NEWS & VIEWS
OHIO EPA
BUDGET PLANS: Ohio EPA continues to change the way it
funds its operations. According to one district office
manager, OEPA is slowly being forced from the State’s
General Revenue Fund, the lifeblood of its funding since its
inception. This means that OEPA’s “customers” will foot more
of the bill. Here’s how the OEPA budget is currently shaping
up:
-
55% of
funds will come from fees (penalties, permits, pass-through
assistance).
-
15% of
funds will come from the General Revenue Fund,
-
19% of
funds will come from Federal grants.
-
11% of
funds will come from “Other” categories.
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT vs. ARC FLASH ANALYSIS: Many facility
maintenance personnel remain confused about these standards.
Remember that OSHA regulates the lockout/tagout standard
(29CFR1910.147) while the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) regulates Arc Flash Hazard Analysis (NFPA
70E). OSHA does not enforce NFPA 70E, nor does one
regulation take precedent over another. Be sure that your
electrical safety training includes these standards and
defines the differences in order to prevent injuries and
maintain compliance.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANIFEST CHANGING:
On March 4, 2005, U.S. EPA published the final rules in the
Federal Register revising the hazardous waste manifest. The
redesign includes seven sections being discontinued, with at
least six sections being new or requiring more information.
The new manifest will become mandatory in all states,
eliminating separate versions of each state. New
requirements for hazardous waste generators and transporters
are located in 40 CFR parts 262-263. Use of the new manifest
will become effective on September 5, 2006 and must be
employed by all large and small quantity hazardous waste
generators, hazardous waste transporters, and permitted
waste facilities.
U.S. EPA NAMES ANOTHER UNIVERSAL HAZARDOUS WASTE: U.S.
EPA in July classified all mercury-containing equipment as a
universal waste, meaning it is regulated under RCRA
hazardous waste rules. Typical equipment now regulated as
universal waste includes barometers, thermometers, and
switches. Managing the used equipment under the universal
rules eases the management of the waste equipment, however,
so that the practices are the same as those used for
fluorescent bulbs and thermostats. The net result will be
eased paperwork, transportation, and use of recycling
facilities. Of course, hazardous waste rules and facilities
may also be used. The trash is no longer an option!
OSHA INSPECTIONS TARGET WORKSITES: In August of this
year OSHA announced that it intended to focus on 4,400
“high-hazard” worksites for performing unannounced
comprehensive inspections over the coming year. OSHA defined
“high-hazard” worksites as those having reported 12 or more
injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work,
restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100
full-time workers. OSHA also announced that the agency will
randomly select and inspect about 400 more workplaces that
reported low injury and illness rates in order to determine
compliance. Suggestion: Now is a good time to review the
completeness and accuracy of your 300 Log!
DOT ISSUES NEW RULE FOR DRIVERS: The Department of
Transportation in August released new “Hours-of-Service”
rules that newly defined the length of time commercial
drivers can operate trucks before they are required to log a
break. Ten hours of rest is required between shifts. The
rules also allow some relaxation for non-CDL, short-haul
operators who work within 150 mile radius of their starting
point in that they can dispense with logbooks.
