OSHA Focusing on Increase in Worker Fatalities

OSHA is seeking to stem a recent increase in workplace fatalities in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The Agency has seen an increase in fatalities associated with falls, struck-by objects and vehicles, machine hazards, grain bin engulfment, and burns.
In 2017, OSHA launched its "Safe + Sound Campaign," urging employers to develop and implement a safety and health program that includes management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards. So far, the campaign has received commitments from 198 organizations.
"OSHA has investigated 34 fatalities in these three states since Oct. 1, 2017," said OSHA Regional Administrator Kim Stille. "Working together with employers, unions, and employees, we can reduce these incidents. By implementing and sustaining workplace safety and health programs we can help employees avoid preventable injuries and fatalities. The agency has additional resources available to help employers of all sizes identify workplace hazards and eliminate them."
Safety and health programs help reduce the numbers of workplace injuries and illnesses, and improve the bottom line. OSHA's "Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs" offers practical advice on how an organization can create and integrate safety and health programs. To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, or file a complaint, call OSHA's hot-line at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
Hazardous Waste Training


Annual hazardous waste training is required for anyone who generates, accumulates, stores, transports, or treats hazardous waste. Learn how to manage your hazardous waste in accordance with the latest state and federal regulations. Learn how to complete EPA’s new electronic hazardous waste manifest, and the more than 60 changes in EPA’s new Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Environmental Resource Center’s Hazardous Waste Training is available at nationwide locations, and via live webcasts. If you plan to also attend DOT hazardous materials training, call 800-537-2372 to find out how can get your course materials on a new Amazon Fire HD10 tablet at no extra charge.
Save the Date: Safe + Sound Week
OSHA’s second annual Safe + Sound Week will be held August 13-19, 2018. The event is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the value of workplace safety and health programs. These programs can help employers and workers identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving a company’s financial bottom line. Throughout this week, organizations are encouraged to host events and activities that showcase the core elements of an effective safety and health program, including: management leadership, worker participation, and finding and fixing workplace hazards. For more information and to sign-up for email updates, visit the Safe + Sound Week webpage.
Emergency Response Complicated by Social Media Misinformation
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a draft white paper to help first responders better understand and counter rumors, misinformation and false information on social media. The white paper details the four types of misinformation, as well as key challenges, case studies, and best practices for emergency responders to consider — some of which relate directly to how officials notify citizens when a crisis strikes.
Prevent Heat Illness
As summer temperatures rise, so do the dangers of working in high heat. That’s especially true in on hot days in milder climates, where workers tend to be used to working in mild weather and are frequently not accustomed to high temperatures.
As a result, Oregon OSHA encourages employers and workers in construction, agriculture, and other labor-intensive activities to learn the signs of heat illness and focus on prevention.
“Prevention really comes down to taking several important precautions,” said Penny Wolf-McCormick, health enforcement manager for Oregon OSHA. “They include regularly providing water, rest, and shade; gradually adapting workers to hot environments; and training employees to recognize signs of trouble and to speak up about them.”
Exposure to heat can lead to headaches, cramps, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and even seizures or death. From 2012 to 2017, 37 people received benefits through Oregon’s workers’ compensation system for heat-related illnesses.
The call to address the hazards of working in high heat is part of a larger effort aimed at preventing heat-related illness. Under an emphasis program run by Oregon OSHA, the agency’s enforcement and consultation activities will include a review of employers’ plans to deal with heat exposure, especially from June 15 through Oct. 1 of each year.
The prevention program applies to both outdoor job sites and indoor workplaces where potential heat-related hazards may exist. Oregon OSHA encourages employers to fill out a heat illness prevention plan. The plan outlines everything from risk factors and precautionary steps to locations of water and cooling areas.
You can get a sample heat illness prevention plan at http://osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/pubform/heat-sample-program.pdf
Here are some tips for preventing a heat-related illness:

• Perform the heaviest, most labor-intensive work during the coolest part of the day.
• Use the buddy system (work in pairs) to monitor the heat.
• Drink plenty of cool water (one small cup every 15 to 20 minutes).
• Wear light, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing (such as cotton).
• Take frequent short breaks in cool, shaded areas – allow your body to cool down.
• Avoid eating large meals before working in hot environments.
• Avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages (these make the body lose water and increase the risk of heat illnesses).

To help those suffering from heat exhaustion:

• Move them to a cool, shaded area. Do not leave them alone.
• Loosen and remove heavy clothing.
• Provide cool water to drink (a small cup every 15 minutes) if they are not feeling sick to their stomach.
• Try to cool them by fanning them. Cool the skin with a spray mist of cold water or a wet cloth.
• If they do not feel better in a few minutes, call 911 for emergency help.

You can calculate the heat index using the federal OSHA heat stress app for mobile phones: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html.
North Florida Shipyard Cited for Safety Violations Following Employee Drowning
OSHA has cited North Florida Shipyards Inc., a shipbuilding and repair company, after an employee suffered fatal injuries at its Commodores Point facility in Jacksonville, Florida. The shipyard faces $271,061 in proposed penalties.
The worker drowned after a pressured air manifold struck him and knocked him into the St. Johns River. OSHA has cited the employer for safety violations, including exposing employees to being struck-by, drowning, amputation, caught-in, and electrical hazards; allowing scuba divers to be unaccompanied by another diver; and failing to ensure machine guarding.
“As this case demonstrates, it is important for employers to identify existing hazards, and follow required safety procedures to protect workers from serious injuries,” said OSHA Jacksonville Acting Area Office Director Buddy Underwood.
Marine Cargo Handling Company Cited for Fatal Forklift Accident at Port of San Diego
Cal/OSHA has issued citations to marine cargo handler SSA Pacific Inc. for willful and serious safety violations following the investigation of a fatal forklift accident at the Port of San Diego.
On January 3, a longshoreman was driving a forklift into a transit shed when he collided with a concrete support column and suffered fatal injuries after being thrown from the forklift. Cal/OSHA’s investigation found that the employee was not wearing a seatbelt and that the forklift had multiple safety devices disabled, including a seatbelt warning buzzer and mast interlock system designed to disconnect power from the hydraulic lift when the operator is unseated.
“Forklift safety and training of operators must be taken seriously,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Employers must ensure that seat belts are used and that safety devices such as warning systems to ensure seat belt use are not altered.”
Cal/OSHA issued six citations totaling $205,235 in proposed penalties to SSA Pacific Inc., a division of Seattle-based international marine cargo handler SSA Marine.
The citations issued included four serious violations for the employer’s failure to ensure that forklift operators use seatbelts, properly maintain and inspect forklifts, ensure operators were effectively trained and for improperly altering forklift safety features. A general violation was cited for the employer’s failure to establish and maintain an effective heat illness prevention plan.
SSA Pacific was also issued a citation for a willful-serious violation as the employer failed to ensure workers perform a forklift safety check at the beginning of each shift and report unsafe conditions, a violation the company was cited for in 2016 following an accident inspection at the Port of Long Beach.
The incident in 2016 occurred when two workers improperly attempted to lift a 15-ton forklift from the hatch of a ship with a crane. One worker was hospitalized overnight for injuries to his ribs and lungs when he was pinned by the mast of the running forklift.
A citation is classified as willful when evidence indicates that the employer committed an intentional and knowing violation, or was aware that a hazardous condition existed and made no reasonable effort to eliminate it. A citation is classified as serious when there is a realistic possibility that death or serious harm could result from the actual hazard created by the violation.
Forklift safety requirements are summarized on page 65 of Cal/OSHA’s Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry.
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Chemical Spill Reported at FedEx Facility
Protect Your Lungs from Wildfire Smoke
This post OSHA Focusing on Increase in Worker Fatalities appeared first on Environmental Resource Center.

Could Air Conditioning Make Things Worse?

As climate change continues to push summer temperatures ever higher, the increased use of air conditioning in buildings could add to the problems of a warming world by further degrading air quality and compounding the toll of air pollution on human health, according to a new study.

Writing in a special climate change issue of the journal Public Library of Science (PLOS) Medicine, a team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison forecasts as many as a thousand additional deaths annually in the Eastern United States alone due to elevated levels of air pollution driven by the increased use of fossil fuels to cool the buildings where humans live and work.

"What we found is that air pollution will get worse," explains David Abel, the lead author of the new report and a UW-Madison graduate student in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies' Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment. "There are consequences for adapting to future climate change."

The analysis combines projections from five different models to forecast increased summer energy use in a warmer world and how that would affect power consumption from fossil fuels, air quality and, consequently, human health just a few decades into the future.

In hot summer weather, and as heat waves are projected to increase in frequency and intensity with climate change, there is no question that air conditioning does and will save lives, says Jonathan Patz, a senior author of the study and a UW-Madison professor of environmental studies and population health sciences.

However, he cautions that if the increased use of air conditioning due to climate change depends on power derived from fossil fuels, there will be an air quality and human health tradeoff. "We're trading problems," says Patz, an expert on climate change and human health. "Heat waves are increasing and increasing in intensity. We will have more cooling demand requiring more electricity. But if our nation continues to rely on coal-fired power plants for some of our electricity, each time we turn on the air conditioning we'll be fouling the air, causing more sickness and even deaths."

Another senior author of the new PLOS Medicine report, air quality expert Tracey Holloway, a UW-Madison professor of environmental studies as well as atmospheric and oceanic sciences, says the study adds to our understanding of the effects of adapting to climate change by simulating the scope of fossil fuel use to cool buildings under future climate change scenarios. Buildings, she notes, are the biggest energy sinks in the United States, responsible for more than 60% of power demand in the Eastern United States, the geographic scope of the study. Air conditioning, she says, is a significant component of that electrical demand.

"Air quality is a big issue for public health," she explains, noting that increases in ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter in the air - byproducts of burning fossil fuels and known hazards to human health - will be one result of adding to fossil-fuel power consumption.

The study forecasts an additional 13,000 human deaths annually caused by higher summer levels of fine particulate matter and 3,000 caused by ozone in the Eastern U.S. by mid-century. Most of those deaths will be attributable to natural processes like atmospheric chemistry and natural emissions, which are affected by rising temperatures. However, about 1,000 of those deaths each year would occur because of increased air conditioning powered by fossil fuel. "Climate change is here and we're going to need to adapt," says Abel. "But air conditioning and the way we use energy is going to provide a feedback that will exacerbate air pollution as temperatures continue to get warmer."

The results of the new study, according to the Wisconsin team, underscore the need to change to more sustainable sources of energy such as wind and solar power, and to deploy more energy-efficient air conditioning equipment. "The answer is clean energy," says Abel. "That is something we can control that will help both climate change and future air pollution. If we change nothing, both are going to get worse."

Hazardous Waste Training

Annual hazardous waste training is required for anyone who generates, accumulates, stores, transports, or treats hazardous waste. Learn how to manage your hazardous waste in accordance with the latest state and federal regulations. Learn how to complete EPA’s new electronic hazardous waste manifest, and the more than 60 changes in EPA’s new Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Environmental Resource Center’s Hazardous Waste Training is available at nationwide locations, and via live webcasts. If you plan to also attend DOT hazardous materials training, call 800-537-2372 to find out how can get your course materials on a new Amazon Fire HD10 tablet.

When Oil and Water Mix

Hydraulic fracturing of organic-rich shales has become a major industry. The commonly used term for this extraction of hydrocarbons -- fracking -- is especially intriguing. Not only does it convey the process of breaking apart rocks, but the dividing of public opinion. Fracking is simultaneously hyped as a boon to the economy and a disaster to the environment.

The geoscience community lies at ground zero for discussions of fracking. This broad and diverse group of people on the one hand understands commonalities in basic earth science, but on the other hand includes the fascinating juxtaposition of individuals propelling development and extraction, and individuals monitoring and constraining deleterious impacts. As a consequence, an acknowledged problem amongst many in the geosciences has been the lack of balanced discussions on the merits and demerits of fracking.

In their new paper for GSA Today, Daniel J. Soeder and Douglas B. Kent bridge chasms in discussions of fracking by providing a current paper summarizing environmental impacts of shale development. The article is open access, adheres to science and policy, and presents a complex problem such that even non-geoscientists can appreciate the issues. The paper provides an excellent understanding and a platform of how various potential impacts of fracking are being addressed.

China Recycling Shift an Opportunity for Minnesota

China’s recent shift in policy regarding recyclable material has many state and local governments reexamining how they manage a growing influx of plastics, glass, and other recyclables. But in Minnesota, the situation is not as dire; in 2016, nearly 2.5 million tons of recyclable materials were collected in the state. State and local regulations prohibit material collected for recycling to be put in landfills, and Minnesota is not landfilling recyclables now.

In the past, China and other foreign markets took in about 40% of the United States’ recycled material. China is now restricting these imports. Consequently, domestic markets are flooded with materials that can't be sold overseas, and prices haves plummeted.

U.S. recycling programs can no longer look to foreign countries as major buyers of our recyclables and must develop domestic markets for these materials. Minnesota has an opportunity to be a leader in such markets, as we are seeking to increase the number of businesses that use recycled materials.

Minnesota's public and private sectors have made strategic investments in recycling over the past 30-plus years. Public-sector grants and loans go to companies that use recycled materials to manufacture products. Minnesota facilities that process recycled materials have prioritized state-of-the-art sorting equipment. Focusing on local use of materials in manufacturing wherever possible has created economic development opportunities around the state.

Recycling is not just a feel-good thing; it has an economic impact. More than 260 Minnesota companies use recycled materials to manufacture their products. They employ about 18,000 people and generate approximately $3.2 billion in wages and $665 million in federal and local tax revenue.

Minnesotans wondering about shifting world markets need to stay the course — keep recycling but recycle right. While Minnesotans do better than most parts of the country at proper recycling, unrecyclable materials in recycling containers is still a huge problem. Recycled materials that are contaminated with trash and the like create inefficiencies and reduce profitability for recycling facilities.

How can you help?

• Avoid wish-cycling — only include materials your hauler will accept in your bin. Don’t just throw it in and assume a processing facility will sort it out!
• Check with your city, county or waste hauler on which items are acceptable.
• Don't put plastic bags, garden hoses, toys, syringes, or diapers in your recycling container.
• Do not use your recycling bin as a garbage overflow.

For more recycling tips for residents and businesses, visit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Recycle More webpage.

Read more on Could Air Conditioning Make Things Worse? 

Exposure to Solvents, Paint Linked to Increased Risk of MS

People who have been exposed to paint, varnish and other solvents and who also carry genes that make them more susceptible to developing multiple sclerosis (MS) may be at much greater risk of developing the disease than people who have only the exposure to solvents or the MS genes, according to a study published in the July 3, 2018, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

People with exposure to paint or other solvents are 50% more likely to develop MS than people with no exposure. People with exposure to solvents who also carry the genes that make them more susceptible to MS are nearly seven times as likely to develop the disease as people with no solvent exposure who do not carry the MS genes.

For people who have been smokers, the risk is even greater. Those who have been smokers with solvent exposure and the MS genes are 30 times more likely to develop MS than those who have never smoked or been exposed to solvents and who do not have the genetic risk factors.

"These are significant interactions where the factors have a much greater effect in combination than they do on their own," said study author Anna Hedström, MD, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. "More research is needed to understand how these factors interact to create this risk. It's possible that exposure to solvents and smoking may both involve lung inflammation and irritation that leads to an immune reaction in the lungs."

For the study, researchers identified 2,042 people who had recently been diagnosed with MS in Sweden and matched them with 2,947 people of the same age and sex. Blood tests were used to determine whether the participants had two human leukocyte antigen gene variants, one of which makes people more likely to develop MS and the other reduces the risk of MS. The participants were also asked whether they had been exposed to organic solvents, painting products or varnish and whether they had ever been a smoker.

In the group with neither of the MS genes and no smoking or exposure to solvents, there were 139 people with MS and 525 people without the disease. In the group with the MS genes and exposure to solvents but no smoking, there were 34 people with MS and 19 people without the disease. In the group with MS genes and exposure to solvents and smoking, there were 40 people with MS and five people without the disease.

The researchers determined that the MS genes and exposure to solvents combined were responsible for an estimated 60% of the risk of developing MS.

"How this cocktail of MS genes, organic solvents and smoking contributes so significantly to MS risk warrants investigation," said Gabriele C. DeLuca, MD, DPhil, of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, in an accompanying editorial. "In the meantime, avoiding cigarette smoke and unnecessary exposure to organic solvents, particularly in combination with each other, would seem reasonable lifestyle changes people can take to reduce the risk of MS, especially in people with a family history of the disease."

One limitation of the study was that participants were asked to remember any exposure they had to solvents, so it is possible that they may not have remembered correctly.

Hazardous Waste Training

Annual hazardous waste training is required for anyone who generates, accumulates, stores, transports, or treats hazardous waste. Learn how to manage your hazardous waste in accordance with the latest state and federal regulations. Learn how to complete EPA’s new electronic hazardous waste manifest, and the more than 60 changes in EPA’s new Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Environmental Resource Center’s Hazardous Waste Training is available at nationwide locations, and via live webcasts. If you plan to also attend DOT hazardous materials training, call 800-537-2372 to find out how can get your course materials on a new Amazon Fire HD10 tablet.

Compliance Date for Some Provisions of the Beryllium Standard Extended to August 9

OSHA has announced a delay in enforcing certain requirements of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general industry. These requirements will not be enforced until August 9, 2018.

The requirements include beryllium work areas, regulated work areas, methods of compliance, personal protective clothing and equipment, hygiene areas and practices, housekeeping, communication of hazards, and recordkeeping.

On June 1, 2018, OSHA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to further extend the compliance dates of the remaining requirements until December 12, 2018.

On May 11, 2018, OSHA began enforcing the permissible exposure limits for the construction and maritime industries, as well as other requirements of the general industry standard. However, the Agency will not enforce any other provisions for beryllium exposure in those standards unless it provides notice. Certain compliance dates outlined in the rule remain unchanged. Enforcement of the general industry requirements for change rooms and showers will begin March 11, 2019, and requirements for engineering controls will begin March 10, 2020.

How Vibrations in Cars Make Drivers Sleepy

With about 20% of fatal road crashes involving driver fatigue, RMIT University researchers hope their findings can be used by manufacturers to improve car seat designs to help keep drivers awake.

Professor Stephen Robinson said the effects of physical vibration on drivers were not well understood, despite growing evidence that vibration contributes to feelings of sleepiness.

“We know 1 in 5 Australians have fallen asleep at the wheel and we know that drowsy driving is a significant issue for road safety,” Robinson said.

“When you’re tired, it doesn’t take much to start nodding off and we’ve found that the gentle vibrations made by car seats as you drive can lull your brain and body.

“Our study shows steady vibrations at low frequencies—the kind we experience when driving cars and trucks—progressively induce sleepiness even among people who are well rested and healthy.

“From 15 minutes of getting in the car, drowsiness has already begun to take hold. In half an hour, it’s making a significant impact on your ability to stay concentrated and alert.

“To improve road safety, we hope that future car seat designs can build in features that disrupt this lulling effect and fight vibration-induced sleepiness.”

Led by chief investigators Associate Professor Mohammad Fard and Professor Stephen Robinson, the research team tested 15 volunteers in a virtual simulator that replicates the experience of driving on a monotonous two-lane highway. The simulator was set up on a platform that could be vibrated on different frequencies, with the volunteers tested twice—once with vibrations at low frequencies (4-7Hz) and once with no vibration.

The tiredness induced by vibration makes it psychologically and physiologically harder to perform mental tasks, so the body’s nervous system activates to compensate, leading to changes in the heartbeat.

By looking at the volunteers’ heart rate variability (HRV), researchers were able to gain an objective measure of how drowsy they were feeling as the 60-minute test progressed. Within 15 minutes of starting the vibrating test, volunteers were showing signs of drowsiness. Within 30 minutes, the drowsiness was significant, requiring substantial effort to maintain alertness and cognitive performance.

The drowsiness increased progressively over the test, peaking at 60 minutes.

Associate Professor Mohammad Fard said more work was needed to build on the findings and examine how vibrations affected people across different demographics.

"We want to study a larger cohort, particularly to investigate how age may affect someone's vulnerability to vibration-induced drowsiness as well as the impact of health problems such as sleep apnea," he said.

"Our research also suggests that vibrations at some frequencies may have the opposite effect and help keep people awake.

"So we also want to examine a wider range of frequencies, to inform car designs that could potentially harness those 'good vibrations'."

The cross-disciplinary RMIT research team brought together expertise in human body vibration and automotive engineering, sleep physiology and virtual reality from the schools of Engineering, Health and Biomedical Sciences, and Media and Communication.

The paper, "The Effects of Physical Vibration on Heart Rate Variability as a Measure of Drowsiness,” (lead author PhD researcher Neng Zhang), was published this month in the journal Ergonomics.

Read more on Exposure to Solvents, Paint Linked to Increased Risk of MS.

New Hazardous Waste Manifest Now Required

EPA has launched the new e-Manifest system nationwide on June 30, 2018. Beginning immediately, you will have the option to create manifests electronically, or you will be able to continue to use paper manifests. A slightly modified 5-part paper manifest was also introduced for use beginning on June 30.
The e-Manifest system allows for three types of hazardous waste manifest creation options:

• Paper (generator, transporter, and receiving facility all sign on 5-part paper manifest)
• Hybrid (starts as 5-part paper manifest signed by the generator and then is signed electronically by the transporter and receiving facility)
• Electronic (created in e-Manifest and electronically signed by all entities listed on the manifest)

If you have not already done so, you can register for e-Manifests with your site’s existing EPA ID number at: https://www.epa.gov/e-manifest. Generators remain responsible for the content of the manifest, however they can authorize others, such as brokers, waste transporters, or consultants to enter the data and sign the manifest on their behalf. EPA has encouraged each generator to assign two Site Managers, who could then authorize other users to view, create, and/or sign manifests electronically.
Starting now, all manifests, whether paper or electronic, will be submitted by the receiving facility to EPA via the Agency’s e-Manifest system. There will be several ways to submit manifests to EPA, ranging from mailing conventional paper to full electronic delivery. Receiving facilities will pay a fee that varies based on how the manifest is submitted.

The new manifest must be used for:

• RCRA federal hazardous waste
• Regulated PCB waste shipped on a manifest
• State-regulated hazardous waste (if a manifest is required by origination or destination state)
• Very Small Quantity Generator waste (if, as noted below, a manifest is required by the state)
• Imported hazardous waste

Unless required by your state, the e-Manifest is not required for wastes that did not require hazardous waste manifesting in the past, such as:

• Very Small Quantity Generators (formerly Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators)
• Used Oil
• Universal Waste
• Medical Waste
• Non-hazardous Waste

You will be able to use the new e-manifest system to meet EPA’s 3-year manifest recordkeeping requirements. However, if your site does not create an e-Manifest account, you will be unable to view manifests in EPA’s e-manifest system and therefore you should make arrangements with the receiving waste treatment, storage, disposal, or recycling facilities to obtain paper copies of completed manifests so that you can meet your requirement to keep manifest copies from the destination facility for at least three years.
EPA has indicated that the Agency is evaluating whether enhanced security measures are needed for data regarding certain acute hazardous wastes. In the interim, EPA will be working directly with impacted receiving facilities on specific procedures related to those manifests. EPA recently also indicated that it would grant receiving facilities extra time to submit paper manifests in the initial months after system launch to further support industry implementation. Facilities that receive manifested waste between June 30, 2018 and September 1, 2018 will now have until September 30, 2018 to send those paper manifests to EPA. Many states will no longer require hazardous waste generators to mail copies of the new paper (or e-manifest) to the state. Check with your state environmental agency to determine if this applies to you.
Hazardous Waste Training


Annual hazardous waste training is required for anyone who generates, accumulates, stores, transports, or treats hazardous waste. Learn how to manage your hazardous waste in accordance with the latest state and federal regulations. Learn how to complete EPA’s new electronic hazardous waste manifest, and the more than 60 changes in EPA’s new Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Environmental Resource Center’s Hazardous Waste Training is available at nationwide locations, and via live webcasts. If you plan to also attend DOT hazardous materials training, call 800-537-2372 to find out how can get your course materials on a new Amazon Fire HD10 tablet.
New TSCA Reporting Requirements for Mercury
As required under section 8(b)(10)(D) of the Toxic Substances Control Act, EPA published a final rule that establishes reporting requirements to assist in EPA's preparation of an “inventory of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States.”
The requirements apply to anyone who manufactures (including imports) mercury or mercury-added (including mercury compound) products, or otherwise intentionally uses mercury in a manufacturing process. Based on the inventory EPA is required to "identify any manufacturing processes or products that intentionally add mercury; and . . . recommend actions, including proposed revisions of Federal law or regulations, to achieve further reductions in mercury use.'' At this time, EPA is not making these identifications or recommendations.
This final rule requires reporting from any person who manufactures (including imports) mercury or mercury-added products, or otherwise intentionally uses mercury in a manufacturing process.
The rule applies to facilities that manufacture (including import) mercury in amounts greater than or equal to 2,500 lb/year for elemental mercury or 25,000 lb/year for mercury compounds. Information that must be reported includes the amounts of mercury: stored, distributed in commerce, manufactured, imported, exported, in manufactured (other than imported) products, in imported products, in exported products, and intentionally used in a manufacturing process.
This final rule will go into effect on August 27, 2018.
NY to Adopt First Major Update to State's Environmental Quality Review Regulations in 20 Years
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced that DEC has adopted a rulemaking package that will make the first major update to State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations in more than two decades, preserving the integrity of the regulations and streamlining the environmental review process.
Commissioner Seggos said, "DEC is always looking for ways to make our agency more efficient and effective for the nearly 20 million New Yorkers that depend on us to protect our natural resources. DEC's updates to SEQR will streamline the environmental review process and encourage sustainable development and renewable energy development without sacrificing SEQR's integrity or the environmental protections it affords."
The updates to SEQR will take effect on January 1, 2019 and will expand the number of actions not subject to further review, known as Type II actions, modify thresholds for actions deemed more likely to require the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS), and require scoping of an EIS. Additional highlights regarding content of a draft EIS, are the consideration of measures to avoid or reduce an action's impacts on climate change-induced conditions such as sea level rise and flooding, as well as enhancements to make acceptance procedures for EIS more consistent. Examples of Type II actions to be added include:

• Green infrastructure upgrades or retrofits
• Installation of solar arrays on closed landfills, cleaned-up brownfield sites,
• Wastewater treatment facilities, sites zoned for industrial use, or solar canopies on residential and commercial parking facilities
• Installation of solar arrays on an existing structure not listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places
• Reuse of a residential or commercial structure, or structure containing mixed residential and commercial uses
• Acquisition and dedication of parkland
• Land transfers in connection with one, two or three family housing
• Construction and operation of certain anaerobic digesters at operating publicly owned landfills.

DEC's updates to SEQR were subject to one of the most extensive stakeholder outreach campaigns in agency history and were designed to address concerns shared by a wide range of stakeholders while still maintaining SEQR's purpose of protecting the public and the environment. In addition to a full public scoping process for the draft EIS, DEC held 11 stakeholder meetings with representatives from the business community, environmental groups, and local governments over two years. DEC received more than 280 comments from the public after the proposed regulations were released in 2017.
The final rules will be available on DEC's website and noticed in both the Environmental Notice Bulletin and the State Register on July 18. DEC expects to release an updated SEQR Handbook and SEQR workbooks later this year to reflect the regulatory changes that take effect on January 1, 2019. In addition, DEC will provide training for lead agencies to ensure they understand the changes to the SEQR process.
Oil and Gas Wastewater on the Road Could Mean Health and Environment Woes
A truck kicking up dust as it speeds down a dirt road is a typical image in country music videos. But this dust from unpaved roads is also an environmental and health hazard. To prevent dust clouds, some states treat dirt motorways with oil and gas wastewater. Now one group reports in Environmental Science & Technology that this wastewater contains harmful pollutants that have the potential to do more harm than good.
According to the DOT, 34% of roads in the U.S. are unpaved. These unpaved roads contribute to almost half of the annual airborne particulate matter emissions -- such as dust, dirt and soot -- in the U.S., potentially causing respiratory and cardiovascular issues. In an attempt to prevent these health effects, road managers spread products on these roadways to suppress dust. Almost 200 different dust suppressants, mostly chloride salts or salt brine products that form a coating or help particles aggregate, are available. But these suppressants can be too costly in regions where budgets are tight, so many municipalities turn to a free alternative: salty oil and gas (O&G) wastewater produced from well operations. While O&G wastewater is good for a township’s bottom line, there are concerns about contaminants leaching from it into the environment. So William D. Burgos and colleagues wanted to evaluate the potential environmental and human health impacts of this practice.
The spreading of O&G wastewater on roads is permitted in at least 13 states, with significant spreading activity occurring in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The team studied O&G wastewater spread on roads and found them to contain salt, radioactivity and organic contaminant concentrations above their respective drinking water standards. These substances can be harmful to humans and aquatic life. In lab simulations, nearly all of the metals from these wastewaters leached out after simulated rain events, but metals such as radium – which is radioactive and a known carcinogen -- and lead were partially retained on roadways. The researchers speculate that the radium that did leach could end up in nearby bodies of water. The group proposes that establishing wastewater standards and treatment guidelines for O&G wastewaters spread on roads could help reduce the potential environmental impacts of this practice.
Read more on New Hazardous Waste Manifest Now Required.

Safety Fourth

On the Fourth of July, we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation. Fireworks and food are mainstays of many celebrations, but both can be dangerous if not handled safely.
Fireworks
On the 4th many Americans will continue the long tradition of lighting up the night with fireworks. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has encouraged everyone to put safety first if they are participating in any firework activities.
"Thousands of people are treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained from fireworks," said Neal Martin, program coordinator of DHEC's Division of Injury, and Violence Prevention. "You cannot take safety for granted when it comes to fireworks."
Fireworks-related injuries are preventable. They range from minor and major burns to fractures and amputations. In South Carolina, the most common fireworks-related injuries are burns and open wounds to the hands, legs, head, and eyes.
"Fireworks are exciting to see this time of year, but they are dangerous when misused not only for the operator but also for bystanders and nearby structures," said Bengie Leverett, Public Fire Education Officer at the Columbia Fire Department. "Everyone is urged to use extreme precaution when using the devices."
The best way to prevent fireworks injuries is to leave fireworks displays to trained professionals. However, if you still want to light up fireworks at home, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Observe local laws. Many jurisdictions require both individuals and organizations to be licensed. If you're unsure whether it is legal to use fireworks, check with local officials.
• Monitor local weather conditions. Dry weather can make it easier for fireworks to start a fire.
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
• Always read and follow directions on each firework.
• Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees.
• Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks.
• Ensure everyone is out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time and keep a safe distance.
• After fireworks complete their burning, douse them with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

Never:

• Point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks.
• Experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks.
• Give fireworks to small children.
• Carry fireworks in your pocket.

Aside from making sure your family and friends stay safe, it's also important to protect our furry friends. Pets should be kept safely inside the house to avoid additional stress and the possibility of lost pets (who escape fencing to run from fireworks).
Dogs who are fearful of fireworks should be isolated in rooms that provide the most soundproofing from the loud noises of fireworks going off. Make sure that your pets have proper, current, visible identification in case they escape during the fireworks. Also, never take your pets to firework shows.
OSHA encouraged the fireworks and pyrotechnics industry to protect workers from hazards while manufacturing, storing, transporting, displaying, and selling fireworks. OSHA offers information on common hazards and solutions, including safety posters for workplaces.
Food Safety
Fire up the grill, whip up the potato salad, and know how to keep food safe. Whether you're grilling out, packing a picnic, or getting a snack together to eat while you watch fireworks, there are some simple steps you can take that will reduce the chance of getting a foodborne illness.
"One food safety essential is making sure food is at the proper temperature, whether it's cooking it to the right temperature on the grill, or keeping it cold," said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah. "There is something called the ‘Danger Zone,' when food sits at a temperature between 40ºF and 140ºF, which is when bacteria grow most rapidly. Keeping food at the proper temperature, making sure there is no cross-contamination, and keeping hands and utensils clean are key to avoiding foodborne illness."
It can be difficult to keep food cold during the summer, especially while traveling. One tip to help keep your cooler below 40ºF is to pack beverages in one cooler and food in another. Chances are the cooler with the beverages will be opened much more frequently, causing the temperature inside the cooler to fluctuate, which would be bad news for food.
Food should also be separated in the cooler: raw meat and poultry should be separate from fruits, vegetables, cheeses, salads, and even cooked foods. This will help avoid cross contamination. The juices of raw meat can mingle with foods that are ready to eat and you could end up with a Salmonella sandwich instead of a hamburger on a bun. And make sure the cooler is in the shade and out of the direct sun. This will help keep the temperature below 40ºF.
Whether you're cooking on the grill or in a kitchen, make sure food reaches the proper temperature. And don't just eyeball the color of the meat. That doesn't always indicate the level of doneness. Use a meat thermometer:

• 145°F - whole cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and veal
• 145°F – fish
• 160°F - hamburgers and other ground beef
• 165°F - all poultry and pre-cooked meats, like hot dogs

Make sure to use clean utensils and a clean plate when you take food off the grill. Using the same utensils and plate that you did for the raw meat could add an unintended E.coli marinade to your food.
Chances are, if you're outside, you've touched something dirty - playground equipment, baseball, lake water, etc. If there is not running water and soap to wash your hands where you're going, don't forget to bring the hand sanitizer. Clean your hands before preparing food and eating.
Once you've had your fill, it's time to chill. Make sure all leftovers are refrigerated or put on ice within two hours after cooking, or one hour if the temperature is above 90°F. Don't let that potato salad bake in the sun and become a source of sickness.
More food safety tips or information about foodborne illnesses and symptoms can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Hazardous Waste Training

Annual hazardous waste training is required for anyone who generates, accumulates, stores, transports, or treats hazardous waste. Learn how to manage your hazardous waste in accordance with the latest state and federal regulations. Learn how to complete EPA’s new electronic hazardous waste manifest, and the more than 60 changes in EPA’s new Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Environmental Resource Center’s Hazardous Waste Training is available at nationwide locations, and via live webcasts. If you plan to also attend DOT hazardous materials training, call 800-537-2372 to find out how can get your course materials on a new Amazon Fire HD10 tablet.
Read more on Safety Fourth.

New Guidance on TSCA Reporting

EPA has issued guidance to improve transparency with the public and with companies seeking Agency review of their new chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The guidance, titled “Points to Consider When Preparing TSCA New Chemical Notifications,” promotes early engagement and communication, and enhances overall understanding of EPA’s technical review and analysis to better move chemicals through the evaluation process.

“Through early engagement with industry and by being clear and specific about what information we require from them in their new chemical submission, we increase manufacturers’ certainty, improve submissions, and get new, safer chemicals on the market faster and more efficiently,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

TSCA requires anyone who plans to manufacture (including import) a new chemical substance to provide EPA with notice before initiating the activity. This notice is known as a premanufacture notice (PMN). The guidance provides the general public, including new chemical submitters, with important information on:

• General guidance relating to new chemical notices;
• Preparation of pre-manufacture notices (PMNs), Significant New Use Notices (SNUNs), and exemption notices;
• EPA scientific approaches used in conducting PMN assessments; and
• Best practices.

EPA has incorporated comments from a December 2017 public meeting and feedback received on a November 2017 draft of the document. EPA expects that use of this guidance will result in more robust submissions to the Agency.

EPA encouraged companies to contact EPA’s new chemicals program to set up a pre-submission (or pre-notice) meeting before submitting their PMN. The pre-submission meeting is an opportunity to discuss the planned new chemical submission and to understand the Agency’s approach to reviewing new chemicals for potential risks early in the process.

Hazardous Waste Training

Annual hazardous waste training is required for anyone who generates, accumulates, stores, transports, or treats hazardous waste. Learn how to manage your hazardous waste in accordance with the latest state and federal regulations. Learn how to complete EPA’s new electronic hazardous waste manifest, and the more than 60 changes in EPA’s new Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Environmental Resource Center’s Hazardous Waste Training is available at nationwide locations, and via live webcasts. If you plan to also attend DOT hazardous materials training, call 800-537-2372 to find out how can get your course materials on a new Amazon Fire HD10 tablet.

Study Finds Natural Gas Climate Advantage Nixed by Methane Loss

Methane leakage from the U.S. oil and natural gas supply chain is 60% higher than EPA estimates, according to a new study (Science 2018 DOI: 10.1126/science.aar7204).

The impact of the leakage is significant particularly in the short term because methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, has more than 80 times the climate warming potency of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years in the atmosphere.

A multi-institution effort led by Ramón A. Alvarez of the Environmental Defense Fund, the study attempted to resolve wide differences in methane emissions estimates. The researchers coupled ground-based, facility-specific measurements with aircraft observations in nine basins that account for some 30% of U.S. gas production.

The study found that methane loss is 2.3% of gross U.S. natural gas production. Natural gas has been touted as cleaner in terms of climate impact than coal when burned to generate electricity. However, the study concludes that over those first 20 years after emission, natural gas loses its climate advantage since the impact of methane leakage equals the climate benefit of substituting natural gas for coal. Most of the newly identified leaks came from natural gas production operations, particularly leaks from vents and hatches in tanks holding hydrocarbon liquids.

Electronic DMRs Required for MSGP Stormwater Permittees in Texas

Starting Sept. 1, 2018, Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) must be submitted electronically using the NetDMR system, unless the permittee requests and obtains an electronic reporting waiver. Only facilities who obtain a waiver will be allowed to continue submitting paper DMRs after Sept. 1, 2018.

Samples for MSGP DMRs must be collected before Dec. 31, 2018, and the sampling results must be reported to the TCEQ by March 31, 2019. Permittees are required to submit MSGP DMRs for:

• Facilities in sectors A, C, D, E, J, O, and S, and;
• Facilities in all sectors required to meet numeric effluent limits for hazardous metals, when sample results indicate an exceedance of any constituent listed.

The TCEQ may grant a Temporary Waiver from the electronic reporting rule in limited cases. If you are unable to report electronically, you can submit a Request for Electronic Reporting Waiver form (TCEQ-20754). A separate waiver form is required for each permit or authorization. Waiver forms may also be obtained by contacting the Stormwater Permitting Program at 512-239-3700.

To submit your DMRs electronically, you must access the NetDMR system through the EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX). Please visit the NetDMR Support Portal webpage to find information on how to create an account. Facilities can also contact EPA’s eReporting help desk at 1-877-227-8965, or send an email to support@epanet.zendesk.com to receive assistance with creating a CDX account.

If you have questions, call the Small Business and Local Government Assistance hotline at 1-800-447-2827 or visit TCEQ’s website to learn more about Monitoring and Reporting Stormwater Discharges from Industrial Facilities.

Rethinking Recycling

Recycling plastic water bottles has never been more convenient, with bins available almost everywhere. Although Americans are recycling in record numbers, millions of tons of plastic trash continue to accumulate in the environment. Solving this problem will require new solutions for breaking plastics down and reusing them, according to a three-part cover story in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society.

Globally, only about 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling, writes Assistant Editor Sam Lemonick. And of the plastic that does get recycled, most ends up in a lower-quality product than the starting material. Current recycling technology mechanically shreds, melts and reforms plastic, which partially degrades the polymers and reduces quality. Scientists are trying to develop new recycling methods that use chemical or biological approaches.

On the chemical side, some researchers are identifying new reactions to break down plastics to make the building blocks for new polymers and other high-value products. Others are working on making new types of plastics that degrade easily, writes Lemonick. According to Senior Correspondent Carmen Drahl, still others are looking at biological approaches, such as plastic-munching microbes and worms. Although some media outlets have exaggerated the usefulness of these organisms – most are very slow, inefficient and degrade only the most fragile plastics – researchers are making progress in this field. However, they face many challenges, such as identifying the critters’ enzymes that break down plastic, producing large quantities, and making them faster and more efficient through biotechnology.

New CT Law on Climate Change Resiliency and Renewable Energy

Governor Dannel P. Malloy held a bill signing ceremony in Hartford to commemorate the final passage of two pieces of legislation he introduced that will further Connecticut’s role as a national leader in environmental protection and put the state on a more sustainable path by decreasing statewide greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the usage of renewable energy.

“The time to act is now,” Governor Malloy said. “The effects of climate change, which is unquestionably man-made, can be felt in Connecticut and poses a threat to our residents. Rising sea levels are putting our coastal communities in harm’s way. While President Trump, EPA Administrator Pruitt, and their Republican allies in Washington roll back critical environmental protections, Connecticut is stepping up. These two new laws demonstrate, once again, Connecticut’s determination and leadership in combating climate change to keep our planet and residents safe, all while still being economically advantageous.”

“I applaud Governor Malloy and Commissioner Klee for their tireless work to better prepare the state for the impacts of a changing climate,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. “National leadership requires continued effort, and these bills will ensure Connecticut’s ongoing progress to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our impact on the climate.”

“In his farewell address to the nation, President Obama called for bolder action to address the issue of climate change,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee said. “With the passage and signing of these two transformational pieces of legislation, Connecticut is taking that bolder action. While the current federal administration continues to deny human induced climate change as real, it is incumbent upon states to take action. For the sake of future generations to follow, I encourage other states to look at what we have done as a state and follow our lead.”

The environmental bill – Public Act 18-82, An Act Concerning Climate Change Planning and Resiliency – contains a number of provisions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the state for the ongoing effects of climate change and sea level rise, including:

• Implementing an interim target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent from a 2001 baseline by 2030 as recommended by the Governor’s Council on Climate Change;
• Updating current statutory references to sea level rise to reflect the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation’s (CIRCA) planning recommendation of nearly two feet by 2050; and
• Requiring all future state projects located in the Coastal Boundary that are either undertaken by a state agency or funded by a state/federal grant or loan to meet CIRCA’s projections.

The energy bill – Public Act 18-50, An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Energy Future, takes bold action in the development and deployment of affordable clean energy by:

• Increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard to 40 percent to deploy more renewables of all sizes for all customers;
• Creating “successor” programs for commercial, industrial and residential programs to provide sustainable growth of renewables in Connecticut with the expiration of programs such Low-Emission Renewable Energy Credits, Zero-Emission Renewable Energy Credits, and Solar Home Renewable Credits;
• Expanding opportunities for municipalities, state agencies, and agricultural customers to deploy renewables under an auction structure;
• Revising net metering so Connecticut pays a more affordable rate per kilowatt-hour basis; and
• Creating a statewide shared clean energy program that targets low moderate income customers.

EPA Decides No New Spill Reporting Rules are Needed

There are thousands of hazardous substance spills from industrial facilities each year that are not subject to any hazardous substance spill prevention rules, according to United States Coast Guard data. Health effects from exposure to these hazardous substances are experienced disproportionately by residents of low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, where facilities that manufacture, store, and use hazardous substances tend to cluster.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a proposed rule that, if finalized, would impose no new regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 311(j)(1)(C) authority for CWA hazardous substances discharges prevention. EPA determined that additional regulatory requirements for CWA hazardous substances are unnecessary and would impose undue burden on approximately 100,000 facilities in the U.S. already subject to the existing framework.

In July 2015, the Environmental Justice Health Alliance (EJHA), People Concerned About Chemical Safety and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) sued the EPA for failing to prevent hazardous spills from onshore and offshore vessel facilities. In February 2016, EPA agreed to a court-ordered settlement to propose “hazardous substance spill-prevention rules” for industrial vessel sites by June 2018 and to issue a final rule in 2019. Last fall, EPA proposed requesting information from states about state-level spill-prevention regulations, the frequency of hazardous substances spills, and the effects of those spills. EPA never finalized its request for that information.

This proposed action in the June 25 Federal Register is in response to the consent decree by addressing a statutory requirement in CWA section 311(j)(1)(C) and provides an opportunity for public notice and comment on EPA’s proposed approach.

“After engaging the public and analyzing the best available data, EPA believes that additional regulatory requirements for hazardous substances discharges would be duplicative and unnecessary,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “If finalized, the proposed rule would give the regulated community the clarity and certainty they need to continue to uphold the law and ensure the nation’s waterways are protected."

U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), issued the following statement in response to the proposal:

“Not only does President Trump want to drill off the coast of Delaware, his EPA now wants to make it even less safe to do so. Delaware is home to 28 miles of coastline that includes beautiful beaches and businesses that are the backbone of our state’s economy – from fishing, to tourism and recreational activities, all of which depend on a healthy coast. Delaware’s beaches alone bring in $6.9 billion each year and support 10 percent of our state’s workforce. An oil spill off our coast would be devastating to both the health of our waters and our economy.

“We all remember the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and we saw that oil spills do not respect state boundaries. A spill anywhere along the East Coast is a threat to Delaware’s coast. Today’s decision is a reminder that those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.

“This is more of the same from an EPA Administrator who time and time again dismisses the law and sides with polluters over the health and safety of the American people. The EPA should honor the court order issued to it, which called on the agency to propose rules that would prevent devastating oil spills and protect vulnerable coastal communities and the public’s health.”

EPA will consider all relevant comments received during a 60-day comment period following publication in the Federal Register.

Read more on New Guidance on TSCA Reporting.

Coffee Helps Teams Work Together, and It Doesn’t Have to be Labeled as a Carcinogen

Good teamwork begins with a cup of coffee for everyone. Researchers found that people gave more positive reviews for their group’s performance on a task – and their own contribution – if they drank caffeinated coffee beforehand. This is especially good to know, now that California no longer requires carcinogen warnings for coffee.

A second study showed that people talked more in a group setting under the influence of caffeinated coffee – but they also were more on-topic than those who drank decaf.

Coffee seems to work its magic in teams by making people more alert, said Amit Singh, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in marketing at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business.

“We found that increased alertness was what led to the positive results for team performance,” Singh said. “Not surprisingly, people who drank caffeinated coffee tended to be more alert.”

Singh conducted the study with Vasu Unnava and H. Rao Unnava, both formerly at Ohio State and now with the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis. The study appears online in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

While many studies have looked at how caffeine affects individual performance, this is the first to examine the impact it has on teams, Singh said.

The first study involved 72 undergraduate students who said they were coffee drinkers. They were instructed not to drink coffee before the experiment. Half of them first participated in what they were told was a coffee-tasting task. They were split into groups of five. After drinking a cup of coffee and rating its flavor, they were given 30 minutes of filler tasks to give the caffeine a chance to kick in. The other half of the participants did the coffee tasting at the end of the experiment.

Each group then read about and were asked to discuss a controversial topic – the Occupy movement, a liberal movement that highlighted social and economic inequality. After a 15-minute discussion, group members evaluated themselves and the other group members. Results showed that those who drank the coffee before the discussion rated themselves and their fellow team members more positively than did those who drank coffee after the discussion, Singh said.

The second study was similar, except that 61 students all drank coffee at the beginning of the study. However, half drank decaf and the others drank caffeinated brew.

Those who drank caffeinated coffee rated themselves and their fellow group members more positively than those who drank decaf. It had to do with alertness. All participants rated how alert they felt at the end of the study, and those who drank the caffeinated coffee rated themselves as more alert than the others.

A key finding was that people who rated themselves as more alert – whether they drank caffeinated coffee or not – also tended to give higher marks to themselves and their fellow group members. This suggests that any intervention that increases alertness (such as exercise) may also produce similar results, which the authors propose in the paper as a future research topic.

“We suspect that when people are more alert they see themselves and the other group members contributing more, and that gives them a more positive attitude,” Singh said.

But the caffeine does more than just increase good feelings. The researchers did an analysis of the group discussion in the second study, rating how much each group member talked and stayed on topic.

Results showed that people tended to talk more after drinking caffeine, but they also tended to stay more on topic. “They’re talking about more relevant things after drinking caffeinated coffee,” he said. One might think that if people are talking more about a controversial topic like the Occupy movement, that may cause friction in the group. But that’s not what the study suggests.

People who drank caffeinated coffee were more likely than those who drank decaf to say they would be willing to work with their group again. “Even though they are talking more, agreeing and disagreeing, they still want to work with them again,” Singh said. “Coffee didn’t seem to make group discussions too uncomfortable and disagreeable.”

Hazardous Waste Training

Annual hazardous waste training is required for anyone who generates, accumulates, stores, transports, or treats hazardous waste. Learn how to manage your hazardous waste in accordance with the latest state and federal regulations. Learn how to complete EPA’s new electronic hazardous waste manifest, and the more than 60 changes in EPA’s new Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Environmental Resource Center’s Hazardous Waste Training is available at nationwide locations, and via live webcasts. If you plan to also attend DOT hazardous materials training, call 800-537-2372 to find out how can get your course materials on a new Amazon Fire HD10 tablet.

Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat

Cal/OSHA reminded employers to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness and to encourage their workers to take preventative cool-down breaks in the shade as temperatures rise.

“During heat waves, employers must closely observe their employees for signs and symptoms of heat illness,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “As always, workers should be encouraged to drink water frequently and take preventative cool-down rest breaks in the shade when they feel the need to do so.”

California’s heat illness prevention regulation, which acts as a good model for employers in all states, requires employers with outdoor workers to take the following four steps to prevent heat illness:

• Plan – Develop and implement an effective written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures. 

• Training – Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention. 

• Water – Provide drinking water that is fresh, pure, suitably cool and free of charge so that each worker can drink at least 1 quart per hour and encourage workers to do so. 

• Shade – Provide shade when workers request it and when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. Encourage workers to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least five minutes. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down. 
Cal/OSHA urges workers experiencing possible overheating to take a preventative cool- down rest in the shade until symptoms are gone. Workers who have existing health problems or medical conditions that reduce tolerance to heat, such as diabetes, need to be extra vigilant. Some high blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medications can also increase a worker’s risk for heat illness. 


In addition to the other requirements outlined in California’s heat illness prevention regulation, it is crucial that supervisors are effectively trained on emergency procedures in case a worker does get sick. This helps ensure sick employees receive treatment immediately and that the symptoms do not develop into a serious illness or death.

Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention special emphasis program, the first of its kind in the nation, includes enforcement of heat regulations as well as multilingual outreach and training programs for California’s employers and workers. Online information on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials are available on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page and the Water. Rest. Shade. campaign site. A Heat Illness Prevention e-tool is also available on Cal/OSHA’s website.

Risk of Rhabdomyolysis in Firefighters

Four new NIOSH publications describe the risk for rhabdomyolysis in wildland and structural firefighters. Both wildland firefighting and structural fire response and training involve exposure to heat and prolonged, intense exertion, which can increase firefighters’ risk for rhabdomyolysis. Elements of fire response and training associated with an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis include carrying heavy loads such as turnout gear and packs; high levels of exertion while rescuing victims or carrying heavy loads over rugged terrain; and rigorous training and physical fitness tests. Rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle tissue, can be caused by overheating, overexertion, crush injury, and certain medications, supplements, or medical conditions. NIOSH described rhabdomyolysis in a 2016 health hazard evaluation report regarding the potential risk of rhabdomyolysis and heat-related illness in cadets and instructors participating in firefighter training courses.

“When muscle cells die, their contents of electrolytes and proteins are released into the bloodstream, which can result in potentially life-threatening conditions affecting the heart and kidneys,” the report states.

According to NIOSH, healthcare providers can prevent debilitating consequences of rhabdomyolysis. The agency urges providers and others to be alert to wildland and structural firefighters who report signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis. Healthcare providers should suspect rhabdomyolysis in firefighters with heat-related illnesses and dehydration, muscle pain, or exercise intolerance. NIOSH’s new publications are also intended to help wildland and structural firefighters recognize the signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis and urge them to seek immediate medical attention if they are not feeling well.

At the request of a fire department, NIOSH recently conducted a health hazard evaluation regarding the potential risk of rhabdomyolysis and heat-related illness in cadets and instructors participating in firefighter training courses. Rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle tissue, can be caused by overheating, overexertion, crush injury, and certain medications, supplements, or medical conditions. “When muscle cells die, their contents of electrolytes and proteins are released into the bloodstream, which can result in potentially life-threatening conditions affecting the heart and kidneys,” the HHE report states.

The training was conducted four days a week and consisted of classroom lectures as well as outdoor physical training and live fire suppression exercises in full protective gear.

During the on-site visit in August 2012, NIOSH staff conducted a four-day evaluation, provided a questionnaire to 32 participants regarding work and medical history and health symptoms, and measured the body temperature and heart rate of 22 participants. NIOSH staff also monitored fluid intake, analyzed blood markers for dehydration and muscle breakdown, measured environmental conditions and body weight before and after each training day, and asked participants about their knowledge of rhabdomyolysis.

The evaluation revealed one person with rhabdomyolysis. NIOSH also found that environmental conditions often exceeded heat stress limits, and at some point during the evaluation week, many participants met the agency’s criteria for excessive heat strain. Sixteen participants experienced muscle breakdown but did not require medical attention. The evaluation noted that in most participants, levels of markers for dehydration and muscle breakdown decreased from the beginning and end of each training day. This suggested the firefighters remained appropriately hydrated.

The evaluation found that participants had no knowledge of rhabdomyolysis and its symptoms. “Participants noted that educational information should cover what rhabdomyolysis is, signs and symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and the necessity for immediate evaluation and medical treatment to prevent permanent damage,” the report says. “Participants mentioned that materials must clearly state that without proper medical treatment, rhabdomyolysis can cause permanent disability or death.”

NIOSH recommended the employer begin scheduling physically demanding activities during cooler parts of the day and training courses during cooler months, and educating all firefighters about the signs, symptoms, and dangers of heat-related illness and rhabdomyolysis. In addition, NIOSH recommended employees learn more about the signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis and other heat-related illnesses, alert a supervisor immediately if the signs or symptoms occur, drink plenty of fluids and take rest breaks, and talk to their healthcare provider about increased risk for rhabdomyolysis due to the type of job performed.

States Sue Manufacturers of Firefighting Foam

New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a lawsuit against 3M and five other companies to recoup at least $38 million in costs incurred by the State in cleaning up environmental contamination caused by toxic chemicals in their products. The suit alleges that the use of firefighting foams made by the companies at military and civilian airports in Newburgh and New Windsor, Southampton, Plattsburgh, and Rome resulted in extensive contamination of soil, fish, and water by perfluorooctane sulfonic acid/perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid/perflurooctanoate (PFOA). The suit charges that the companies are liable under state law for the contamination caused by their products, based on their conduct manufacturing and marketing products with defective designs, inadequate warning of product dangers, and the creation of a public nuisance.

PFOA and PFOS contamination of the environment, and particularly drinking water supplies, is a problem associated with firefighting and firefighting training at and military and civilian airports across the nation. The action, filed in Albany Supreme Court, is the first-ever lawsuit brought by a state against the makers of firefighting products containing PFOA and PFOS to recover costs incurred in the cleanup of releases of these dangerous chemicals from airports into the environment.

“The conduct of these manufacturers caused widespread contamination of our drinking water and our environment – and jeopardized the health of tens of thousands of New Yorkers,” Attorney General Underwood said. “My office will hold these companies accountable for endangering the health of New Yorkers, including forcing them to fully repay the state for cleaning up the toxic mess they created.”

“As state experts continue to investigate contamination caused by firefighting foams, New York is working to end the dangerous practices that threaten our natural resources,” Governor Cuomo said. “By taking necessary legal action against these companies, we are sending a clear message that we will do everything in our power to protect New Yorkers.”

The six companies named in the suit – 3M Company, Tyco Fire Products LP, Chemguard, Inc., Buckeye Fire Equipment Company, National Foam, Inc., and Kidde-Fenwal, Inc. – allegedly designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold foams used for firefighting and firefighting training at Stewart Air National Guard Base and Stewart International Airport (Newburgh and New Windsor), Francis S. Gabreski Airport (Southhampton), former Plattsburgh Air Force Base (Plattsburgh), and former Griffiss Air Force Base (Rome). These firefighting foams contained PFOA or PFOS or compounds that degrade into PFOA and/or PFOS. The foams contained these chemicals to aid in extinguishing flammable liquid fires common to aircraft-related accidents.

3M began developing firefighting foams containing PFOS in the early 1960s, and sold products containing PFOS and/or PFOA to the federal Department of Defense (DOD) through at least 2000. The suit alleges that the other five companies also sold products containing PFOA and PFOS, or compounds that break down into them, to the DOD.

The suit further alleges that, by the 1970s, all of the companies knew or should have known that PFOA and PFOS were mobile and persistent in the environment, accumulated in fish and other wildlife, and could be linked to severe harms to fish, wildlife, and people. In fact, in April 2006, 3M agreed to pay a penalty of more than $1.5 million to EPA for its failure to disclose studies dating back decades that confirmed the potential hazards of these chemicals to public health and the environment, among other things.

The suit alleges that the use of the companies’ products, as intended, at the four military and civilian airports resulted in the release of PFOA and PFOS into the surrounding environment and communities, contaminating drinking water, surface water, soil, and fish. For example, sampling by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) found concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in Lake Washington – a waterbody one mile southeast of Stewart Air Base and Stewart Airport and the primary drinking water supply for the City of Newburgh – as high as 282 parts per trillion (ppt). The federal Environmental Protect Agency’s current public health advisory for drinking water recommends that concentrations of PFOA and PFOS, either singularly or combined, not exceed 70 ppt. The toxic chemicals were found by DEC in groundwater at Gabreski Airport, former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, and former Griffiss Air Force Base at concentrations as high as 65,830; 1,045,000; and 61,233 ppt, respectively.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “When New York’s precious natural resources are threatened, the responsible parties must be held accountable and the public should be compensated for the damage. Today’s legal action further cements Governor Cuomo’s legacy as a national champion for the environment and a fierce protector of public health.”

Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “Only through our own diligence do we now know that the very products used decades ago to promote public safety, contained chemicals that pose a threat to public health. Today’s legal action further cements Governor Cuomo’s legacy as a national champion for the environment and a fierce protector of public health.”

The DEC and the State Department of Health (DOH) have worked and continue to work together to investigate and respond to the PFOA and PFOS contamination released from the four airports. Among other things, DEC or DOH have tested public and private drinking water sources, groundwater, wildlife, and other resources in the surrounding areas for contamination. Consistent with the results, the DOH has issued a “catch and release” advisory to warn people about contaminated fish. DEC has also provided water treatment systems for public or private drinking sources, and bottled water or connections to uncontaminated drinking water sources for several communities. The agencies have also communicated with members of affected communities through public notices, public hearings, and door-to-door home visits when appropriate. DOH also has, when appropriate, offered blood sampling for people living in some affected communities.

To date, the state’s response to PFOA and PFOS contamination from the four airports has cost an estimated $38,982,200, and these costs are likely to continue to grow. The suit filed today alleges that 3M and the other companies’ role in this environmental contamination violated state law, including the marketing of defective products, inadequate warnings of product dangers, and the creation of a public nuisance. The suit asks the court to find the companies liable and require them to reimburse the state for at least the $38,982,200 in costs that it has incurred thus far in cleaning up the contamination. Further, the suit asks the court to award the state punitive damages against the companies in an amount to be determined at trial.

Attorney General Underwood thanked the DEC, DOH, and the State Department of Transportation for their assistance in this case. The matter is being handled for Attorney General Underwood by Assistant Attorneys General Philip Bein and Matthew J. Sinkman and Environmental Scientist John D. Davis. The Environmental Protection Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Lemuel M. Srolovic and is part of the Division of Social Justice, which is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Matthew Colangelo. 

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