What We’re Reading: New OSHA Regulations

Effective Jan. 1, 2015, OSHA will enforce new regulations regarding serious injury in the workplace. However, according to ARA's weekly newsletter if your facility is regulated under an OSHA State Plan, these new requirements may not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2016.

The new standards, which were announced back in September, require employers to report all work-related fatalities, all work-related in-patient hospitalizations of one or more employees, all work-related amputations and all work-related losses of an eye. In addition, all work related fatalities must be reported within eight hours of the incident. Other incidents must be reported to the nearest OSHA office, the OSHA hotline (1-800-321-6742) or the upcoming electronic means of reporting that will be available on the OSHA web site.

Employers with fewer than 11 employees can claim exemption to only the OSHA 300 log reporting provision. Frequently Asked Questions can be found here on OSHA's web site.

Indian Government looks to promote auto recycling

India is looking to incentivize the utility of auto recycling to contain pollution and ease stress on Indian roads.

Many Indian vehicles are being handed down to the extreme, or being left on the side of the roads to corrode, so in a "Cash for Clunkers" type initiative, the Indian government is looking to push more cars from the streets into the End of Life cycle. 

A study produced by the Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries recommends 25,000 Rs (equivalent to around $400 U.S. dollars) for cars and 10,000 Rs for a two-wheeler. 

"We become emotionally attached to our cars," said Lalit Kumar Chauhan, who recently sold his 15-year-old Maruti Esteem for Rs 30,000. "So giving it up for Rs 25,000 and that too for dismantling would not be easy."

An increase in dismantling of old vehicles will help reduce pollution and increase the availability of recycled parts.

"We import high quality steel, copper for automobiles but when we recycle, we can use them for re-manufacturing," Nitin R Gokarn, chief executive of the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project said. "The cost of repairing and operating cost becomes very high, so it is wise to change the vehicle than carry it."

There are however, doubts over whether a government struggling financially will be able to come up with the funds if enough cars are turned in, or whether the money will be enough for citizens to want to turn in their old vehicles. 

The initiative, however, is a step in the right direction for an increase in recycling in an increasingly successful and industrial nation.

Ohio repeals need for BID Card to purchase salvage

Ohio House Bill 468, which repeals the need for salvage purchasers to have a Buyer Identification Card (BID), has been passed into law. 

The Bill opens competition up for salvage purchase to buyers that previously would not have had access, such as used car dealers, and certain other automotive-related businesses. Unlicensed individuals may purchase up to five vehicles per calendar year

"The bill helps to modernize Ohio's salvage sales laws to be more in keeping with the laws of the vast majority of states by encouraging a more open and competitive market in Ohio," said John Kett, CEO and president of Insurance Auto Actions in a press release. "Insurance Auto Auctions will continue to work hand-in-hand with other industry participants to encourage sensible legislation affecting our industry and its customers."

According to the ARA newsletter: "One improvement made to the bill during the last round of committee deliberation in the Senate was that information collected by the salvage pools about who is purchasing vehicles may now be submitted to a third party data consolidator."

ARA had a strong presence in trying to prevent the repeal of the BID card.