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ISO
Guide Will Help Reduce Environmental Impacts of Products
The newly published
ISO Guide
64:2008,
Guide for addressing environmental issues in product standards,
is a
practical tool for addressing these issues, as well as a
contribution to sustainable international trade.
For more
information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1173
OSHA
Issues Proposed Rule on PPE Training
OSHA issued a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register on
Tuesday, August 19, 2008. The proposed rule clarifies
requirements of the PPE and training standards. Failure to
provide appropriate PPE or training may result in per-instance
penalties.
Normally, the
Agency combines separate violations of one requirement of a
standard into a single penalty. The amendments to the rules
would make clear that a separate penalty may be assessed for
each employee not provided PPE or training. As an example, at
Company X if four employees were not provided training
required by a standard, the violation could result in four
separate penalties.
Public
comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until September
18, 2008. For more information, visit
www.osha.gov.
Alternative Energy Standards and Electrical Safety Testing
With the
soaring cost of oil, manufacturers and consumers are switching
to alternative energy sources. These sources include solar,
wind, renewable resources such as wood and biomass, and fuel
cells. This article will discuss various standards covering
alternative energy sources, with the primary focus being on
electrical safety and other electrical testing.
For more
information:
http://conformity.com/artman/publish/feature_261.shtml
EPA's Annual Report Looks Under Hood of Vehicle Emissions
Compliance
The
Environmental Protection Agency has released its first annual
report that summarizes environmental compliance data from all
mobile sources including cars, light duty trucks and non-road
equipment… This report will help stakeholders better
understand the compliance program’s requirements, process and
results. EPA’s compliance program is an important part of
improving the nation’s air quality
For more
information:
http://ohsonline.com/Articles/2008/11/11-EPA-Emissions-Compliance-Report.aspx
Parsons Corporation is Newest Member of OSHA's VPP Corporate
Pilot
Parsons
Corp. recently became the newest participant in the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA)
Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) Corporate Pilot.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "As the newest member of the VPP
Corporate Pilot, we applaud Parsons for achieving exemplary
safety and health practices at all of its worksites and look
forward to continuing our successful relationship to protect
employees well into the future."
For More
Information,
click here.
Facebook for Safety Professionals
Due to the
popularity of social networking sites for professionals like
Linkedin,
www.safetycommunity.com was launched in June, 2008 for
safety professionals. The online community is gaining
membership and currently has approximately 425 members. The
site has a section for special interest groups such as
training, chemical and healthcare and also discussion forums.
It is a great place to share ideas and recent industry news.
To sign up and begin networking with safety professionals,
visit
www.safetycommunity.com.
Materials Meet the Latest Environmental Challenges
Environmental concern is
certainly one trend influencing design choice, but another
trend is cost. With oil prices fluctuating daily,
material suppliers are working to reduce petroleum content.
One of the largest users of such materials is the packaging
industry.
For more information:
http://www.designworldonline.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?cid=250&id=2682
Millions Harness the Power of Change - EPA's New Campaign
Challenges Americans to Change the World, Start with Energy
Star
More than 1.8 million Americans
have pledged to change at least one light at home to an Energy
Star qualified light. These pledges will save $220
million in energy bills and prevent the release of more than 3
billion pounds of greenhouse gases. Lighting is one of
the easiest things we can change in our homes and is the first
step in the new pledge to "Change the World, Start with Energy
Star". EPA is challenging American's to take the newly
expanded pledge to make saving energy a bigger part of their
lives.
Click here for more information.
Governor Schwarzenegger Outlaws Text-Messaging While Driving
California drivers chafing at
the ban on holding cell phones can soon forget about texting,
too. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has banned motorists
from sending, writing or reading messages on electronic
devices starting January 1, 2009.
For more information:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-me-arnold25-2008sep25,1,3722911.story
Mercury-Added Product Regulations, Phase 2: Sales Bans,
Labeling & Disposal Prohibition
MassDEP is
proposing regulations that will govern three requirements of
the Massachusetts Mercury Management Act (Chapter 190 of the
Acts of 2006) that become effective as of May 1, 2008, and May
1, 2009: bans on the sale of certain measuring devices and all
switches and relays containing mercury; requirements that
mercury-added items remaining on the market carry specific
labels; and prohibitions on both the disposal of mercury-added
products and the collection of solid waste containing them.
For more
information:
http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/publiche.htm#hgp2
MIT
Researchers Use Plant Energy Storage System For Solar Storage
Innovation
In what
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) researchers say is a revolutionary
leap that could transform solar power from a marginal,
boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, the
researchers report they have discovered a way to store energy
for use when the sun doesn't shine, thereby overcoming a major
barrier to large-scale solar power.
For more
information:
http://www.semiconductor.net/article/CA6583673.html?q=Environment
"Go
Paper Less" - Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
…the FDA’s
compliance imperatives and the principles of calibration
described in the Good Practice Guide: Calibration
Management (International Society for Pharmaceutical
Engineering, 2001) demand that pharmaceutical manufacturers
establish robust calibration systems. Historically these
systems have been of varying complexity and have included
significant “hard copy” document content.
For more
information: http://www.qualitydigest.com/june08/articles/02_article.shtml
F1
Enviro Tech for Production Cars?
…with
the introduction of KERS-kinetic energy recovery systems-into
Formula One next year, the premier category of the sport is
making a statement that it acknowledges the concerns about the
environment.
For more
information:
http://www.autofieldguide.com/columns/0808euro.html
ISO
Standard on Beach Safety Flags and Water Safety Signs for an
Accident-Free Summer
ISO 20712-1:2008,
Water safety signs and beach
safety flags – Specifications for water safety signs used in
workplaces and public areas,
is intended for use by owners and operators of aquatic
environments and by manufacturers of signs and equipment. It
categorizes water safety signs according to their function:
For more
information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1147
OSHA
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feeds
If you feel
you are constantly checking the OSHA website for topics that
affect your business, or would simply like to hear about
specific regulatory changes without searching for them
yourself, you may be interested in OSHA’s new use of the
Really Simply Syndication (RSS) system. Basically RSS will
regularly scan the OSHA website (or others) for changes and
send a linked headline to you each time new information
becomes available. All you need to do to get started is
download and RSS reader (some browsers may already have
readers installed) and choose a feed, such as the OSHA
website’s “OSHA News Releases Feed.” The benefits of using
RSS include not having to constantly search/scan websites for
new content as well as the ability to subscribe to multiple
feeds from multiple organizations!
If you would
like to learn more about OSHA’s implementation of RSS feeds
just visit the OSHA website at
http://www.osha.gov and click on the “RSS Feeds” link in
the upper left corner of the web page.
OSHA’s
Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP)
Recently there have been a
number of occupational incidents involving the hazards of
combustible dust. This has caused the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) to reissue its Combustible Dust
National Emphasis Program (NEP).
The term “combustible dust”
refers to fine dusts such as metals, wood dust, carbon dusts
(coal, etc), plastic dust, bio-solids, and many others that
can very easily form highly ignitable mixtures in air, which
if exposed to an ignition source, can cause fires, explosions,
and ultimately employee injuries and property damage. With
seemingly harmless and easily overlooked presence, it is all
too easy for an excess of combustible dust build up to be the
cause of occupational incidents.
OSHA’s NEP
will focus on facility inspections of specific industry groups
including Agriculture, Food Products, Chemicals, Textiles,
Forest and Furniture Products, Metal Processing, Tire and
Rubber Manufacturing, Paper Products, Wastewater Treatment,
Recycling Operations, and Coal dust and coal handling.
Although the focus of OSHA’s NEP will be specific, this is not
an issue that is confined to one industry. With many materials
being capable of ignition in fine particulate form, it is very
important to maintain good awareness about the hazards of
combustible dust and take precautions to protect workers. At a
minimum, this should start with good housekeeping, proper
ventilation, and periodic inspections. To learn more about
combustible dust hazards or OSHA’s national emphasis program
visit the OSHA website at
http://www.osha.gov.
OSHA Publishes Final Rule on employer payment
of PPE and Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda
OSHA recently
published a final rule in the federal register changing
employer provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
requirements. The final rule requires that PPE be provided at
no cost to employees whenever required in the workplace. There
are a few very specific exceptions to this rule which include
protective equipment like safety-toe shoes and prescription
safety glasses, because these items are considered to be very
personal in nature. The rule becomes effective on February 13,
2008 and must be implemented by May 15, 2008.
OSHA also
published their Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda in the federal
register this past month. The agenda is a good way to keep
track of upcoming occupational safety and health regulatory
changes and includes descriptions and the status of proposed
regulations in four stages; Pre-rule, Proposed rule, Final
Rule, and Completed Actions. Some of the topics on the current
agenda include: Occupational Exposure to Beryllium,
Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica, Electric Power
Transmission and Distribution; Electrical Protective
Equipment, etc.
For more
information on the Semi-Annual Regulatory agenda and upcoming
regulatory changes visit the OSHA website at
http://www.osha.gov.
New ISO standards to improve
quality of water services to consumers
Recent ISO
standards have been put in place to manage limited water
resources so as to allow for safe drinking water for the
world’s population. Three new standards came into effect and
provide guidelines for service activities relating to
wastewater sewerage systems and water supply systems. These
standards were put in place in order to help achieve a level
of quality of water that promotes sustainable development.
For more
information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1100
New edition of ISO's quality management
specification for international oil and gas industries
ISO
recently released an updated version of the specification
ISO/TS 29001, which ensures secure and dependable equipment
and serves throughout the international gas and oil industries
by providing a unique document with requirements for quality
management. ISO/TS 29001:2007 has been expanded, with 23
modifications made to the standard. It has been developed to
better meet the needs of the oil and gas industry, as well as
government and regulatory agencies, as the entity for
qualification of the quality management systems of service
suppliers and equipment manufacturers.
For more
information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1098
ISO, WRI, and WBCSD announce
cooperation on greenhouse gas accounting and verification
Three
organizations have recently announced that they will
collaborate to promote their greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting
and reporting standards. ISO (International Organization for
Standardization), WRI (World Resources Institute) and WBCSD
(World Business Council for Sustainable Development) have
signed a memorandum to mutually promote the ISO 14064
standards, as well as the WRI and WBCSD GHG Protocol
standards. This collaboration is in response to concerns that
the two standards may not be consistent, and the three
organizations seek to prove that they can be used effectively
and in a complementary manner.
For more
information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1093
ISO publishes international
benchmark for incident preparedness and operational continuity
management
ISO
technical committee Societal Security has released the
first internationally recognized benchmark document which
addresses incident preparedness and continuity management.
ISO/PAS 22399:2007, Societal Security – Guideline for
incident preparedness and operational continuity management
recognizes that natural disasters, technology-related
accidents, acts of terror and environmental incidents have
demonstrated that neither public nor private sectors are
invulnerable from catastrophe. This has led to an
international awareness that organizations must know how to
prepare for and respond to crises.
For more
information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1094
Latest issue of The ISO Survey shows
16% rise in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications
The ISO
Survey – 2006 found that certification to both ISO 9001 and to
ISO 14001 increased in 2006 by 16%. Certification to more
recent ISO management system standards for both the medical
device sector and the automotive sector increased by over 60%.
These findings illustrate the extent to which ISO’s management
system standards are becoming integrated within the global
economy in which they function.
For more
information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1089
NORA
- National Occupational Research Agenda Draft Update
NORA is a
sector based research agenda that considers high priority
Safety and Health research topics for improvement in the
following eight sectors:
-
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
-
Construction
-
Healthcare
and Social Assistance
-
Manufacturing
-
Mining
-
Services
-
Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities
-
Wholesale
and Retail Trade
A draft
strategic plan is being developed for each sector and is
expected to be available next spring. To learn more and view
some of the topics of the strategic plans visit NORA at the
CDC website here:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/
NSC
- The National Safety Council Announces Results of Annual
Consumer Perception Survey
The NSC
survey incorporated input from 1,614 randomly selected adults
and concluded that nearly 1 in 3 Americans believe nothing
can be done to prevent accidental injuries. This indicates a
large paradigm shift from these Americans believing they have
no control over their personal safety and health may be needed
in order to continue to improve injury and illness rates. The
poll did show most Americans are concerned about accidental
injuries, 46% of those interviewed ranked them as the number 1
risk to their health and well being and the majority also
showed that they do have some faith in their employer’s
occupational safety and health programs. To read more about
the survey visit the National Safety Council website here:
http://www.nsc.org/news/pessimist.htm.
OSHA
Request for Information on new Emergency Response Standard
OSHA has
recently indicated they are aware that current emergency
response regulations do not reflect the most up-to-date
practices and improvements in this area of occupational safety
and health. In light of this, they have published a Request
for Information (RFI) in the public register to give the
public and those more familiar with current ER practices and
recent improvements a chance to give their thoughts on what
should be changed or added (if anything) to the current
emergency response OSHA standards. The RFI is open for comment
until December 10, 2007. For more information and submission
of comments, visit the
Federal Register.
Justices: EPA can control car emissions
In a 5-4 decision,
the Supreme Court said the Clean Air Act gives the
Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate the
emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from
cars. Greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the landmark
environmental law, Justice John Paul Stevens said in his
majority opinion.
Click here for more information
Future
ISO 26000 standard on social responsibility reaches positive
turning point
The development of the future
ISO 26000 standard giving guidance on social responsibility
has reached a positive "turning point" in terms of consensus
and trust among the broad base of participating stakeholders.
For more information:
http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1049
ISO 14001:2004
Revision
Knowing
the changes will help keep your organization ahead of the
environmental curve. The General perspective of the
changes: The dual goals of clarification and alignment
required revisions and additions to the existing formal
definitions. Sixteen of the resultant 20 definitions are new
or changed.
For more
information:
http://www.qualitydigest.com/mar05/articles/04_article.shtml
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