Tier II Reporting Deadline Quickly Approaching
by Leslie DeCoster, Sr. EHS Consultant
The Emergency Planning and Community Right‑to‑Know Act (EPCRA) requires that an annual inventory of hazardous chemical use and storage be reported to your State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and local fire department by March 1st of each year.
Who has to complete these reporting requirements?
A hazardous chemical, as defined by EPCRA, is any chemical used or stored in the workplace that requires a material safety data sheet (MSDS) under the OSHA Hazard Communication standard. EPCRA states that any facility required by OSHA to maintain MSDS for hazardous chemicals in the workplace complete and submit these reports if chemicals are used and/or stored in the facility that are equal to or exceed these reporting thresholds:
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Employee Feature
Meet Melodie Nye
by Cindy Hake, Office Manager
 Melodie Nye is the newest consultant to join the Hellman & Associates’ team. She earned her degree in Environmental Health at Colorado State University. As a student, Melodie was a member of the Environmental Health Student Association for three years. She served as Secretary for a year and Vice President during her senior year.
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President's Corner
EHS Compliance
by Ryan Hellman, President
 With the start of a new year comes renewed optimism of our economy and business success for 2011. We at H&A are dedicated to supporting your risk management and regulatory compliance activities. There is no better time than now to take a closer look at your current operations. Last October, OSHA announced changes to their Administrative Penalty Policy ( Full Announcement) that has significantly changed the monetary outcome of inspections. A brief summary of some key changes includes: 1. Average penalty for a serious OSHA citation increased from approximately $1,000 to an average of $3,500. 2. Time frame for considering an employer’s history of violations has expanded from three years to five years. 3. Time frame for considering the classification of repeated violations has also increased from three to five years. 4. A penalty reduction may be permitted in recognition of an employer’s effort to implement an effective workplace safety and health management system.
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Genie Safety Recall Notice
by Genie Industries, Inc.
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 110001 (NHTSA RECALL NOTICE 10V-619)
Genie Industries, Inc. (“Genie”) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists on certain boom and chassis components on our TZ-50 trailer mounted aerial work platform booms.
The reason for this recall…
Genie Industries has discovered that a supplier has introduced a different material to their manufacturing process for these components. This material is not in compliance with Genie’s specifications. The use of this non-compliant material, in the boom and chassis components, could result in cracking in the supporting structure. Cracking in these supporting structures could result in the platform falling, increasing the risk of injuries and/or a vehicle crash.
This recall applies to all North American TZ-50 trailer mounted booms from serial number TZ5010-143 to TZ5010-167.
[Click here to view the full story]
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Spotlight
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Safety Salute
Coblaco Service Inc.
by Dave Ruddy, Principal EHS Consultant
Hellman & Associates and Coblaco Service Inc. - Partner to Safely Coat Industrial Structures
Hellman & Associates takes great pride and care in developing custom EHS consulting solutions for our clients. This loyal client base includes some of the world’s most prestigious companies and organizations. Our featured client this month is COBLACO Services Inc. (CSI) who you may also know as American Pipeline Services (APS). CSI/APS has been blasting, cleaning and/or covering pipelines, industrial and commercial structures, water and waste water treatment plants and heavy equipment since 1978. CSI/APS conducts their business throughout the Greater Rocky Mountain Region and has been known to serve clients further east and west a time or two. 
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Time to Post OSHA 300 Log
by Ryan Hellman
The OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, must be completed and posted by February 1, 2011. The summary must include the total number of 2010 job-related injuries and illnesses that were logged on your OSHA 300 form. If your company had no recordable injuries or illnesses in 2010, you must still post the form with zeros on the total line. All establishment summaries must be certified by a company executive and remain displayed in a common area wherever notices to employees are posted until April 30, 2011.
Employers with ten or fewer employees and employers in certain industry groups may be exempt from federal OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping and posting requirements.
Please go to OSHA record keeping site to determine whether you are exempt from this requirement.
Please go to OSHA websiteto access the recordkeeping forms.
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