Audit, Compliance and Risk Blog

Disability insurers are often chastised for not accepting an insured’s disability claim and denying them insurance benefits. At the same time, some individuals attempt to recover from their disability insurer even when they are able to perform the duties of their occupation. And when contracts are written in such a way that even the most erudite advocate cannot determine their meaning unequivocally, it is no wonder so many such cases end up in litigation, as in the following case from Arkansas.

On Monday, March 26, 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) promulgated a final rule officially adopting the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) as part of the Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]. Employers that make, transport, handle or otherwise use chemicals should start now to prepare for the transition to GHS.

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District is proposing to amend District rules to reduce air pollution caused by cleaning solvents.  The provisions would include requirements for work practices, reactive organic compound (ROC) content limits, and solvent cleaning devices and methods.The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District is seeking to amend rules concerning Surface Coating of Metal Parts and Products (Rules 330), Surface Coating of Aerospace Vehicles and Components (Rules 337), Polyester Resin operations (Rules 349), and Adhesives and Sealants (Rules 353). 

OSHA’s New Hazcom Explained

Everything you think you know about

about hazardous chemicals is about to change

Since the 1980s, most employers throughout the U.S. and Canada have been required to protect workers from workplace chemical hazards, and to train workers to protect themselves.  The cornerstones of these programs have been manufacturer-supplied summaries called Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).  Sad to say, but sometimes they’re wobbly cornerstones, because they start with hazard information developed by company scientists for agency scientists, and may or may not extend that information into practical hands-on guidance for employers and workers.  They also vary in detail, because the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides guidance for appropriate topics but no requirements that the content be practical.  While some MSDSs are fine, we’ve all grumbled about others that report clinical results of the lethal dose of constituent chemicals to half the test population (LD50), but then recommend no more than "use appropriate personal protective equipment."

Webinar Scheduled for March 7, 2012:  Headlines following catastrophic incidents such as fatal or crippling injuries, fires and explosions, lead to demands for answers as to who was at fault and how the event could have been prevented. EHS managers, auditors, operations, risk managers, and legal counsel all have a role in uncovering the potential for and preventing high-consequence/low-frequency events.