As a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) I often make recommendations to our “General Industry” clients in an effort to lift their game with dealing with hazardous waste. There are multiple layers of compliance issues related to hazardous waste handling, and, as with most regulations, a little education (TRAINING!!) goes a long way in understanding the game plan! The intention of this blog is to provide a brief discussion of the key regulations and their associated training requirements.
Are you shipping products that may be hazardous? Do you even know how to find out? Is your training up-to-date with the Refresher courses mandated by the DOT and FAA? Have you considered the cascade of repercussions that shipping one package incorrectly could cause for your company or fellow workers? Only trained persons are permitted to be involved with the transportation of hazardous materials. It is what makes the process work safely…for everyone! Understand more about DOT and IATA training today – to protect yourself and the public.
As a Safety Professional, a Hazardous Materials Manager and an authorized OSHA Construction Standards Outreach Trainer, I’m trained on multiple levels to recognize compliance-driven occupational safety violations. However, what does it take to change laws and habits that affect workers and citizens? In our society and legal system it seems that, yes, someone (or many) has to tragically die before change and regulation are considered. When it comes to saving lives at work, on the road or at home, we are a reactive society. We don’t do anything until we have determined the cost of safety: the value of life versus the cost of fixing the dangerous condition. And, just how much is a life worth these days? And who is going to pay the costs of training, new equipment, and enforcement of regulation or practices?
These are tough economic times and businesses are looking to cut costs and save money. Trained workers are safer workers. The facts bear this out. Shortsighted statements I’ve heard include; “We don’t have problems in that area, so we’re cutting back on training.”, when the training was most likely the reason for the lack of problems.
EHS Top Ten Tuesday: Fire Safety
Eileen Lucier
1. Approximately 75% of fire related deaths are due to smoke inhalation rather than burns or other injuries.
2. Arson is the leading cause of non-residential structure fires in the United States, followed by electrical distribution systems.
3. Good housekeeping and proper storage of flammables and combustibles are important but often overlooked aspects of fire prevention and safety.
Waste should not be allowed to accumulate. Combustible or flammable wastes should be removed daily.
Keep electrical panels, heating devices,
Laurie de Laski
1. The OSHA Standard for regulating hazardous chemicals in research and development laboratories is: Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450). The standard does not apply to production or QA/QC labs. Please refer to last week’s post for specific requirements of this standard.
2. Proper chemical handling and storage needs to be maintained in labs, including: appropriate spill control methods, separation of incompatible materials, flammable storage, chemical waste storage, dating of dangerous or short shelf
Top Ten Things You Need to Know about the Chemical Hygiene Standard
Laurie de Laski
1. The OSHA Standard for regulating safety in research and development laboratories is: Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories (29 CFR 1910.1450). The standard does not apply to production or QA/QC labs (see definition in #9).
2. The employer must develop and maintain a Chemical Hygiene Plan for each lab
3. The employer must designate a Chemical Hygiene Officer (an individual or group of individuals responsible for