We all want to do our part in protecting the planet from unnecessary waste, but sometimes that good intent can lead us to putting things we shouldn’t in our recycling bins. According to Republic Services, here are 5 things that don’t belong in your standard curbside bins: plastic bags, toys, clothing, disposable diapers, and yard debris.

The focus of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) is to increase awareness on ways to reduce childhood exposure and prevent lead poisoning by highlighting ways parents can reduce lead exposure in their child’s environment.  Even very low levels of lead in children’s blood are linked to adverse effects on intellect, concentration, and academic achievement.  While the United States has made substantial progress reducing lead exposure over the last 40 years, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other Federal partners are committed to addressing on-going lead exposure and its health impacts on communities across the United States. 

OSHA recently announced its Top 10 Violations for 2022, and the most popular violations from 2021 remain on the list. For the 12th year in a row, Fall Protection was #1 with HazCom, Ladders, Scaffolding, LOTO, PITs, PPE and Machine Guarding also representing safety standards that American industry continues to struggle to get right.  Respiratory protection violations, no doubt due to COVID-19, remained popular, landing at #3 on the list this year.  What does the consistency of the list suggest?  We know how to improve safety in America and too many companies refuse to commit the time and resources to making effective changes.

It sure seems like every cause has its day. Just in October alone, there is National Get Funky Day, National Do Something Nice Day, National Taco Day, National Vodka Day, National Manufacturing Day…and the list goes on and on.

Well today, October 5th, 2022 is Energy Efficiency Day and it is a good reminder of the value of saving energy.  The Energy Efficiency Day website’s tagline is “Save Money. Cut Pollution. Create Jobs.”

It is estimated that 5.6 million or more workers are at risk for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.  OSHA requires employers provide training to any employee that has the potential to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (the standard) applies to all workers in the private sector, as well as civilian employees of Federal entities.

Even though the coronavirus remains in the headlines, other unfortunate events are still happening as well, such as active shooter incidents.  Here are 5 reasons you should be concerned about an active shooter event occurring at your business during the COVID-19 recovery.

Ensuring that employees are protected from inhaling harmful contaminants requires annual medical clearance and testing to meet OSHA standards. The EI Group’s Occupational Health team is here to help you as a one-stop option to fulfill your annual respirator protection commitments regarding respirator medical clearances and fit testing.

Most project design/build teams planning new construction or modifications to existing facilities involving sources of air emission understand that these actions require an air permit prior to starting construction.  It is also well known that the emissions, air quality evaluations, and application process should start early, as air permitting is typically on a critical path which can impact scheduling.  If you find yourself as the lucky delegate responsible for air permitting and arrive at the point of receiving the glorious prize of the long-awaited air permit, finally releasing your team to begin construction, CONGRATULATIONS!  You have been victorious, but now what?

The official hurricane season for the Atlantic basin, which includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, extends from the first of June to the end of November; however, tropical cyclone activity can occur before and after these months.  According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is September 10, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October.

While asbestos has been regulated since 1971 by OSHA and since 1976 by the EPA under 1) the Toxic Substances Control Act and since 1973 under 2) NESHAPs (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants), asbestos remains a concern today.  Why?  I’ll explain, but first let’s define what is asbestos.  Many think asbestos is man-made.  However, it is actually a name given to a group of six naturally-occurring minerals that are mined from the Earth. 

As Eastern Kentucky is currently suffering through a tragic historic flooding event, with 37 lives lost to-date, another problem lurks in the background. That problem, while not as immediately devastating, is exposure to mold.

Since the emergence of the initial Omicron variant late last year, COVID has increasingly become more infectious. Since then, multiple Omicron subvariants have emerged, with each new strain being much more transmissible than its predecessor. Omicron BA.5 and its sister, BA.4, currently account for more than 93% of all US covid cases, with BA.5 making up the vast majority of the two variants.

Chemicals, whether natural or synthetic, play an important role in our daily lives and are largely unavoidable for personal use and in the workplace. With all the information and protections we have in place to mitigate chemical exposure, you might be shocked to learn that most of the 80,000+ chemicals currently used in the United States have not been adequately tested for their human health effects. Laboratory employees are particularly vulnerable to hazardous chemical exposure through their daily operations. Exposure to hazardous chemical substances in laboratories and the lack of appropriate control measures can lead to catastrophic events, precipitating serious injuries and even fatalities, thereby underscoring the importance of chemical safety on the employer and user end.

Beginning in 2008, The American Academy of Ophthalmology named July as UV Awareness Month. It makes perfect sense for the hottest month of the year to be designated UV Safety Awareness Month. People are outdoors more, it is very warm, and the potential to damage to one’s exposed skin is at its peak from radiation in the form of ultraviolet light. UV rays are invisible radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. These rays can penetrate and change skin cells.

Across the country this week, temperatures are forecasted to reach record highs in many areas. 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.

With the onset of pollen season, what better time to discuss indoor air quality? As defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality (IAQ) is the air quality, specifically as it relates to the health and comfort of occupants, within and around buildings and structures. COVID-19 has increased the population’s general awareness and importance of IAQ as well as the transmission of infectious diseases. The EPA recently released a Clean Air in Buildings Challenge as part of the Federal government’s new IAQ initiative, which happens to also be a facet of the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for workers, with over 600 workers dying annually and almost 50,000 injured each year due to falls from elevation.  All these deaths and injuries are preventable.

Given Lockout/Tagout’s established place on OSHA’s annual Top Ten Most Cited Violations list, it is not surprising that I spend a lot of time as an EHS consultant responding to clients’ questions regarding the control of hazardous energy.  Regardless of industry or perceived corporate success, the majority of facilities nationwide struggle to effectively address the hazards associated with servicing, maintenance and other activities that require employees to bypass safety devices and reach their hands into machines.