USEPA issued the TSCA Inventory Reset final rule On June 22, 2017 in pre-publication form. The rule requires every chemical manufacturer and importer to notify USEPA of each chemical substance it manufactured or imported (for a non-exempt commercial purpose) in the US during the 10-year period ending June 21, 2016. This 10-year period is referred to as the “Lookback Period.”
Each chemical substance for which USEPA receives a notification will be designated as “active” on the TSCA Inventory. Manufacturers and importers must provide this notification to USEPA within 180 days from the date on which the rule is formally published in the Federal Register. However, USEPA has not yet published the final rule in the federal register. If the rule is finalized as proposed it will require the following:
For more information go to the USEPA TSCA inventory information page. OSHA has released a Small Entity Compliance Guide for General Industry and Maritime to help small business employers comply with the agency's Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica. The guide describes the steps that employers are required to take to protect employees in general industry and maritime from the hazards associated with silica exposure. These requirements include:
The compliance guide can be downloaded from the OSHA web site. Federal OSHA Enforcement of the final rule in general industry and maritime is scheduled to begin June 23, 2018. OSHA's online recordkeeping secure website is up and running! In addition, OSHA has proposed to extend the reporting deadline from July 1st to December 1, 2017.
Online Reporting - The Injury Tracking Application (ITA) is now accessible from the OSHA website, where companies will be able to provide the Agency their 2016 OSHA Form 300A information. Click the “Launch ITA” button to get started and set up your account. The ITA page can be found here. The webpage offers three options for submitting data, and includes information on reporting requirements, a list of frequently asked questions, and a link to request assistance with completing the form. Reporting Deadline Extension - OSHA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (82 FR 29261) on June 28, 2017 to extend the deadline for electronically submitting the data to December 1, 2017. The proposed extension provides affected companies sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the electronic reporting system and provides the new administration an opportunity to review the new electronic reporting requirements prior to their implementation. For more information visit the OSHA recordkeeping web page. |
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