Welcome to CTI's Quarterly eNews communication that is packed with information on the latest workplace Health & Safety regulations, information, insights and compliance stories that may affect your company's day-to-day business.  Click the link to learn more about CTI's Team of Engineers, Trainers, Project Managers, and day-to-day operations professionals.  CTI Team

On March 10, a bill was introduced by Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M) and David Vitter (R-La) that would reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976.  After almost 40 years, this review would seem long overdue. 

The US political website, The Hill, reported on 3/10/15 that a bill intended to address the nation's chemical laws is being met with mixed reactions.  If passed, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act would force the Environmental Protection Agency to base chemical regulations on the risk to public health and the environment.  The proposal would also remove TSCA's "least burdensome" requirements for regulating chemicals.

TSCA addresses the production, importation, use, and disposal of specific chemicals. Certain substances are generally excluded from TSCA, including, among others, food, drugs, cosmetics and pesticides because they are regulated by other agencies. For all other chemicals, the TSCA law provides EPA with authority to require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. This could result in one or more of your key chemical products or ingredients facing severe use limitations (until it gets phased out entirely) because TSCA deems another chemical to be a safer or a more "green" alternate. At a minimum, this would require significant use testing by both your manufacturing group and customers to assure the alternate performs satisfactorily in their process. So, while some industry groups consider the bill the first step to crafting a more effective law, critics counter that the bill does not address toxic chemical exposure issues, and also prevents state governments from passing their own rules.

 

The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the legislation on March 18th. Stay "tuned in" for additional developments.

Click here to learn more about the impact this may have on your organization.

An Ohio printer has been cited by OSHA for 24 alleged safety and health violations, with proposed penalties of over $90,000.  "Workers were exposed to many dangerous hazards on a daily basis.  The company also lacked adequate employee training on the hazards." OSHA HazCom standards were revised in 2013 to align with the Global Harmonization System (GHS). The deadline for covered employers to train employees on the new GHS formatting was December 1, 2013.    Click link for further information

OSHA has married the Hazard Communication (HazCom) standard with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).  Employees were required to be trained by Dec 1, 2013.  There are new label elements, new definitions for hazards, classifications of mixtures, format for safety data sheets - which will eventually replace Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).  If you missed the December 1st deadline to have your employees trained on the new GHS regulations, do not panic - contact CTI for training. Click the link to get started

An effective hearing conservation program must be implemented by employers in general industry whenever worker noise exposure is equal to or greater than 85 dBA for an 8 hour exposure or in the construction industry when exposures exceed 90 dBA for an 8 hour exposure. This program strives to prevent initial occupational hearing loss, preserve and protect remaining hearing, and equip workers with the knowledge and hearing protection devices necessary to protect them.  Further info

CTI can assist with your company's area or personal noise monitoring, hearing conservation program and / or annual audiological testing. Please contact us for further details.

Sincerely,
   

Kathy Grattino
Compliance Technologies, Inc.