In a world struggling with environmental challenges, adopting a zero waste to landfill approach is a significant step towards a more sustainable future. The idea behind this concept is simple but powerful: minimize the waste you produce to the extent that nothing ends up in a landfill. While achieving zero waste might seem like an impossible goal, it is an essential endeavor that individuals, communities and businesses can work towards.

Process safety management (PSM) is a critical aspect of ensuring the safety and integrity of industrial processes, particularly in industries such as chemical manufacturing, oil and gas production, and pharmaceuticals. While the specific challenges may vary depending on the industry and the nature of the processes involved, there are several common challenges associated with PSM.

According to the STI AST SP001 External Tank Inspection standard, the frequency of inspections for ASTs can vary depending on several factors, including the tank’s age, the material stored and local regulations. The standard provides general guidelines for inspection intervals, but the specific schedule should be determined based on a risk assessment and the conditions of the tank and its surroundings.  It is critical to determine the AST category, which aids in establishing the appropriate inspection schedule and maintenance plan. 

The industries that typically use aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) are numerous; however, they can be summarized as being those that typically store liquids including petroleum products, chemicals and other hazardous materials and wastes.  Industries will often choose to utilize ASTs due to their convenience, accessibility and relative ease of installation compared to underground storage tanks.

STI SP001 refers to a standard published by the Steel Tank Institute (STI). The STI is a trade association that focuses on promoting the quality and safety of steel tanks by providing guidelines for the inspection of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and related products.  ASTs typically contain petroleum products, chemicals and other hazardous materials.  The standard outlines the necessary procedures for inspections and addresses repairs, alterations and reconstruction of ASTs.

The current wildfires in Hawaii, like wildfires anywhere, have significant implications for climate sustainability. While Hawaii is known for its lush landscapes and tropical climate, it is not immune to the effects of climate change and the associated increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires.

Fortune 1000 manufacturing firms are increasingly turning to EHS software to better manage and maintain their environmental, health, and safety compliance obligations. The primary purpose of EHS software is to support day-to-day strategic activities related to compliance management, incident management, employee training, hazard recognition, and risk analysis.

Qualitative industrial hygiene risk assessments are valuable tools to streamline and manage resources in your EH&S Department as those resources continue to be increasingly strained. There are many benefits of qualitative industrial hygiene risk assessments as they contribute to the overall health and well-being of your workforce. By identifying hazards, preventing illnesses and injuries, ensuring compliance, enhancing productivity and morale, and promoting continuous improvement, these assessments serve as the foundation for a robust health and safety program, safeguarding both employees and the organization as a whole in the manufacturing world.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Industrial Stormwater Program is federally mandated and covers a wide variety of industrial activities.  Most industrial facilities are affected in some way.  Applicability to the program is dependent upon the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code.  General permits have been established that apply to numerous broad categories of industrial activities with potential stormwater discharges (also based on SIC code). 

Throughout the summer season in recent years, temperatures routinely were forecast to approach and reach record high temperatures.  Heat stress may be thought of as a summertime safety issue, however it is present indoors year-round due to environmental ambient conditions caused by heat sources from process equipment in certain industries.

Unfortunately, a definitive “Yes” or “No” answer to this question is not easy to come by. When I first started in the electrical safety field, I had the same question. Who is required to have an arc flash risk assessment? After some time in the industry, along with doing my own research, I realized the answer is pretty clear, though it takes some code research and understanding of how the codes and standards work together to come to that conclusion. With that said, I’m going to try to break down the code requirements to their simplest form. My hope is that after reading this, you will be able to answer the question: “Is an arc flash risk assessment required for my facility?”

PFAS (or per- and polyflouroalkyl substances) are varied group of thousands of manufactured chemicals resistant to heat and which repel oil, water and grease, are commonly known as the “forever chemicals.” PFAS have been identified in many places ranging from public and private drinking water supplies, soil and groundwater associated with waste sites, aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) used at airport, military bases and firefighting training facilities, chemical plants and manufacturing facilities (i.e., chrome plating, electronics and textiles

EPA’s Final Rule approving the ASTM E-1527-21 became effective on February 13, 2023, meaning that the updated standard may now be used to satisfy the All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI).  This is a critical development for property purchasers seeking to qualify for the bona fide prospective purchaser (BFPP) safe-harbor defense to property liability under Federal and some state Superfund laws.  EPA’s approval of the ASTM E1527-21 Standard came by a notice of Final Rule published December 15, 2022, following an extended review process.

Owner’s representation on construction projects is an increasingly popular approach in the construction industry. An engineer is appointed as a representative of the owner and manages the project from site selection through construction and close-out. This approach is particularly useful for owners who lack the time, expertise or resources to manage a construction project on their own. We will discuss the benefits of owner’s representation on construction projects and the role of the engineer in managing such projects.

Mental health is an essential component of overall health and well-being and it is crucial to ensure that it is prioritized in all industries, including the construction industry. The construction industry is known to have a high risk of accidents and injuries, which can have a significant impact on the mental health of workers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to administer annual medical clearances and an approved fit test to ensure their employees are protected from inhaling harmful contaminants.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a revised Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program on January 27, 2023. Any combustible material can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, under certain conditions, it can become explosible. The purpose of the revised emphasis program is to continue OSHA inspections of facilities that generate or handle combustible dusts likely to cause fire, flash fire, deflagration and explosion hazards.

Industrial hygiene and diversity and inclusion are two important concepts that play a significant role in creating a safe and inclusive workplace environment. Industrial hygiene refers to the science of identifying, assessing and controlling workplace hazards that could cause illness, injury or damage to the health of employees. Diversity and inclusion, on the other hand, refers to creating a workplace culture that is accepting, respectful and supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

No matter how frequently the control of hazardous energy is featured on OSHA’s annual list of the Top 10 Most Cited Violations (#6 for 2022), lockout/tagout fails to receive the attention it deserves at many manufacturing facilities and remains a black eye for safety programs across the nation.  Because LOTO procedures take time, the process impacts production and ultimately undermines the bottom line.