A coalition of environmental groups is again petitioning EPA to ban the use of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in refineries under TSCA, the latest in a series of so-far unsuccessful calls from environmentalists and federal investigators for EPA and OSHA to clamp down on the highly toxic substance that is used at dozens of facilities across the United States.
September 17, 2026
A coalition of environmental groups is again petitioning EPA to ban the use of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in refineries under TSCA, the latest in a series of so-far unsuccessful calls from environmentalists and federal investigators for EPA and OSHA to clamp down on the highly toxic substance that is used at dozens of facilities across the United States.
President Donald Trump’s nomination of David Keeling to head OSHA is an indication that the agency will continue to enforce existing standards and will likely continue to address hazards under its General Duty Clause authority although it may seek changes to several Biden-era standards, experts say.
House Democrats are raising alarm over the Labor Department’s (DOL) removal of documents from OSHA’s website, expressing concern about possible destruction of documents and DOL efforts to hide valuable information from the public.
EPA is asking federal courts to stay for 120 days consolidated challenges to the Biden-era TSCA rule phasing out chrysotile asbestos to limit workplace exposures and the new-chemicals “framework” rule governing how new chemical reviews are conducted while incoming Trump appointees determine how they want to proceed.
President Donald Trump has nominated David Keeling, who has held occupational health and safety roles at Amazon and UPS, to become the new chief of OSHA, while selecting Wayne Palmer, who held Labor Department (DOL) positions in the first Trump administration, to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
The newly formed Chlor-Vinyl Industry Alliance is spearheading efforts to engage downstream users of vinyl chloride in EPA’s upcoming TSCA risk evaluation of the chemical as part of an effort to provide what it says is vital scientific and industry expertise to the agency, including on worker exposure.
Occupational exposure scientists are building on early data documenting construction painters’ exposure to PFAS with additional research aimed at developing a plan for reducing PFAS exposure and body burden for construction trades.
An industry coalition is urging EPA to rescind key provisions of the Biden EPA’s “misguided,” “illegal” and “unnecessary” Risk Management Program (RMP) rule, calling for officials to take immediate steps to block its implementation while launching a new rulemaking that will permanently end the “regulatory whiplash” that has characterized the policy over the last decade.
An industry coalition is urging EPA to rescind key provisions of the Biden EPA’s “misguided,” “illegal” and “unnecessary” Risk Management Program (RMP) rule, calling for officials to take immediate steps to block its implementation while launching a new rulemaking that will permanently end the “regulatory whiplash” that has characterized the policy over the last decade.
