EHS News

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is undertaking a rulemaking effort directed toward requiring employers to establish injury and illness prevention programs (I2P2) to monitor and more effectively implement practices to mitigate workplace hazards, thereby reducing the incidence of employee injuries and illnesses. OSHA believes that widespread implementation of such programs will substantially improve overall workplace safety and health conditions.

Comments of Mercer ORC Networks on OSHA's May 24, 2010, proposal to revise the General Industry Walking and Working Surfaces standards in 29 CFR 1910, Subpart D, and requirements for fall protection equipment in 29 CFR 1910, Subpart I, are attached below.  Mercer's comments were filed on August 23, 2010.  

In a July 27, 2010 Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in coordination with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is proposing to enhance existing attendance requirements for explosives stored during transportation by designating the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 498 as the Federally approved standard for the construction and maintenance of safe havens used for unattended storage of Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 explosives.

In a July 27, 2010 Federal Register  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is proposing to revise its procedures for applying for a special permit to require an applicant to provide sufficient information about its operations to enable the agency to evaluate the applicant’s fitness and the safety impact of operations that would be authorized in the special permit. In addition, PHMSA is providing an on-line application option.

DATES: Submit comments by August 26, 2010.

On July 27th, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the second National Distracted Driving Summit will be held on September 21, 2010, in Washington, DC. To build on the growing momentum sparked by the first summit last
fall, Secretary LaHood will convene leading transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, industry representatives, researchers, and victims affected by distraction-related crashes to address challenges and identify opportunities for national anti-distracted driving efforts.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is soliciting comments on the development of the 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2012), particularly from those who have experience using the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).

The ERG is for use by emergency services personnel to provide guidance for initial response to hazardous materials incidents. The ERG2012 will supersede the ERG2008. The development of the ERG2012 is a joint effort involving the transportation agencies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the 2011 percentage standards for the four fuels categories under the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program, known as RFS2.

OSHA conducted a combustible dust web chat on Monday, June 28 2010. The transcripts of this web chat are available online at: http://www.dol.gov/dol/chat/chat-osha-20100628.htm  A copy of the transcript is attached.