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September 7, 2010
How-To Leverage MSDS and EHS Data for Greener Product Supply Chains

Use EHS data for a greener supply chain Leverage that EHS information:  move ingredient and chemical-substance-inventory information into a structured relational database.  This database should handle keeping data replenished with current , "live" feeds; and cross-reference the information with the latest regulatory lists.  Suddenly you're on your way to Best-in-Class Company status!  As Gartner / AMR Research says:  you've got a foundational component of a green product supply chain.  It's a start.  It's not hard.  Learn how.

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Tags: ehs, safety, green, supply-chain
September 7, 2010
Green Engineering Overview

Green Engineering is similar to Green Chemistry

Green Engineering is related to Green Chemistry.  Green Engineering is the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products that are possible, economical, and that reduce pollution generation and pose minimal risk to people and the environment.

Green Engineering could in fact be called Greengineering -- but so far only one blogger thinks so.

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Tags: Green-engineering, green, design
September 1, 2010
Fewer security risks in the cloud, says study

Security surges in the cloudData security equals money.  During its 12-month analysis, the esteemed analyst firm Aberdeen Group charted careful metrics on 36 companies using on-premise solutions and 22 using cloud-based services.  "The analysis shows that cloud-based solutions incur fewer security risks," says CMS Wire in its write-up of the report. According to this report, your critical data is safer in the cloud.

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Tags: SaaS software, data management, regulatory compliance
August 27, 2010
What is the U.S. EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program?

EPA Toxic Emissions Report The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program compiles toxic release inventory data that's reported for each year.  EPA offers reporting software.  More soshisticated TRI reporting software, according to Control Engineering Magazine, "organizes all ingredient data -- auto-updated via ERP feed -- and provides analysis, reports and visibility into precise ingredient amounts in standardized measurements that are compared against regulation thresholds for HAPs, VOCs, SVHCs, etc."

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Tags: emissions, reporting, EPA, regulatory compliance
August 25, 2010
REACH/CLP Helpdesks List is Now Updated

REACH CLP Help-DeskHelpdesks provide advice to companies and other stakeholders on the obligations they may have under REACH/CLP.  Find out about help desks:  how to find them and how they can help.  Get directions to and up-to-date info on the updated REACH Helpdesks here.  

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Tags: REACH, Regulation, helpdesks
August 17, 2010
How did you start in EHS? 15 Professional Answers

EHS careers - how to get startedHow did you start in EHS?  Was there a revelation - "I want to do Environmental Health & Safety!" or did it happen more by circumstance?  We recently put that very question to a group of professionals in a dedicated EHS Group called the Environmental, Health and Safety Compliance Network on LinkedIn.  Here are 15 thoughtful responses from people working in the field today.

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Tags: ehs, safety
August 17, 2010
OSHA Asks You to Help Prioritize Action on Hazardous Chemicals

OSHA seeks chemical informationOSHA hasn't really updated its chemical-hazard information since the early 1970's.  OSHA announced today that it will host a public Web Forum to seek stakeholder input in identifying hazardous chemicals for which OSHA should develop exposure reduction strategies.  OSHA is requesting public input to help identify which chemicals of concern to focus these initial efforts on.  Too soon?  Or too little too late?

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Tags: OSHA, chemical, hazard, compliance
August 16, 2010
US EPA Proposes Strict New Chemical Reporting Rules

retroactive chemical-substance rulesIn addition to chemical manufacturers and chemical refiners, the newly-proposed chemical-substance reporting rules would apply to electric utilities, paper and metals manufacturing and electronics producers such as semiconductors and others.  They would be retroactive in years to come.

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Tags: EPA, chemical-substance, chemical, reporting
August 6, 2010
Salaries in Manufacturing: Process Manufacturing Tops List

Annual salaries in manufacturingProcess Manufacturing tops the salary charts for Manufacturing Managers.  Chemicals Industry is highest at $133,077 / year average for Management (2009).   A well-rounded industry snapshot with data synthesized from:  IndustryWeek, ISM, Brookings Inst, Baltimore Sun, and Chamber of Commerce.   See where you fit.

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Tags: salary, manufacturing, management, chemical-industry
August 5, 2010
What is Process Manufacturing? Overview Refresher

Process vs discrete manufacturing A brief overview of "process manufacturing" as opposed to "discrete manufacturing."  Because these things occasionally require a refresher, especially as products and categories change and more are introduced.

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Tags: process industries, discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing
August 2, 2010
EPA Releases New Data on Chemical Dispersants

Corexit dispersant molecule EPA releases second and final stage of its independent acute toxicity tests on chemical dispersants from Gulf Oil Spill.  Dr. Paul Anastas provides commentary.

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Tags: chemical, EPA, chemical-management, compliance
July 28, 2010
EPA: Chemicals and Substances No Longer Trade Secret Protected

Confidential chemicals no moreStarting August 25th, EPA will review all confidentiality claims for chemical identity in health and safety studies.  EPA is telling companies making confidentiality claims to expect a letter from EPA denying those claims.

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Tags: chemical, EPA, trade secrets, chemical management, compliance
July 26, 2010
Got SaaS? Web-based software will dominate supply chain in five years

SaaS for supply chains - fasterWhy SaaS? 

"Web-based [SaaS] supply chain software comes to dominate the landscape: I haven’t completely been on this bandwagon until recently, but by 2015, this is how it is going to be – which has many major implications."  -Dan Gilmore, Editor, Supply Chain Digest

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Tags: SaaS software, chemical management, regulatory compliance
July 22, 2010
EPA wants well-managed waste, water and wetlands

Tox21-EPA-FDA

U.S. Wetlands and Water Policy gets an upgrade.  Recently, Environmental Leader published an overview of U.S. Wetlands and Water Policy.  In the article, Chris Watts writes...

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Tags: water, pollution, policy, regulation, chemical
July 19, 2010
EPA, FDA, and Others Collaborate for Chemical Screening

Tox21-EPA-FDAThe "Tox21 collaboration" taps multiple federal agency resources to develop more effective predictions of how chemicals will affect human health and the environment.  The U.S. FDA is the latest contributor.

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Tags: EPA, FDA, Tox21, collaboration, chemical, screening, supply chain
July 12, 2010
Benefits of Early Registration for Nov. REACH Deadline

REACH deadline - early registration benefitsThere are notable benefits for registering before the drop-deadline, as itemized by a recent report from ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency.  Risk-mitigation is the key benefit.  Special attention from the Help Desk is another.

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July 12, 2010
Electronics & the Environment - An IPC Event in Boston

electronics-symposiumElectronics and the Environment is the subject of an IPC Symposium on July 20–21, 2010.  Participants will meet in Boston, Mass.  IPC Symposium Subjects are: REACH, RoHS, TSCA, Material Disclosure, and Green Chemistry. 

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Tags: IPC, RoHS, collaboration, regulatory compliance, supply chain
July 9, 2010
Sustainable Materials Management Push by New EU Presidency

EU presidency pushes for sustainable materialsNew high-level attention and support from the co-creators of REACH, the landmark chemical-management regulation, gives new life to sustainable materials initiatives.

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July 6, 2010
Pollution Controls - EPA updates Clean Air Act

HAP and VOC emissions management and reduction softwareGina McCarthy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) assistant administrator for air and radiation, held a press conference call today, July 6 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss a significant Clean Air Act proposal to protect public health and the environment.

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Tags: Pollution Controls, regulatory compliance, GHG, emissions reduction
June 28, 2010
Should the U.S. Give Canada the Oil-Drilling Business?


Canada safety recordAn article in the July Oilweek Magazine suggests that Canada might be best suited to take over oil and gas exploration.  The article says that Worker Safety is the thing that Canadian oil exploration has that other countries have not yet mastered, and that the investment in Safety pays off when you start looking at the price-tag of less-than-spectacular Safety Procedures.

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