Illinois Truck Manufacturer Fined $235,800 for Repeat Violations

Hoist Liftruck Mfg. Inc. has been cited with 16 health and safety violations, carrying penalties of $235,800, after a March follow-up inspection at its Bedford Park, Ill., manufacturing facility. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company with two willful safety violations for failing to provide welding screens for workers exposed to welding arcs

Obama calls for improved chemical safety

President Obama on Aug. 1 signed an executive order instructing key federal agencies, including the Labor Department, to work together to reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals to workers and communities. Incidents such as the devastating explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, in April are tragic reminders that the handling and storage of

August is AMRA/MAP's Brake Safety Awareness month

Throughout the month of August, the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (AMRA) and the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) are promoting Brake Safety Awareness Month (BSAM). As in previous years, AMRA is providing Member companies with a poster for each of their MAP Participating Facilities, courtesy of Tenneco Automotive. Additionally, Inspection Connection is offering free access

EPA ruling on solvent-contaminated wipes (good news here)

In 2013, EPA issued a final rule that modifies the hazardous waste management regulations for solvent-contaminated wipes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Specifically, this rule revises the definition of solid waste to conditionally exclude solvent-contaminated wipes that are cleaned and reused and revises the definition of hazardous waste to conditionally exclude disposable

OSHA HazCom requirements; printable wallet cards now available

OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and published it in the Federal Register in March 2012 (77 FR 17574). Two significant changes contained in the revised standard require the use of new labeling elements and a standardized format for

AGM batteries – NEVER USE CONVENTIONAL CHARGERS!

Way back in the early 80s I was hired by Gould battery to be one of their mobile technicians, where I was dispatched across the Chicagoland area with a van stocked with a carousel of lead acid batteries and some basic charging system diagnostic equipment and tools. As a result, I still have a soft

CCAR And ShipMate Inc. Offer New HazmatU Courses

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. – Charles Ayers, president of the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair (CCAR), has announced a suite of new HazmatU courses offered by CCAR and its business partner ShipMate Inc. “Of special interest to original equipment manufacturers, automotive dealers and groups is the fact that the courses have been pared down to the