It's Official - EPA & OSHA will coordinate their efforts when it comes to Lead.

In a ‘memorandum of understanding’ (MOU) signed by the the Region 1, New England Regional Administrators for both EPA and DOL’s OSHA. the goal as stated of the agencies entering into the MOU is to “improve and optimize the combined efforts of the Parties to achieve protection of workers, the public, and/or the environment at facilities subject to EPA and/or OSHA jurisdiction.”  Region 1 covers Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine.  My bet is this ‘understanding’ between the two entities will move across the country to all other regions.

The MOU goes on to state: “In particular, improved coordination should help (1) OSHA enforce the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and undertake special enforcement initiatives, such as OSHA’s Lead in Construction standard (29 CFR 1926.62), and (2) EPA enforce the Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) , and 40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart E.”

Download and Read the OSHA and EPA Memo

The SSPC Commercial Coating Committee Moves Briskly Forward in Embracing Its Mission!  

Durability and Design reports on this week's action by the Committee's various panels.  Several Forum Members are now involved with the recently created SSPC Commercial Coatngs Committee.  Additonally, Forum Sponsor and Nat'l PDCA Board Member, Steve Revnew of The Sherwin-Williams Co. and Nat'l PDCA Board Member and Forum Member, Carl Postupak of Postpak Painting Co. in Wilkes-Barre, PA both attended the Committee's inaugural meeting on October 4th in Pittsburgh.  Carl attended on behalf of National PDCA and Commercial Forum. 

At the upcoming EXPO event in Las Vegas, the Commercial Forum hosted roundtable discussions will include the topic of this important and beneficial work by SPPC's Commercial Coating Committee.

Though Some Military Construction Remains Strong 

The General Services Administration will not start new projects this year. Although military construction is strong and specific agency facilities will result in spending of $117 billion this year, down from $125 billion last year, in contrast to the 2012 request of $182 billion. (Figures courtesy of the Associated General Contractors of America.) Back out the Department of Housing and Urban Development, grant and contract spending will be cut in half. And construction pulls through so much related spending like IT, audio visual, and furniture.  

Read more

Researchers are getting results.

A team of researchers at the University of Notre Dame has made a major advance toward their goal of creating an inexpensive "solar paint" that uses semiconducting nanoparticles to produce energy.  They must up the the light to energy conversion rate in order to really shine.

Read the Science Daily Post

Office holiday parties can be a joyful celebration of the year’s accomplishments.  But they can also give the gift of legal liability.  Employers should remember a few basic rules:

• If attendance is mandatory, non-exempt employees must be paid for their time.
• Non-exempt employees who “volunteer” to help with set-up or clean-up must be paid for their time.
• If alcohol is served, alternative transportation home should be offered to those who have overindulged.
• All prohibitions against sexual harassment and other harassment apply to employer-sponsored holiday parties.