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The Phylmar Group Inc. Newsletter
November 2016, Issue #82
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Welcome to the November Phylmar Newsletter,
We begin with an article considering the development of safer chemical alternatives in the EU and the U.S. The authors of the article recently completed
a report
commissioned by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on improving the identification, evaluation, adoption and development of safer chemical alternatives within the context of the EU's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The governmental drivers and capacity available to spur the development of safer alternatives are considered.
Next, we turn to the topic of workplace violence. Defined by OSHA as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. Workplace violence ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide, including active shooter incidents. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created an
active shooter preparedness program webpage
, intended for a range of stakeholders including human resources and safety professionals. There are several resources available focusing on prevention, preparedness, and response.
As always, if you would like to see any particular EHS topic covered, please let us know!
Mark Katchen, CIH
Managing Principal
The Phylmar Group, Inc.
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US vs. EU: Chemicals Substitution Faceoff
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Although the EU has more legislative mandates that restrict the use or require substitution of hazardous chemicals than the U.S., U.S. companies are substituting some hazardous chemicals in product lines and manufacturing processes. This is being driven in large part by market demands and chemicals legislation and regulation in a few states, including the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute, Washington Department of Ecology and the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program.
To read the summary of the article written by Molly Jacobs and Joel Tickner from GreenBiz.com on the Phylmar Blog, click here.
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Workplace Violence: Active Shooter Preparedness
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Source: dhs.gov
DHS has developed an independent study course, "Active Shooter: What You Can Do," providing guidance on how to prepare for and respond to incidents, including:
- The actions to take when confronted with an active shooter and to assist responding law enforcement officials.
- Recognizing potential workplace violence indicators.
- Actions to take to prevent and prepare for potential active shooter incidents.
- How to manage the consequences of an active shooter incident.
A 90-minute webinar focusing on the importance of developing an emergency
response plan and training employees on how to respond if confronted with an active shooter describes planning cycles and behaviors of three types of active shooters--workplace/school, criminal, and ideological.
Active Shooter workshops feature facilitated discussions to engage private sector professionals and law enforcement representatives from Federal, State, and local agencies. Participants evaluate current response concepts, plans, and capabilities for coordinated responses to incidents.
There are materials to assist businesses, government offices, and schools in preparing for and responding to an active shooter, covered issues include:
- Profile of an active shooter.
- Responding to an active shooter or other workplace violence situation.
- Training for an active shooter situation and creating an emergency action plan.
- Tips for recognizing signs of potential workplace violence.
The video "Options for Consideration" demonstrates possible actions to take if confronted with an active shooter scenario and how to assist authorities once law enforcement enters the scene.
To view the webpage,
click here
.
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Mark Katchen Chats with OHTA's Nancy McClennan
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Join Phylmar Group's Mark Katchen and AbbVie Global Occupational Hygiene Manager Nancy McClennan as they introduce the Occupational Hygiene Training Association and its benefits.
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Upcoming Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Events
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Did You Know?
Did you know as a PRR, AFIRM or BioPharma EHS Forum member that your benefits included access to Phylmar's global consulting network that provides concierge level service? The Phylmar Academy provides continuing EHS education and employee training. You can save up to 20% on these services through your membership. Contact Mark Katchen
(
mkatchen@phylmar.com
) for more information.
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About The Phylmar Group, Inc.
The Phylmar GroupĀ® is an organization that partners with best-in-class companies on their most challenging environmental, health and safety, and social responsibility issues by anticipating clients' needs from strategy to implementation. Our expert client advisors deliver innovative, responsible, efficient solutions addressing client needs and creating added value. For more information, visit
www.phylmar.com or call
+1 310.474.3937.
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