ARLINGTON, Va., February 9, 2021 -- The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has issued a new, interactive and free training module that thoroughly covers a vital safety procedure for all grain, feed and processing facilities – Lockout/Tagout. Lockout/Tagout is a safety procedure used to ensure that machines that can pose a safety hazard are shut off or tagged-out properly so they are not started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or repair work. This procedure requires that hazardous energy sources be “isolated and rendered inoperative” before work is started ... Read More
Safety, Health & Environment
OSHA issues new COVID-19 worker safety guidance
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Jan. 29 that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued stronger worker safety guidance recommending what employers should do to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus. The guidance fulfills President Joe Biden’s executive order directing OSHA to release “clear guidance” for employers designed to keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure. The guidance, entitled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace,” details key measures for limiting the spread of COVID-19, ... Read More
NGFA’s McCluer named 2021 ‘Leader in the Field’ by Journal of Agromedicine
The Journal of Agromedicine announced Jan. 8 that it has selected Jess McCluer, NGFA’s vice president of safety and regulatory affairs, as its 2021 “Leader in the Field.” McCluer “instills agricultural safety and health across the industry by leveraging his unique blend of analytical skills, creativity and relationship management,” the Journal said in its announcement. Since March 2019, McCluer also has served as Board Chair of the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA), a coalition of agricultural business leaders, producer associations, risk managers and others ... Read More
NGFA publishes Safety Tips Sheet on ‘Preventing Dryer Fires’
NGFA this week published a new Safety Tips Sheet this week. “Preventing Dryer Fires,” authored by NGFA Manager of Safety, Education and Training Jim Seibert. It can be accessed here. The NGFA “Safety Tips” series is published periodically as part of the Association’s continued commitment to further enhance safety in the workplace. These documents are designed to provide more information on certain types of hazards and suggested ways to protect employees through safety best practices. More Safety Tip Sheets can be found on NGFA’s Safety page. ... Read More
Coalition outlines labor policy under Trump or Biden
The Coalition for Workplace Safety, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, outlined policy priorities expected in a second term of the Trump administration or a new Biden administration. The two-page document can be accessed here. The coalition predicts gridlock on all priority issues given a potential Republican majority in the Senate and Democratic majority in the House. A more detailed document highlighting the status of priority safety, health, environmental and employment issues will be distributed once the results of the elections are finalized. ... Read More
EPA registers dicamba for five years
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Oct. 27 announced its decision to approve three dicamba herbicides for use over-the-top of dicamba-tolerant Xtend crops for five years. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the agency had granted five-year registrations to two canceled dicamba herbicides – XtendiMax and Engenia – as well as a re-registered the dicamba herbicide, Tavium. All three now require a nationwide June 30 cutoff date for use on soybeans and a July 30 cutoff date for use on cotton, regardless of the crop’s growth stage. EPA also said it is limiting states’ ability to add ... Read More
CDC updates definition of “close contact” with COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Oct. 21 updated its definition of what it means to be in “close contact” with someone infected with COVID-19, after publishing a report on COVID-19 cases that occurred at a Vermont correctional facility. The new definition states that the 15-minute exposure period (i.e., within six-feet of an infected individual for 15 minutes) should be assessed based on a cumulative amount of time over 24 hours, not just a single, continuous 15-minute interaction. As updated on the CDC’s website, “close contact” is defined as: “Someone who was ... Read More
Michigan OSHA adopts COVID-19 Emergency Rule
By Jess McCluer, Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs After the Michigan Supreme Court struck down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 executive orders on Oct. 5, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MI OSHA) responded swiftly and on Oct. 14 issued a series of COVID-19 Emergency Rules. Many of the requirements in the new rules mirror the governor’s prior executive orders that she began implementing in April. “Given MI OSHA’s aggressive use of the General Duty Clause to support a series of citations after an inspection blitz over the summer, ... Read More
OSHA employer injury and illness data now posted publicly
By Jess McCluer, Vice President, Safety and Regulatory Affairs The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced Sept. 4 that it now posts publicly employer injury and illness data following a settlement arising from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) challenge brought by the advocacy group Public Citizen. Injury and illness reports from nearly 290,000 employers from 2016 through 2018 have been made public. OSHA hasn’t said when data from 2019 will be posted. But if a facility reported Form 300A data for calendar years 2016 through 2019, it likely will become public ... Read More
EPA finalizes rule providing public comment on guidance documents
By Jess McCluer, Vice President, Safety and Regulatory Affairs The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule on Sept. 14 that gives stakeholders the ability to comment upon guidance documents issued by the agency. In a virtual address to The Federalist Society, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the agency’s new rule is designed primarily to increase transparency by allowing the public to view all of its guidance documents online. The rule, which has not been published yet in the Federal Register, will allow submission of petitions to reinstate rescinded guidance ... Read More
Lacy Holleman
National Grain and Feed Association
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