Top Ten Global EHS Updates–August 2017

Jonathan Brun

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Top EHS Updates

Australia

Western Australia

1. Government Makes Minor Amendments to Explosives Safety Regulations

The Government of Western Australia has published the Dangerous Goods Safety Amendment Regulations 2017 . Under the Regulations, minor amendments have been made to the Dangerous Goods Safety Regulations 2007 . The Regulations came into operation on July 1, 2017.

Additional information can be found here.

2. Dangerous Goods Safety (Road and Rail Transport of Non-Explosives) Amendment Regulations 2017 Published

The Governor in Executive Council recently amended the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, through the issuance of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Road and Rail Transport of Non-Explosives) Amendment Regulations 2017. The amendments make several changes to the original publication, namely the following:

  • Expanding the definition of crucial terms relating to dangerous goods transportation;
  • Elucidating the terms of compliance for transporters;
  • Defining “empty dangerous goods packaging”; and
  • Drafting updated fines for failure to comply with regulatory requirements.

Additional information can be found here.

Canada

3. Fuel Oil No. 2 added to list of toxic substances

Fuel Oil No. 2, a distillate fuel oil formed by vaporizing, condensing and blending petroleum components that are obtained from the atmospheric distillation of crude oil or bitumen, has been added to the List of Toxic Substances in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Fuel Oil No. 2 is used primarily as a fuel source for home heating, but is also used in medium capacity commercial/industrial burners.

This change is in force. More information is available here.

4. More options available for compliance with immersion suit and firefighting equipment requirements in offshore workplaces

To allow for more options in complying with immersion suit and firefighting equipment requirements, the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Marine Installations and Structures Transitional Regulations have been amended.

In more detail, the amendments

  • Allow compliance with international standards;
  • Make the incorporation of standards by reference more dynamic, so that workplaces can comply with the most recent versions of technical standards; and
  • Add more stringent requirements for firefighting equipment on ships used for construction or for geotechnical or seismic work.

The amendments are in force. More information is available here.

 France

 5. France Bans Vaping in Certain Workplaces

A new provision prohibiting vaping in certain workplaces is being added to the internal regulations of companies in France with more than 20 employees. Specifically, the use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) in premises with workstations, closed and covered and used for collective use, is prohibited from October 1, 2017.

Although it will be prohibited to vaporize in common areas, it is not banned in individual offices. The employer must put in place signage on the prohibition of vaping. Failure to do so may result in imposition of a penalty. The act of smoking electronic cigarettes in the workplace in violation of the prohibition may also be subject to a fine.

No additional information is available at this time.

6. France Order Amends Decree on Industrial Emissions

France issued an Order on May 29, 2017 to amend the Decree of 2 May 2013 on the definitions, list and criteria of Directive 2010/75 / EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions. Amendments have been made to Article 1 and came into force on July 12, 2017.

More information can be found here.

United States

7. States are now allowed to issue licensing tests for commercial drivers from a different state

The Department of Transportation is allowing states to give commercial driver’s licence general knowledge tests to people who do not reside in that state so long as their home state agrees to accept the test results.

More information is available here.

8. Additions made and proposed to National Priorities List

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated the National Priorities List (hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action) to include seven new sites as of September 5, 2017. The EPA is also proposing to add four additional sites to the list.

Comments are being accepted until October 2, 2017. More information is available here and here.

9. The Department of Energy is adopting a test procedure for measuring the weighted energy factor (the volumetric flow rate divided by the input power) for certain varieties of dedicated-purpose pool pumps.

This is effective as of September 6, 2017. More information is available here.

10. Comments requested for test procedures for commercial air conditioning and heating equipment

The Department of Energy is requesting comments and information regarding

  • Potential amendments to test procedures for commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment. This includes the following with a rated cooling capacity between 65,000 Btu/h and 760,000 Btu/h:
    • Evaporatively-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (ECUACs).
    • Water-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (WCUACs).
    • Air-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (ACUACs).
  • Adoption of a new test procedure for dedicated outdoor air systems.
  • Its current test procedures for
    • ECUACs and WCUACs with a rated cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/h.
    • Variable refrigerant flow multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps.

Comments must be received on or before August 24, 2017. More information is available here.

If you would like to subscribe to changes in specific regulations or standards please contact us at info@nimonik.com or call us at 1-888-608-7511

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