of Conducting Multi-stressor Vulnerability Assessments

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-06/pdf/2011-22669.pdf

Final Rule: Designation of Hazardous Substances:Designation, Reportable Quantities, and Notification; Technical Amendment

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-08/pdf/2011-22887.pdf

Notice: Approval of the 2011 Hazardous Waste Report, Notification of Regulated Waste Activity, and Part A Hazardous Waste Permit Application and Modification

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-08/pdf/2011-22992.pdf

Notice:  Approval of PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-08/pdf/2011-22991.pdf

PROPOSED RULE: Hazardous Waste Management Systems; Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Streams in Geologic Sequestration Activities

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-09/pdf/2011-23156.pdf

PROPOSED RULE: Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases: Revisions to the Electronics Manufacturing and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Categories

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-09/pdf/2011-23156.pdf

Notice: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Methylene Chloride Standard

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-09/pdf/2011-23055.pdf

Each day, we review the Federal Register to keep up-to-date on what’s happening down in DC. Although this review doesn’t capture all activity, it will provide an overview of some of the bigger things that the EPA, OSHA and others are working on.

NOTICE: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Coke Oven Emissions Standard

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-22/pdf/2011-21373.pdf

PROPOSED RULE: Oil and Natural Gas Sector: New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-23/pdf/2011-19899.pdf

PROPOSED RULE: Energy Conservation Program:  Standards for fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-24/pdf/2011-21636.pdf

NOTICE: Pesticide Emergency Exemptions: Agency Decisions and State and Federal Agency Crisis Declarations

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-24/pdf/2011-21374.pdf

RULE: Change to Reporting Date for Certain Data Elements Required under Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-25/pdf/2011-21727.pdf

Proposed Rule:   Definition of Solid Waste – extension of comment period

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-26/pdf/2011-21931.pdf

Proposed Rule: Oil and Natural Gas Sector: New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Reviews – Announcement of Public Hearing

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-26/pdf/2011-21726.pdf

Rules: Pesticide Tolerances: Tetraconazole

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-29/pdf/2011-21947.pdf

Notice:  Intent to Suspend Certain Pesticide Registrations

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-29/pdf/2011-21990.pdf

Notice: EPA Seeking Input Materials Measurement: Municipal Solid Waste, Recycling, and Source Reduction Measurement in the U.S.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-30/pdf/2011-22137.pdf

Notice: Safety Notice: Transportation of DOT Special Permit Packages in Commerce

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-30/pdf/2011-22110.pdf

Rule: Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Carbon Monoxide

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-31/pdf/2011-21359.pdf

Notice: Requests for Nominations: Experts for Science Advisory Board’s Animal Feeding Operation Emission Review Panel

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-01/pdf/2011-22438.pdf