Holiday Season = Reporting Season
Hazardous waste
If you are in Hennepin County, hazardous waste reporting has wrapped up (December 15 deadline). For the remaining six metro counties, hazardous waste reporting will start after January 1 (if you’re not in the metro counties, the deadline isn’t until August). If we usually help you with your hazardous waste reporting, expect Eleanor to reach out to you soon to schedule our site visits. If you have questions about the reporting, call or email Mary Dipping (mdipping@chess-safety.com, 651-481-9787)
OSHA 300 logs and federal filing – new requirements
If you had more than 10 employees at any time in 2023, you must complete an OSHA 300 log of injuries and illnesses in the workplace and the 300A summary. Only injuries that required more than first aid (for example, stitches, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, medication) or where the employee had job restrictions, need to be recorded. We can help you determine what is or is not recordable.
If you meet the size criteria of over 10 employees but no employee had a recordable injury, you still need to complete the log and summary. We recommend writing “no recordable injuries” on the OSHA 300 log.
OSHA 300A – the summary page – needs to be signed by a company executive, such as the owner or company president, and posted where employees will see it from February 1 through April 30.
Employers in Minnesota with 20 or more employees must file the OSHA 300A summary with federal OSHA.
New this year: If you had 100 or more employees at any time during the year, you must file additional information along with your OSHA 300 summary. Most of the information that is required can be found on the First Report of Injury. Some of the information includes:
- Date of birth
- Date of hire
- If the employee went to the ER
- Time started working
- Time of incident
- What object or substance directly harmed the employee
- Days away from work
- Days on restricted work
- What the employee was doing
- How the employee was injured
- Employee’s gender
We can assist with completing the log and summary and with filing the forms. Our maintenance clients can expect to hear from us in January to gather the needed information.
Air quality
If you have had an air permit in the past but voided it, you still need a record of your VOC-containing materials purchases. Hold onto that, to show that you still qualify for the exemption. If your purchases exceed 2000 gallons, contact us – you may no longer be eligible for the exemption.
New and Updated Employment Posters
Minnesota has some new and some updated employment posters and notices. All of these are available for free and can be printed on regular letterhead paper.
Minimum wage: The poster has been updated to reflect the new minimum wage as of January 1, 2024. All employers must post this where employees can easily see it (lunchroom, by a time clock, etc.)
Veterans benefits and services: This is a new poster required for businesses with more than 50 employees.
Earned sick and safe time: Another new poster. You’re encouraged but not required to put it up.
You can purchase all-in-one posters, but that is not required.
Deadline reminders
|
When |
What |
Who’s Affected |
|
Dec 15 |
Hazardous waste management reports due for Hennepin County |
Hennepin County LQG, SQG and VSQG hazardous waste generators |
|
Dec 31 |
Wastewater sampling due |
Those holding MCES wastewater permits |
|
Jan 31 |
Hazardous waste management annual report and license renewal for all metro counties, except Hennepin County |
LQG, SQG and VSQG hazardous waste generators |
|
Jan 31 |
Industrial wastewater discharge report due |
Those holding MCES wastewater permits |
|
Jan 31 |
OSHA 300A log summary – post from February 1 until April 30 |
Employers with 10 or more employees at any time during the year |
|
Mar 1 |
Tier II reports due |
Companies that have more than threshold amounts of specific chemicals |
|
Mar 2 |
OSHA 300A must be submitted electronically to osha.gov If you have more than 100 employees, there will be additional reporting required |
In MN, any company with 20 or more employees
|
|
Mar 31 |
Industrial Stormwater annual reports due |
Companies within specific industry codes. Does not affect companies with No Exposure exclusion. |
|
Apr 1 |
Air permit (VOC) reports due (forms should be mailed in mid-Dec to early Jan) |
Air Quality Permit B, C and Permit D holders * |
A few hazardous waste reminders:
Hazardous waste must be kept in a closed container. That means it is secured so that it will not spill if knocked over. Lids need to be closed, the bung cap screwed in place. The only time containers can be open is when you are actively adding to them.
Make sure there is a readable label on the container that includes a description of the contents (“paint related waste”). It doesn’t have to be a pre-printed hazardous waste label, but the label must say hazardous waste.
- If the contents are not hazardous, don’t label them as such. Used oil and used bulbs should be labeled like that, not labeled as waste. Using the term waste implies a different method of handling it (not reclaiming for beneficial use).
Inspect drums weekly. If you are actively adding to the containers and they are kept in the immediate area where the waste is generated, you do not need to document the inspection.
Winter will come…
We’ve been fortunate to have a very mild winter so far, especially after last year’s relentless snow. However, we all know the cold will come at some point. The State Fire Marshal posted a reminder about portable heaters, whether they are used at home, in an ice house or as space heaters used at work.
- Keep any material that could burn at least three feet from the heater.
- Turn off heaters when they are not attended (if you leave your desk, at the end of the day…)
- Anywhere you are burning fuel, have a CO detector that alarms.
- Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater in the event it tips over.
- Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
SFM Insurance has reminders about avoiding winter slips, trips and falls. All of their material is available for use. https://www.sfmic.com/safety/avoid-winter-slips-and-falls/
- Have mats available at entryways. Make sure they are secured and are not a tripping hazard.
- Clear snow from emergency exits, even if they are rarely used.
- Keep salt available by entryways for anyone to put down as needed.
- Make sure gutters and downspouts flow away from walkways. If this is an issue, cone off areas, reminding people to avoid them.
- Wear clothing, including footwear, suitable for the conditions.
- Keep hands free when walking in slippery conditions.
We wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season. May 2024 be a wise, amazing year.
