Casey Sixkiller to be Director of Ecology

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Governor-elect Bob Ferguson appointed Casey Sixkiller, current Regional Administrator of EPA and an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, as Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology effective January 15, 2025. Sixkiller’s appointment reflects Ferguson’s commitment to protect Washington’s clean air and water and create good-paying clean energy jobs across the state.

President Biden appointed Sixkiller to lead Region 10 in May 2022. Sixkiller oversees the EPA’s work to protect human health and the environment across the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, and 271 tribal nations, leading the EPA’s efforts locally to implement both the Bipartisan Infrastructural Law and Inflation Reduction Act, through investments in water infrastructure, addressing the impacts of climate change, and identifying solutions to achieve clean energy.

December HAZWOPER Challenge

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Thank you for taking part in the Spring Environmental Monthly HAZWOPER challenge. By submitting correct answers to all 5 questions below on your initial attempt, you will be entered into our monthly drawing. This is an open book challenge. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Complete the form below to see results

Formaldehyde as a Human Carcinogen

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In August of 2024, EPA posted a final report reviewing the toxicological effects of formaldehyde and found that it can cause cancer. This assessment addresses the human health effects from inhaling formaldehyde. In the review, EPA noted that formaldehyde can cause sinus and nasal cancer as well as myeloid leukemia. Formaldehyde is present in a variety of products including plywood adhesives, abrasive materials, insulation, pesticides, and embalming fluids. Major sources of anthropogenic emissions include household furnishings and building materials, vehicle exhaust, and tobacco smoke.

This finding does not impose new restrictions on the use of formaldehyde, but listing it as a carcinogen will likely shape future regulations and state/local toxics programs. EPA plans to finish the final risk evaluation by the end of the year, and if they ultimately do decide to ban formaldehyde, it could include many wood products and adhesives unless formulas are changed. The FDA has separately proposed to ban formaldehyde in hair straightening products. The final toxicological review can be found on EPA’s webpage.

OSHA’s Restructuring, What You Need to Know!

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a restructuring initiative for their regional operations to more effectively and efficiently manage their resource. Under the old alignment, the United States and its territories were broken into numbered regions, 1 thru 10 by geographic location. With the realignment comes new regions and regional designations.

OSHA will transition from the numbered system to a geographical naming convention. The biggest changes are the combining of OSHA regions 9 and 10 to form the San Francisco region and the stand-up of the Birmingham Region. The combining of regions 9 and 10 was driven by the presence of state plans in that region which will allow OSHA to redirect Federal resources where they are needed most according to Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. The full transition is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2024.

For more information, you can read the OSHA news release here including a map of the new regional structure.

Another Tool for your Safety Toolbag!

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As the average temperatures continue to rise throughout the world, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), in collaboration with East Carolina University, has developed a new heat stress app to aid in the protection of workers. The new app is focused on utilizing an adjusted wet bulb globe temperature (WGBT) to identify risks associated to the worksite so appropriate exposure controls can be put into motion. The app will calculate risk based upon several factors including location, work intensity, and protective clothing used. For those employers with multiple locations, the app is being designed with the ability to monitor multiple work locations simultaneously. The AIHA is also trying to develop a forecasting feature into the app that will enable employers to better plan for possible exposures. The app has completed the Beta testing phase and is available for Apple and Android users.
For more information on heat stress and the app, visit the AIHA website.

July is Bringing the Heat!

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According to an EPA study, on average 34 workers across all industries die every year from extreme heat exposure.  Extreme heat events have become more common across the globe and the number and intensity of the events are forecasted to increase.  Now is the time to educate yourself and workers on the dangers of extreme heat and the steps you can take to guard against exposure.  To get started, consider the following:

  • Provide training on the signs and symptoms of heat exposure and treatment.melting
  • Provide a sufficient amount of drinking water to exposed workers.
  • Provide adequate shade.
  • Provide work/rest cycles for employees exposed to temperatures above the action levels.
  • Utilize the buddy system and establish communications with workers.

For more information in Washington State, consult the Outdoor Heat Exposure rules associated with your industry.
• General industry: WAC 296-62-095 through 09560
• Agriculture: WAC 296-307-097 through 09760
• Firefighters/Fire Departments: WAC 296-305-05004
• Wildland Firefighters: WAC 296-305-07004

The following resources are also provided to aid employers and decision makers in assessing the health risks of extreme heat.
Heat.gov
Heat Safety Tool app