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Pesticide is an umbrella term that covers insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Although chemical pesticides in dry and liquid forms are widely used, there are other forms of lawn, garden mad [...]

New Enforcement Priority Weighting Scheme Enforcement Units. Enforcement cases will be assigned the following weight: GROUP A Includes the most time intensive, complex and high-priority inspections. 7 EUs a. Criminal [...]

Shippers and carriers say they are concerned that the flurry of transportation security initiatives planned or under way as a result of the terror attacks will result in skyrocketing costs [...]

Many community advisory panels (CAPs) have taken on lives of their own, bringing Responsible Care to neighborhoods around the country in new and evolving ways. CW visited five CAPs recently [...]

The US Department of Transportation recently introduced new provisions to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HazMat) in an effort to provide first hand accident responders with clear and intelligible information about chemicals. Called the HM-206, the amendment requires manufacturers to label highly poisonous products while discarding any unnecessary information. It further encourages vehicles containing fumigants and other hazardous substances to be equipped with the necessary placards.

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 required both the OSHA and the EPA to create provisions to prevent unintentional chemical releases. The OSHA is tasked with protecting workers from chemical incidents at facilities that contain toxic, flammable or explosive substances while the EPA must protect public health and the environment. The OSHA has implemented its process-safety management standard while the EPA has imposed its risk-management planning rule.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration formulated the Process-Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard in response to a series of chemically-related accidents that threatened the health and lives of individuals and exposed the environment to destructive elements. The comprehensive and up-to-date regulation is expected to reduce large-scale hazardous incidents by 80%, thereby saving 264 lives and preventing 1,534 injuries and illnesses per year. Small businesses will also benefit from the new regulation since the standard is not resource intensive.

There are many chemicals that have the potential for causing cancer (carcinogenic agents). Many of these chemicals can be found in the workplace, and occupational exposure is not uncommon. Specific classification systems are needed to help identify specific chemicals or classes of chemicals that may be carcinogenic. Several chemical coding or classification systems exist and include the occupation-exposure linkage codes, the exposure check-list codes, the Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Numbers, and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety hazard codes. Because of the limitations of these systems, a new hierarchical coding system was developed. This system provides a means for classifying chemicals based on their physical and chemical nature. Such a system will enable industries to identify and catalog chemicals that are dangerous, and will aid in the monitoring of health hazards in the workplace. In the hierarchical system, each chemical is given a 10-digit code that is used to identify the structure of a chemical and its chemical and physical properties. The advantage of the hierarchical system over the other existing systems is its ability to distinguish between chemicals that have similar structures, but different potentials for causing cancer. This system, along with other coding systems, has limitations. However, the 10-digit hierarchical coding system provides a means for identifying hazardous chemicals encountered in the workplace. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Developing a laboratory chemical hygiene plan In January of this year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published the final standard for "Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories." [1] [...]

Chemicals Training Plan Stresses Comprehension Hazard communication regulations require employees be informed about and understand the dangers Employees have a right to know about the chemical hazards in their workplaces. [...]

The rail transport of toxic chemicals is vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The rules to improve the security measures for carriers and shippers are being revised by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

The European Commission's substantial new proposals for the assessment and authorisation of chemicals could have a profound effect on their use. Paul Reeve flags up the flaws of a strategy [...]

Executives who lead the environmental, health, safety, and security operations at chemical companies make Responsible Care a day-to-day reality around the world. They have been tasked with implementing the initiatives [...]

The chemical industry 'has gone from being the creative center of the universe to being the Rodney Dangerfield of the industrial world,' Nova Chemicals president and CEO Jeffrey Lipton told [...]

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY Responsible Care is facing the same three challenges that wartime brings to combatants and civilians: a test of readiness; a demand to a expand capabilities; and, [...]

Most of the governments in the world have not decided on banning production of toxic substances and insecticides such as DDT. However governments' negotiators have scheduled a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, to resolve the issues.

Cruisers need to know the proper use and storage of specialized chemicals onboard to ensure safety. An understanding of these chemicals and their hazards is crucial. These chemicals include muriatic acid, diesel oil, kerosene, alcohol-based products and liquor, ammonia and chlorine bleaches., A self-sufficient boat must carry a cache of specialized chemicals. Proper use and storage is vital to onboard safety. Here's how common compounds stack up The modern cruising boat is [...]

The rapid buildup in the chemical industry in much of Asia/Pacific presents a unique opportunity for it to use Responsible Care 'to not repeat the mistakes of the past and [...]

The UK draft regulations known as CHIP (chemical hazard information and packaging) aims to protect chemical industry employees. There are over 15,000 different types of chemicals used within the UK chemical industry. Chemicals produce undetectable gases and vapours which can cause serious illness if inhaled. The inhalation of alcohol vapours, such as ethyl and methyl causes inflammation of the lungs. Ammonia used for the manufacture of fertilisers causes chemical bronchitis and pulmonary disorders. Appropriate respiratory protective equipment must be worn and fiited accurately to avoid risks.

Speakers at the Helsinki Chemicals Forum discussed whether Europe's Reach legislation could provide a global model for regulation EUROPE'S REACH chemical legislation is expected to lead to further harmonization of [...]

A chemical industry veteran disputes claims that vital information about chemicals can be kept secret in the US, while another reader seeks your help to educate young people about science [...]

The first meeting between the west and the former Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) countries was organized by the European Petrochemical Association last Apr 1992 in hopes of promoting cooperation regarding logistics operations. Countries belonging to central and eastern Europe have shifted their economic trading to western Europe following the collapse of the COMECON. The logistic problems faced by the former COMECON countries include infrastructure and regulation, modernization of transport stock and lack of independent chemical storage facilities.

China to boost ethylene capacity by 82% China's ethylene capacity will likely grow by 82% to 17.84m tonnes/year over the next three years with the help of the government fiscal [...]

Plans for the next phase of an industry-run worldwide system for reporting and assessing chemical safety data have been finalized Stepping closer The UN-sponsored International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM2) [...]

Responsible Care is our commitment to sustainability. This is the new tag line we will use in combination with our logo to explain the added value of the Responsible Care [...]

Cefic and ECTA have signed an agreement extending Responsible Care to road transport, reports Mark Whitfield Cefic and the European Chemical Transport Association (ECTA) have taken a big step forward [...]

One reader praises the Endpoint's hero in chemistry, while Doris de Guzman commends Honeywell's efforts to make ammonium nitrate fertilizer safer from terrorist use as an explosive lerner's heroes I [...]