Audit, Compliance and Risk Blog

Drive Green! Save Green!

Posted by STP Editorial Team on Thu, Jul 02, 2015

Did you know that “what you drive, how you drive, and what fuel you use can impact both the environment and your pocketbook?” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put together a Green Vehicle Guide website that provides useful information and answers to all your questions about how you can go green on the road and save money too.

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Tags: Health & Safety, California Legislation, Training, Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, Hazcom, Transportation

EPA Promotes Green Infrastructure for Healthier Urban Environments

Posted by STP Editorial Team on Tue, Jun 09, 2015

What is “green infrastructure”? Green infrastructure incorporates vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments. When talking about an area the size of an entire city or county, green infrastructure refers to an assorted collection of natural areas that provide habitat, flood protection, cleaner air, and cleaner water. When referring to an individual neighborhood or smaller locale, green infrastructure refers to stormwater management systems that simulate nature by soaking up and storing water, which then can be redirected back into sustainable usage by those communities.

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Tags: Health & Safety, Environmental risks, Environmental, EPA, Transportation, Stormwater

Obama Expands Federal Agencies’ Responsibilities for Sustainability

Posted by Jon Elliott on Mon, Apr 13, 2015

Recent U.S. Presidents have issued a series of executive orders (EOs) that steadily expand federal agencies’ responsibilities to conduct their own activities in environmentally sound ways. President Clinton issued a number of EOs during 1993-1999 as part of “Greening the Government,” which were expanded upon and superseded by President George W. Bush’s 2007 EO Number 13423 “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management.” Since taking office, President Obama has continued these expansions. Last month, he issued EO Number 13693 to require “Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade.” This EO also revokes a number of President Obama’s own relevant EOs, and President Bush’s EO Number 13423.

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Tags: Environmental risks, Environmental, ghg, Transportation, sustainability

Injury And Death Due To Railway Trespassing is Preventable

Posted by STP Editorial Team on Mon, Mar 09, 2015

Trespassing along railroad and transit rights-of-way (ROW) is a leading cause of rail-related deaths in America. Almost every two hours someone in the U.S. is hit by a train. Highway-rail crossing and trespasser deaths account for 90 percent of all rail-related deaths; more than 550 trespass fatalities and nearly as many injuries occur each year.

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Tags: Corporate Governance, Employer Best Practices, Health & Safety, Training, Transportation

California Law Requires Long-Life Batteries in Smoke Detectors

Posted by STP Editorial Team on Mon, Feb 16, 2015

How many times have you popped the batteries out of those old smoke detectors when the alarm blasted over burnt toast…and then failed to put the batteries back in? Or how about not replacing the batteries when they die or checking to see if the alarm is still in working order? Is there even a smoke detector in the house?

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Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Health & Safety, California Legislation, Environmental risks, Environmental, Transportation

New Sustainability Reporting Standards for the Transportation Sector

Posted by Gisela Temmel on Wed, Nov 05, 2014

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Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Health & Safety, Hazcom, Transportation

Effective Traffic Control Management Assures Worker Safety

Posted by STP Editorial Team on Thu, Oct 30, 2014

We drive by the “Be Work Zone Alert” billboards all the time, reminding us to slow down and drive safe through road construction zones, with compassion-provoking reminders like, “Be alert, our mom’s at work.” And indeed, rather than feel annoyed at the roadwork construction that delays our driving progress, let’s continue to be mindful of the real risks that the workers face every day on the job.

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Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Employer Best Practices, Health & Safety, Training, EHS, Transportation

Vehicle Maintenance: Your Owner’s Manual…Read It Or Weep

Posted by STP Editorial Team on Wed, Oct 01, 2014

The Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) wants you to know that taking the time to review your owner’s manual can ultimately save you time and money...and maybe even a few tears! These manuals contain maintenance and service guidelines that will help ensure the longevity of your vehicle. BAR explains the following reasons why you should read your owner’s manual:

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Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Health & Safety, Training, EHS, Transportation

Vehicle Maintenance: Begin Recycling Your Used Motor Oil Today

Posted by STP Editorial Team on Thu, Aug 07, 2014

Did you know that if all the oil from American do-it-yourself oil changers were recycled, it would be enough motor oil for more than 50 million cars a year? Wow! Imagine how much foreign oil that would eliminate.

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Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Training, Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS, EPA, Transportation

NTSB and PHMSA Focus on Facility Response Plans for Pipelines

Posted by Allison Campbell on Mon, Jul 14, 2014

Investigation of the 2010 spill at Marshall, Michigan, the largest on-land spill in US history, underlines the reality that a Facility Response Plan (FRP) is more than a government-required document—an inadequate document or plan can lead to environmental and economic disaster. Owners and operators of onshore pipelines must review and update FRPs every five years from the date of last submission or last approval, and whenever new or different operating conditions arise that would affect the plan. (49 CFR 194.121 Response Plan Review and Update Procedures). PHMSA recently released two Advisory Bulletins reminding operators what it requires in an FRP and listing five of the most common reasons for it to reject an FRP.

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Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Health & Safety, Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS, EPA, Greenhouse Gas, ghg, Hazcom, Oil & Gas, Transportation