EPA chemicals chief Michal Freedhoff told GOP senators during a Jan. 24 hearing that the agency will ease its approach to calculating workplace existing chemical exposure limits (ECELs) when risk evaluations would support limits below “background” levels -- a move that could partly address employers’ arguments that its proposals so far have been unachievably strict.
EPA chemicals chief Michal Freedhoff told GOP senators during a Jan. 24 hearing that the agency will ease its approach to calculating workplace existing chemical exposure limits (ECELs) when risk evaluations would support limits below “background” levels -- a move that could partly address employers’ arguments that its proposals so far have been unachievably strict.
Republican leaders for the House Energy and Commerce Committee are urging EPA to withdraw and repropose its upcoming Risk Management Program (RMP) rule update, charging that the proposed version conflicts with OSHA and other agencies’ responsibilities, goes beyond Congress’ explicit mandates, and raises security concerns among things.
Republican leaders for the House Energy and Commerce Committee are urging EPA to withdraw and repropose its upcoming Risk Management Program (RMP) rule update, charging that the proposed version conflicts with OSHA and other agencies’ responsibilities, goes beyond Congress’ explicit mandates, and raises security concerns among things.
In the aftermath of a series of fires at renewable fuel refineries that led to at least one worker suffering critical burns, the United Steelworkers (USW) is petitioning California OSHA (Cal/OSHA) to develop an emergency temporary standard (ETS) that would subject those facilities to the same tough worker-safety rules the state applies to petroleum refineries.
In the aftermath of a series of fires at renewable fuel refineries that led to at least one worker suffering critical burns, the United Steelworkers (USW) is petitioning California OSHA (Cal/OSHA) to develop an emergency temporary standard (ETS) that would subject those facilities to the same tough worker-safety rules the state applies to petroleum refineries.
The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the fate of OSHA and other agencies’ deference under the Chevron doctrine is almost certain to drive reams of new litigation and result in conflicting circuit decisions, legal observers say, given widespread expectations the justices will overturn or significantly cabin the doctrine.
California OSHA’s (Cal/OSHA) standards board is renewing efforts to seek a compromise with federal OSHA over the state’s long-pending, controversial proposal to adopt updated federal fall-protection safety standards for residential frame construction, but federal regulators are expressing doubt over proposed alternatives aimed at easing employer burdens.
Lawmakers and industry groups that support the lapsed Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program are warning that states could create a “patchwork” of substitutes for the federal initiative following introduction of one such bill in Nebraska, adding urgency to their steady calls for Congress to pass a reauthorization.
Lawmakers and industry groups that support the lapsed Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program are warning that states could create a “patchwork” of substitutes for the federal initiative following introduction of one such bill in Nebraska, adding urgency to their steady calls for Congress to pass a reauthorization.