Industrial Hygienists Urge Exposure Assessment of Legacy Asbestos Uses, Naloxone Programs

Most OEHS professionals are aware of EPA’s final rulemaking on chrysotile asbestos, just as most know about the nationwide opioid crisis. However, presenters of an AIHA Connect pop-up session on May 20 urged attendees to consider overlooked aspects of both events that may affect individual workplaces. First, Lindsey Malek, MS, CIH, an industrial hygienist with Exxon Mobil Corporation, advised the audience to start collecting data on exposures to legacy uses of asbestos at their facilities, before EPA opens a public comment period on its proposed risk management rules for legacy uses of asbestos. Then, Mary-Catherine Goddard, MPH, CIH, an industrial hygienist with the design firm Arcadis, spoke on developing workplace programs for administering naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

 

Malek began with an overview of the second part of EPA’s risk evaluation of asbestos, finalized in November 2024, which addresses legacy uses of asbestos. Initially, the agency’s risk evaluation had just focused on chrysotile asbestos, the only form of asbestos permitted to be imported in the U.S. before May 2024. A 2017 court decision held that the agency must also consider legacy uses of asbestos, applications for which production has ended but that remain in buildings and facilities. Malek explained that asbestos was used to insulate operation envelopes in the oil and gas industry from the industry’s beginnings in the late 19th century until EPA banned asbestos insulation in 1975. Many of these facilities are still in operation—the oldest still-operational refinery in the U.S. started up in 1881. According to Malek, these refineries are kept safe through maintenance and asbestos abatement as needed. Nonetheless, Part 2 of EPA’s risk evaluation found that legacy uses of asbestos contributed to unreasonable risk to workers and occupational non-users.

 

Malek described how ExxonMobil had sought to get a head start on collecting data related to asbestos exposures at its facilities, although she did not anticipate EPA to open a public comment period on proposed risk management rules to address this unreasonable risk until late 2026. Because the agency had observed a lack of data on exposures to legacy asbestos uses among occupational non-users, who work in facilities containing asbestos but don’t handle the substance, ExxonMobil conducted a study on exposures to these workers. Malek summarized sampling and analysis using methods employed by NIOSH, as well as the results, which she said demonstrated effective management of asbestos exposures by the company.

 

Malek stressed that it’s up to OEHS professionals in the oil and gas industry to collect necessary data to inform EPA’s risk management decisions and that it’s better for companies to prepare this before the comment period is announced. “Do it now,” she urged. “Understand the impacts. Industry advocacy is very critical.”

 

Goddard introduced her presentation on naloxone awareness in the workplace by briefly outlining the devastating effects of the opioid overdose epidemic. A person can die from an opioid overdose if their brain receives inadequate oxygen, but administering naloxone can restore normal breathing in two or three minutes. First responders carry an injectable form of naloxone, but the medication is also available as an over-the-counter nasal spray under the brand name Narcan. Each nasal spray device contains a single dose of medication suitable for adults or children. Naloxone is a safe medication and will not cause harm if administered to a person not experiencing an opioid overdose, Goddard explained.

 

She cited a survey by the National Safety Council, which found that although most employers want to support employees experiencing substance use disorders, many lacked the necessary resources. Goddard recommended that for organizations consider naloxone programs to evaluate whether their workforce is at risk. For example, workers who perform manual labor and repetitive tasks are more likely to become injured, which may lead to them being prescribed opioids, putting them at risk for substance misuse and abuse. Organizations should also examine whether evidence of drug use has been observed at work sites, whether first responders can reach the work site in time to prevent deaths from overdose, and whether members of the public may enter the work site.

 

If an organization decides there is a risk of opioid overdose in the workplace, Goddard stressed that implementing a naloxone program requires commitment at all levels of an organization. OEHS professionals will likely manage the program but will probably work alongside human resources and legal departments, as well as employees trained to administer naloxone. Organizations should also research legal liability. Good Samaritan laws exist in most jurisdictions, but nuances vary. The organization should develop a written policy for the naloxone program, which can be integrated into emergency response procedures. The medication must be purchased and stored, either refrigerated or at room temperature, in a place where it can be easily accessed. Employees must also be trained in recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and in administering naloxone.

 

Goddard closed her session by providing a selection of resources on naloxone programs from NIOSH, NSC, and the Narcan website.

 

OSHA announced it has updated the inspection program that directs agency enforcement resources to establishments with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses based on injury and illness data submitted in accordance with OSHA's recordkeeping requirements.

 

The Site-Specific Targeting program is OSHA's primary planned inspection program for non-construction establishments with 20 or more employees. Using OSHA Form 300A data from calendar years 2021-2023, establishments may be selected for inspection based on:

 

The new directive replaces the previous SST program directive issued on February 7, 2023. OSHA also uses national and local emphasis programs to target high-risk industries and hazards. Learn more about these emphasis programs.

 

OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program provides free, confidential occupational safety and health services to help small- and medium-sized businesses identify workplace hazards, comply with OSHA standards, and establish and improve safety and health programs. On-Site Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations.

 

A U.S. Department of Labor follow-up inspection found that Art Stone-Granite & Marble Inc., a stone product manufacturer in Marietta, had failed to administer hearing conservation and respiratory protection programs identified previously on an April 2024 safety and health inspection.

 

Five months after the initial inspection, OSHA cited the company with two repeat violations and 13 serious violations for not providing workplace protections for employees exposed to hazards such as silica dust and occupational related noise. The company will pay $120,000 in penalties, take action to correct the hazardous conditions, and put steps in place to prevent recurrence.

 

For information on silica hazards, read OSHA's fact sheet on respirable crystalline silica standard for general industry. OSHA's National Emphasis Program for Respirable Crystalline Silica addresses the agency's efforts to reduce worker exposures to silica. Employers can contact the agency for free compliance assistance and resources.

 

The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement agreement with a New Jersey commercial baker to resolve litigation after a May 2024 follow-up investigation at the company's Paterson facility found previously identified hazards had not been addressed.

 

OSHA initially investigated Valenti’s Bakery LLC in June 2023, after an employee suffered partial finger amputations. OSHA conducted a May 2024, follow-up inspection to confirm the employer had corrected the previously cited hazards but instead found that the hazards remained at the facility.

 

The settlement agreement between OSHA and Valenti's Bakery affirms the citations issued after the follow-up inspection, which included two willful, one repeat, six serious, and one failure-to-abate citation. The company has also agreed to pay a $180,000 penalty.

 

As part of the settlement, Valenti's Bakery agreed to implement enhanced abatement measures, including:

 

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the City of Flint, Michigan, has completed all requirements of EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) emergency order and it will now be lifted. Since EPA issued the emergency order in January 2016, the City of Flint and the State of Michigan have worked cooperatively with EPA to address and complete all requirements. Water sampling shows that Flint’s water system is now in compliance with lead standards, a major milestone accomplished through years of cooperative federalism dating back to 2016, culminating in the termination of this emergency order.

 

“Today we celebrate nearly a decade’s worth of hard work and partnership at the local, state, and federal level to ensure the residents of Flint, Michigan, have access to clean, safe drinking water. Lifting this emergency order is a cause for great celebration for residents of Flint who worked so hard and sacrifice so much to get to this point. Even though the emergency order is lifted, all levels of government must continue to stay in contact and work closely to be a continued resource for the Flint community and ensure their water remains pristine. EPA will remain a partner to provide technical assistance to the city and state as efforts continue to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure systems,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin.

 

“Lifting the EPA emergency order marks a significant milestone for Flint residents, reaffirming their access to safe, reliable drinking water,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “This achievement reflects the dedicated efforts of the City of Flint, the State of Michigan, and the EPA in addressing the lead crisis. With Flint's water system in compliance with lead standards, residents can trust in the quality of their water supply.”

 

“The lifting of the EPA’s emergency order is a powerful testament to the strength, and advocacy of Flint residents,” said Mayor Sheldon A. Neeley, City of Flint. “For nearly a decade, we have worked tirelessly to restore trust and integrity to our water system, as well as meeting rigorous standards. While this milestone marks progress, our commitment to clean, safe drinking water remains unwavering. We will continue to advance infrastructure, strengthen safeguards, and ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated. Flint families deserve nothing less.”

 

Flint studied and developed a plan to optimize corrosion control treatment in its drinking water system as part of their efforts to address EPA’s 2016 emergency order. As a result of implementing that plan, Flint’s water system has continually tested below action levels for lead since July 2016. Additionally, the city has replaced over 97% of legacy lead pipes carrying water to homes, known as lead service lines.

 

The end of the order returns the City of Flint to its regular, ongoing obligation to comply with the requirements of the SDWA and its regulations, which are primarily overseen by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). EGLE will maintain compliance, including overseeing implementation of the water system plan to ensure ongoing technical, managerial, and financial capacity necessary to operate and maintain the city’s water system.

 

One of Administrator Zeldin’s first trips in his current role was to Flint, Michigan, to meet with community members, tour the new water infrastructure, and hear firsthand about Flint’s recovery efforts.

 

 

The C&L Inventory includes information on more than 4 400 EU-level harmonized classifications and seven million classifications notified or included in REACH registrations. Altogether, the inventory includes data on around 350 000 substances.

 

The integration of classification and labelling information into ECHA CHEM follows the initial launch of the database in January 2024, which featured information on over 100 000 REACH registrations submitted by companies. The new inventory is designed to help users easily locate the classification with the highest agreement and to bring clarity on the source behind the classification information. It incorporates recent regulatory developments, such as the new CLP hazard classes and is built with stability and growth in mind.

 

In this first version, the classification information is accessible in a visual format per substance with complementary approaches, such as application programming interfaces (APIs), being explored in future releases. 

 

Mercedes Viñas, Director of Submissions and Interaction, said: “This is an important milestone in further developing a comprehensive database for all chemical data gathered by ECHA. The redesigned C&L Inventory comes with an enhanced user interface and simplifies access to classification information for users.”

 

Mike Rasenberg, Director of Hazard Assessment, added: “Hazard classifications are the cornerstone of regulatory risk management of chemicals. The redesigned C&L inventory improves the clarity on the current and upcoming mandatory classifications harmonized at the EU level, helping companies to prepare and implement the required safety measures.”

 

ECHA maintains the largest chemicals database in the European Union (EU), combining industry-submitted data with information generated through EU regulatory activities. ECHA CHEM is the solution for sharing the growing amount of information hosted by the Agency with the public.

 

The next step in the development of ECHA CHEM will be to include overviews of ECHA’s regulatory activities on chemicals and the decisions adopted on them under chemicals laws, such as the REACH restrictions. This will further enhance transparency and public access to chemical information.

 

 

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