Source: http://blog.ehscsi.com/
Timestamp: 2017-04-29 01:33:15
Document Index: 364823485

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 262', 'arts 261', '§1910', '§1910', '§1910', '§1910', '§1910', '§ 1910', '§1910', '§1910', '§ 1910', '§ 1910', 'art 110']

EHS Compliance Times | The Blog of EHS Compliance Services Inc.
Posted on January 30, 2017 by Kahlilah Guyah	On November 28, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that significantly revises hazardous waste generator regulations. These revisions provide less stringent requirements for many hazardous waste generators and become effective on May 17, 2017. The revised regulations are intended to improve compliance and program effectiveness, clarify existing regulations, address regulatory gaps, and reduce the regulatory burden for hazardous waste generators. Most of the generator requirements have been consolidated into Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 262 (and reduces cross-references to parts 261 and 265). Over 60 changes were made to the hazardous waste generator regulations. A few critical changes are highlighted below:
Posted in EHS Compliance, Hazardous Waste, Regulatory Reporting	|
Tagged ehs consultant, epa regulations, hazardous waste regulations, san francisco bay area environmental consultant, san francisco bay area safety consultant, san francisco bay safety consultant	|
Posted on December 6, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	By Guest Blogger: Lisa Stringfellow of Graphic Products
Posted in EHS Compliance, EHS Training, Hazardous Materials Management	|
Tagged Hazard Communications, Material Safety Data Sheet, MSDS, SDS	|
Posted on November 29, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	One of the areas I recently investigated for an industrial client was the need for a stormwater permit or a No Exposure Certificate so I thought this would be a good topic of which to give an overview. Stormwater is generated from melting snow, precipitation and run-off from irrigation. It is classified into two categories either non-point source or point source. Most stormwater from roads, parking areas and buildings is classified as point source which is defined as “any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance…”. As point sources, stormwater discharges are covered by the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting process. This process is applicable to the following three areas:
Posted in EHS Compliance	|
Posted on November 15, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	There is lots of buzz about “strategy” from strategic planning to strategic objectives but having a strategic though pattern can assist an EHS professional in ensuring effectiveness. Strategic thinking was the title of one of the sessions I attended at the American Society for Safety Engineers (ASSE) Leadership Symposium. The session was given by Trish Ennis and focused on how leaders in the EHS industry can think more strategically although her discussion points can be applied to leaders in any industry. She suggested the following as benefits of thinking strategically:
Makes the most of limited resources
Gets people on board
Simplifies the difficult
Prompts one to ask that right questions
In addition to presenting the benefits Ms. Ennis talked to tips on thinking strategically.
She focused on the approach of zooming in or zooming out–knowing when to take a big picture view of an issue or alternatively when to get down to the details. She also highlighted the importance of being able to use both views simultaneously which gives different perspectives that can change our interaction with others and give us the aforementioned benefits. She presented two case studies that assisted in identifying practicals ways to implement strategic thinking. The first case study was on Cynthia Carol of Anglo America, from an article that I reviewed in an earlier post entitled Are Radical Changes Required to Implement An Effective Safety Culture? The second case study, of which I was unfamiliar, discussed Paul O’Neill the former CEO of Alcoa. Both focused on safety programs that were failing–Anglo America with a number of fatalities, Alcoa with poor quality and employee dissatisfaction. Thinking strategically forced both companies to make hard decisions which ultimately lead to a turn around in their programs. Anglo America saw a marked decrease in fatalities and Alcoa reduced injuries and improved quality. Additional keys to thinking strategically emphasized by Ennis were:
Asking WHY before HOW
Identifying the real issue or objective
Reviewing the resources Do you have other keys to assist with thinking strategically? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.
Posted in EHS Leadership, EHS Management, Safety Culture	|
Tagged ehs management systems, Leadership, strategic thinking	|
Posted on November 12, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	Did you know the following 36 National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards and any revisions thereafter are incorporated by reference into the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations per 29 CFR 1910.6? This means that an OSHA audit can yield findings from these standards in addition to those cited directly in 29 CFR 1904, 1910 or 1926. You can obtain free read-only access to the standards by creating a login at the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) website, clicking on the tab entitled Codes & Standards, then clicking on the left menu item entitled “Document Information pages (List of NFPA codes & standards)” and then clicking on the code in which you’re interested. I find that in practice I use NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code and NFPA 505 Standard for Type Designations, Areas of Use, Maintenance, and Operation of Powered Industrial Trucks the most but following is the list of others that may be needed for compliance.
NFPA 32-1970 Standard for Dry Cleaning Plants, IBR approved for §1910.106(j)(6)(i)
NFPA 37-1970 Standard for the Installation and Use of Stationary Combustion Engines and Gas Turbines, IBR approved for §§1910.106(j)(6)(iv) and 1910.110(b)(20)(iv)(c) and (e)(11).
NFPA 58-1969 Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (ANSI Z106.1-1970), IBR approved for §§1910.110(b)(3)(iv) and (i)(3)(i) and (ii); and 1910.178(f)(2).
NFPA 59-1968 Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases at Utility Gas Plants, IBR approved for §§1910.110(b)(3)(iv) and (i)(2)(iv).
NFPA 86A-1969 Standard for Oven and Furnaces Design, Location and Equipment, IBR approved for §§1910.107(j)(1) and (l)(3) and 1910.108(b)(2) and (d)(2).
NFPA 101-2009, Life Safety Code, 2009 edition, IBR approved for § § 1910.34, 1910.35, 1910.36, and 1910.37.
NFPA 251-1969 Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, IBR approved for §§1910.106(d)(3)(ii) introductory text and (d)(4)(i).
NFPA 566-1965 Standard for the Installation of Bulk Oxygen Systems at Consumer Sites, IBR approved for §§1910.253(b)(4)(iv) and (c)(2)(v).
NFPA 51A (2001) Standard for Acetylene Cylinder Charging Plants, IBR approved for § 1910.102(b) and (c).
NFPA 51A (2006) Standard for Acetylene Cylinder Charging Plants, IBR approved for § 1910.102(b) and (c).
Tagged Incorporated by Reference, NFPA, OSHA	|
Posted on November 9, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	By Guest Blogger: Jack Rubinger
From Portland to Pittsburgh, from the Arctic to the Adriatic, industrial chemical spills are common. Spill response teams need to act fast when these events occur, with the appropriate cleanup and communications supplies on hand.
Industry and the public are vitally concerned about spills and their potential economic and environmental impacts. Spills such as Exxon Valdez and the Gulf of Mexico spill incited strong reactions and have dramatically increased efforts by both industry and government to increase protection against spills.
Signs and labels provide safety communications at facilities, in the field and in multiple languages to workers, emergency responders and the public. When created by thermal transfer printers, signs and labels are very durable and adhere to stainless steel, concrete, glass and other surfaces. If an incident takes place after dark, phosphorescent tapes convey critical information.
Bar-coded asset labels make it much easier to identify equipment such as booms and vacuum trucks providing the ability to analyze, identify and return valuable equipment used onsite – a valuable inventory control application. This helps protect contractors while minimizing the risk of mistakes and audits.
Wherever chemicals are present, spills can occur and when they do occur a chemical spill response kit containing the following items can be helpful:
Absorbent (spill pillows, socks, sorbents)
Bags or bins for containment
Hazardous waste tags and labels to identify contents for appropriate disposal
Developments in Spill Prevention, Containment and Response Systems. Training in the latest technologies and products is critical so hazmat workers can quickly contain and control spills. Training workers to a response plan can save valuable time when an emergency occurs.
Choosing the right absorbent for the application. Spills should be contained and isolated first to prevent further contamination, and then work can be done to remove the contamination. Isolation can be accomplished with two product types: absorbent and non-absorbent. Absorbent isolation products include oil-only booms, sweeps and socks. Non-absorbent isolation products include berms and containment pools.
A third product type is designed for removing spills. Removal products include pads, rugs and mats, pillows and loose sorbents which are used for oil, hazmat and universal applications. Universal removal products absorb oils, coolants, solvents and water. They are used for tool and chemical cabinets, parts cleaning and machine repairs. Oil-only removal products are used for oil spills on land and water, machine repair and parts cleaning. Hazard removal products absorb acids, bases and unknown liquids. They are used for chemical spills, battery acid leaks and storage cabinet liners.
Diverters and drain guards prevent hazardous chemicals from draining into clean water supplies.
Spill kits have been developed for a wide range of spill volumes. Spill kits consist of items such as pads, socks, pillows, gloves, goggles and tamper-proof seals. Most kits are available in a universal, oil-only and hazmat format.
Visual communication and spill containment are a necessary part of facility and environmental management. Quick action and clear communication are always critical.
For more information, visit www.SpillArrest.com, call 888-326-9244 or email jarubinger@graphicproducts.com.
Posted in Hazardous Materials Management	|
Tagged hazardous materials, Signs, Spill Containment, Visual Communications	|
Posted on November 9, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	Last week I had the privilege of attending the American Society of Safety Engineers Leadership Symposium “Safety is about Leadership.” I had the opportunity to meet leaders in the industries of Organizational Development and Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Management. I attended multiple sessions about how leadership principles impact the management of an EHS program. One session that really stood out to me was on feedback “The Leadership Key to Improvement” by Dr. Kathy Hart of Clear Vision Consulting. Dr. Hart spoke about giving and receiving feedback and that both are avenues through which we can improve management of our programs. One principle that stood out to me was that “feedback is data–it is neither negative or positive” and is about “asking the right questions, the right way, to solicit sound and current data about an act or actions that have been undertaken.” She pointed to the importance of understanding the source of the feedback and the need to ensure that it is from the appropriate level of an organization—the entire organization, a group or department within the organization or individuals. She also gave examples of how to solicit feedback and highlighted the importance of not only the results but also their proper interpretation–this is the greatest benefit of feedback and the key to moving any program forward. This really resonated with me because as a former onsite EHS professional and now EHS consultant, I understand the ease of getting lost in the daily grind and this presentation reminded me of the criticality of (1) asking our internal and external customers whether we are moving in the right direction with our programs and (2) determining that the programs are yielding their intended results. Dr. Hart presented the following examples of ways in which to solicit feedback:
In addition, Dr. Hart touched on the importance of asking good questions. Questions that are open-ended or inquiry-based are those that facilitate information gathering and provide one of the best mechanisms for feedback solicitation.
Have you used any of the above to solicit feedback? If yes, how did it work for you and how did you apply it? If not, what methods have you found successful in soliciting feedback? Join the discussion and share your thoughts in a comment below!
Posted in EHS Management Techniques	|
Tagged Consulting, Customer Service, Feedback, Leadership	|
Posted on October 31, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	Did you know the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not regulate biomedical waste at the federal level? Biomedical waste is typically regulated by the state and/or local government. In Florida it is regulated by the Department of Health but is delegated to the counties within the state. What is biomedical waste? The answer is: it depends. Since biomedical waste is regulated by the states each state has a definition. In Florida, for example, biomedical waste is defined as “any solid or liquid waste which may present a threat of infection to humans, including nonliquid tissue, body parts, blood, blood products, and body fluids from humans and other primates; laboratory and veterinary wastes which contain human disease-causing agents; and discarded sharps….” One the other hand, in New Jersey (my home state) the waste is called regulated medical waste and includes “any solid waste, generated in the diagnosis, treatment (for example, provision of medical services), or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals….” Both the Florida and New Jersey regulations have a list of materials that are also included following the definitions. Notice in Florida only human and other primate wastes are included while New Jersey includes humans and all animals—not only primates. This highlights the importance of reviewing the regulations, especially if your company has facilities in multiple locations.
Posted on October 26, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	In the last post I briefly reviewed the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) requirements. Today’s post will focus on the information that must be included in an SPCC Plan. The following requirements are summarized from the General Requirements for Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans found in 40 CFR 112.7.
Physical layout of the facility including location of:
Each fixed oil storage containers.
Mobile or portable storage areas.
Exempt underground tanks (marked as “exempt” in the layout).
Transfer stations and connecting pipes (also include exempted lines).
The type of oil and storage capacity for each fixed and mobile container.
Discharge prevention measures including procedures for routine handling of products (loading, unloading, and facility transfers, etc.).
Discharge or drainage controls such as secondary containment around containers and other structures, equipment, and procedures for the control of a discharge.
Countermeasures for discharge discovery, response, and cleanup—including onsite capability and those that might be required of a contractor.
Methods of disposal of recovered materials.
Contact list and phone numbers for the facility response coordinator, National Response Center (NRC), cleanup contractors, and all regulatory agencies who must be contacted in case of a discharge.
Discharge event response procedures—this includes procedures that will provide ease of reporting information pertinent to the spill (i.e. type of material, location information, time and date, etc).
Explanations for the omission of control measures listed in 40 CFR 112.7(c) or 112.7(h).
Inspection and integrity test procedures for the oil containing equipment.
Annual personnel training and discharge prevention briefing requirements and procedures.
Security procedures for oil containing equipment and processes.
Information on how facility complies with the applicable requirements and other effective discharge prevention and containment procedures or any applicable more stringent State rules, regulations, and guidelines.
Keep in mind this list is extracted form the general federal requirements, additional requirements are found in 40 CFR 112 (i.e. Subpart B and Subpart C) and as always consider the state and local requirements of the facility.
A great starting place for plan creation is the templates provided for Tier I Qualified Facilities. Even if your facility is Tier II or requires a Professional Engineer (PE) Certification you can reduce costs by drafting the plan and having the PE visit the facility, review and certify the plan. Need more resources? Check out the EPA’s SPCC Homepage.
Have questions about creating an SPCC Plan? Leave a comment below or send me an email at info at ehscsi.com.
Tagged EHS compliann, SPCC, SPCC Plan, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures	|
Posted on October 24, 2012 by Kahlilah Guyah	In previous posts I have discussed some of the regulatory requirements associated with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Emergency Management Division: EPCRA and CERCLA. Today’s post continues exploring these requirements with the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) requirements found in 40 CFR 112. The SPCC requirements are part of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulations which focus on preparedness and prevention of as well as the response to oil product spills into navigable waters. The primary manner in which facilities are regulated by SPCC requirements are through the creation of an SPCC Plan that specifies actions taken to ensure oils do not reach navigable waters.
Let’s begin with the question: Which facilities need to comply with these regulations? The General Applicability section found in 40 CFR 112.1 has a long list of requirements that trigger compliance: “onshore or offshore facilities engaged in drilling, producing, gathering, storing, processing, refining, transferring, distributing, using, or consuming oil and oil products, which due to its location, could reasonably be expected to discharge oil in quantities that may be harmful, as described in part 110 of this chapter, into or upon the navigable waters of the United States….” One key to this regulation is defining navigable waters and oil. Navigable waters include tributaries in addition to inter and intra state lakes, rivers and streams; while oil is that of any kind including animal fats. The definition of oil is such that organizations across any sector can be impacted if large amounts of cooking oils are used for an onsite kitchen, cafeteria or catering service.
When analyzing regulatory applicability it’s important to consider the exemptions. For SPCC regulations, only facilities with above ground oil storage of greater than 1,320 gallons of oil in containers of 55 gallons or more are required to comply with this regulation. If the facility has underground storage tanks then that threshold is increased to 42,000 gallons. Other exemptions include:
Motive power containers that are used to power trucks, cars, bulldozers and, other heavy equipment so far as the equipment is not used for the transfer or distribution of oil. For obvious reasons, this exemption does not include drilling equipment or mobile refuelers. Hot-mix asphalt and containers.
Pesticide application equipment or containers.
Facilities that solely treat wastewater.
A 2009 revision to the SPCC regulations streamlined the process of implementing an SPCC Plan by allowing self-certification of the plan. Facilities that have 10,000 gallons of oil or less may become a Tier I or Tier II Qualified Facility which allows for a modified SPCC Plan; otherwise facilities must comply with the full SPCC Plan requirement including certification by a Professional Engineer (PE).
In the next post I will tackle the requirements of SPCC Plans. In the meantime, dive deeper into the SPCC requirements with the following resources:
EPA SPCC Homepage
Qualified Facility Fact Sheet
2009 SPCC Modifications
Tagged environmental compliance, SPCC, SPCC Plan, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures	|
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