Our communities have the right to know when they are at risk of exposure to dangerous substances from accidental releases such as, but not limited to, chlorine, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, and sulfur dioxide. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agrees. In 1986 EPA created the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to help communities plan for just such emergencies. EPCRA requires that federal, state, and local governments, Indian tribes, and industries be prepared for hazardous chemical emergencies. It also requires facilities to follow all recordkeeping requirements and report the storage, use, and release of hazardous chemicals to federal, state, and local governments.
Audit, Compliance and Risk Blog
STP Editorial Team
Recent Posts
Hazardous Chemicals: Our Communities Have the Right to Know
Posted by STP Editorial Team on Wed, Jan 14, 2015
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Employer Best Practices, Health & Safety, Employee Rights, Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS, EPA, Hazcom
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its recordkeeping rule to expand the list of severe injuries (including amputations) that all employers must report. An increase in good reporting and recordkeeping is a best management practice and an essential part of helping employers ensure and maintain the safest working environments for their employees.
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Employer Best Practices, Health & Safety, OSHA, Employee Rights, Disability benefits
Pardon? Did You Say Something About Industrial Noise And Hearing Loss?
Posted by STP Editorial Team on Wed, Nov 12, 2014
Yes, we did. We said that noise, as a by-product of industrial processes, is one of the most pervasive occupational health concerns, contributing to approximately 16% of the disabling hearing loss in adults on a worldwide scale. Ten million people in the U.S. alone have a noise-related hearing loss and twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year. In 2007 the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimated that approximately 23,000 cases of occupational hearing loss were reported as causing hearing impairment and that this alone accounted for 14% of occupational illness that year.
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Employer Best Practices, Health & Safety, OSHA, Employee Rights
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.
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:
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Health & Safety, Training, EHS, Transportation
Tornadoes can occur with little or no warning. Taking precautions in advance of the storms, such as developing an emergency plan, learning the warning signs, and monitoring tornado watches and warnings, can help you stay safe if a tornado occurs in your area.
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Health & Safety, OSHA, Training, EHS
Internet Law: New Top-level Domains and Trademark Law
Posted by STP Editorial Team on Wed, Sep 10, 2014
Since 1998, generic top-level domain names (gTLDs) have been managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Some of the more well-known gTLDs include:
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Internet, Intellectual Property
Production Company Cited for Safety Violations Causing Worker Injury and Fatality
Posted by STP Editorial Team on Tue, Sep 02, 2014
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Employer Best Practices, Health & Safety, OSHA, Employee Rights
The 15th Annual Creek Week will take place September 20th – 28th, 2014. Creek Week is an annual community event celebrating Santa Barbara’s local creeks and the ocean with many groups sponsoring events to help build awareness and stewardship of the natural treasures of the area.
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Health & Safety, Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS
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.
Tags: Corporate Governance, Business & Legal, Training, Environmental risks, Environmental, EHS, EPA, Transportation