The Phylmar Group Inc. Newsletter
December 2016, Issue #83 
Welcome to the December Phylmar Newsletter,

On November 18, 2016, OSHA published a final rule on Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Fall Protection Systems, updating standards and adding training and inspection requirements.  Falls from heights and working surfaces are among the leading causes of workplace injuries and deaths.  The Agency estimates the rule will prevent 29 fatalities and 5,842 lost-workday injuries every year.  The rule also provides employers with greater flexibility in choosing a fall protection system. Additional information including compliance dates are provided.

 

We then turn to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has been busy implementing the recently amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  The Agency has just announced the first 10 chemicals it will evaluate for potential risks to human health and the environment, including asbestos.  In addition, the Agency has listed five persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals that will undergo expedited regulatory action.  Both lists and some additional regulatory information are provided.


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.

OSHA Issues Final Rule to Update General Industry Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection Standards

On November 18, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published a final rule updating its general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standards specific to slip, trip, and fall hazards.  The rule adds requirements for personal fall protection systems as well as training and inspection requirements.  The rule does not change construction or agricultural standards.  Where possible, OSHA has aligned fall protection requirements for general industry with those for construction.

 

The most significant update allows employers to select fall protection systems from a range of accepted options, an approach used in the construction industry since 1994.  

 

The rule becomes effective on January 17, 2017, but some requirements have delayed dates. Click here to read more. 
EPA Lists Chemicals for Risk Evaluation, Expedited Action under Reformed TSCA

The first 10 chemicals to be evaluated for potential risks are:

 

1,4-Dioxane

1-Bromopropane

Asbestos

Carbon Tetrachloride

Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster

Methylene Chloride

N-methylpyrrolidone

Pigment Violet 29

Tetrachloroethylene, also known as Perchloroethylene

Trichloroethylene

 

There is a statutory deadline to complete risk evaluations for these chemicals within three years.  If it is determined that a chemical presents an unreasonable risk to humans or the environment, EPA must mitigate that risk within two years.  Within six months, EPA will release a scoping document for each chemical which includes the hazards, exposures, conditions of use, and the potentially exposed or susceptible sub-populations. 

 

Click here to read about the five PBT chemicals to receive expedited action. 
Watch Part II of the Mark Katchen and OHTA's Nancy McClellan Interview
In this second installment of the series, Phylmar Group's Mark Katchen and OHTA's Nancy McClellan talk about the EHS educational courses offered through the OHTA and important core competencies for an occupational hygienist.


Upcoming Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Events

SeminarFest; Safety Training and Education Courses, Las Vegas, NV, February 9-16, 2017

 

GreenBiz17, Phoenix, AZ, February 14-16, 2017

 

GlobalChem Conference and Exposition, Washington, D.C., February 22-24, 2017

 

EHS and Sustainability Software and Data Management Conference, Houston, TX, March 6-8, 2017

 

Chemical Watch Global Business Summit 2017, Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 20-22, 2017

 

Safer Chemicals in Products 2017, San Francisco, CA, March 27-28, 2017

 

Technological Innovation and Organizational Changes; Potential Impacts on Prevention, Nancy, France, March 29-31, 2017


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.
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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