News

ISSA LARU—What Public Policy Issues Matter to You?

Welcome to the latest ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Update, a biweekly roundup of the public-policy issues currently impacting the full cleaning-supply chain. This update touches on the latest ISSA advocacy survey, draft EPA guidance to expand virus claims, ISSA’s July Period Project Update, and more.

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ISSA Advocacy

ISSA Wants to Know: What Public-Policy Issues Matter to You? 
ISSA wants to know what public-policy issues matter most to you and your cleaning business as part of our biannual advocacy survey. “ISSA continues to build and strengthen our government affairs efforts so we can best represent the interests of our membership before state and federal policymakers and regulators,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “Responses to our current survey will help us gauge member interest in our advocacy efforts, as well as help shape those efforts moving forward.” Learn more and take the survey

EPA Releases Draft Guidance to Expand Virus Claims
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment draft guidance proposing how registrants of antimicrobial products with only sanitizing claims could add claims that these products are effective against viruses. Currently, virucidal claims of this nature can only be added to disinfectant or sterilizer products. Therefore, the guidance, once finalized, would expand the universe and availability of antimicrobial products that are effective against viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. 

Specifically, EPA proposes that sanitizer products may add a virucidal claim provided that the sanitizer products meet the test guidance requirements as described in OCSPP 810.2300 Sanitizers for Use on Hard Surfaces—Efficacy Data Recommendations (EPA publication No. 712–C–07–091 (2012)), (food or non-food contact sanitization) to treat hard, non-porous surfaces. Learn more

Provide ISSA with Your Comments – ISSA encourages interested members to provide ISSA with their comments on this proposal no later than August 7 for possible incorporation into ISSA’s comments to EPA on this issue.

Query – Do you support or oppose EPA’s proposed policy as summarized above? Please set forth the basis for your support or opposition.  

Please email your comments to ISSA General Counsel Bill Balek no later than August 7.

ISSA’s July Period Project Update — What’s Next?
ISSA’s July Period Project Update will keep you up to date on the association’s efforts to end period poverty through advocacy and education. We encourage you to sign up for this monthly update. Learn more

Legislative

Reps. Rochester, McClellan Reintroduce Legislation to Improve Air Quality
Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-D) and Jennifer McClellan (VA-D), with Senator Edward J. Markey (MA-D), reintroduced the bicameral Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act, legislation that would authorize US$55 million over five years for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to update and expand its tools and technologies for monitoring air quality, while ensuring that these tools are integrated with environmental-justice mapping and screening to “better measure and manage unhealthy levels of air pollution across the United States.” Learn more

Regulatory

EPA Releases Draft Revised TSCA Risk Determination for 1,4-Dioxane
This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment the draft revised TSCA Risk Determination for 1,4-Dioxane. The draft revised risk determination evaluates 1,4-dioxane as a whole chemical substance to make one overall risk determination, rather than evaluating each condition of use separately and making individual risk determinations. This draft risk determination incorporates the occupational and consumer exposures from EPA’s 2020 Risk Evaluation for 1,4-Dioxane, as well as additional exposure pathways to the general public (including fenceline communities) and from 1,4-dioxane generated as a byproduct from the recently released 2023 Draft Supplement to the Risk Evaluation for 1,4-Dioxane. The draft revised risk determination released on Tuesday presents a “more complete picture of the unreasonable risk presented by 1,4-dioxane, and the Agency is specifically seeking comment on several areas to inform the final risk determination.” ISSA will provide its members with more information about this EPA draft risk determination in the coming days. Learn more

EPA Seeks Input on Safer Choice, Design for the Environment Programs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 45-day public comment period on a proposed expansion of its Safer Choice and potentially its Design for the Environment (DfE) programs to include certification of additional product categories beyond cleaners and disinfectants. Safer Choice and DfE are voluntary EPA programs that help consumers, businesses, and purchasers find cleaning and disinfectant products that perform and meet stringent EPA criteria for effects on human health and the environment. The agency will hold a listening-session webinar on August 29 to gather feedback on certification of additional product categories by EPA’s Safer Choice and DfE programs. Learn more

OSHA Issues Final Rule for Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Regulation
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to its Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses recordkeeping regulation, according to Cleaning & Maintenance Management. Learn more

OSHA Launches Program to Prevent Workplace Hazards
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a national emphasis program aimed at preventing workplace hazards in warehouses, processing facilities, distribution centers, and high-risk retail establishments, Cleaning & Maintenance Management reported. Learn more

OSHA Cites Petco for Unlabeled Cleaning Chemicals
According to Cleaning & Maintenance Management, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified chemical hazards in a Petco store in North Andover, Massachusetts related to unlabeled containers of cleaning chemicals and a lack of adequate facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and skin. Learn more

OSHA Cites Dollar General Again for Safety Hazards
The corporation behind U.S. retail giant Dollar General has again been cited for tripping and other safety hazards, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Cleaning & Maintenance Management. Learn more

UPS, Teamsters Reach Deal to Avoid Strike
United Parcel Service (UPS) and the Teamsters union representing 340,000 workers at the package carrier said that they reached a preliminary labor deal that includes raises for both full- and part-time workers and narrowly avoids a potential strike that could have started next week, CNBC reported. Learn more

Judicial

Judge Rules against Biden Immigration Policy
A federal judge dealt a “major blow” to a signature piece of President Joe Biden’s immigration policy yesterday, calling its rule that limits who can apply for asylum at the southern border “both substantively and procedurally invalid,” NBC News reported. Learn more

State & Local News

Questions on Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave Could Head to Alaska Voters
Proposed ballot measures would raise Alaska’s minimum wage and add mandatory paid sick leave, the Alaska Beacon reported. Learn more

NYC Considers IAQ Regs
According to Cleaning & Maintenance Management, officials in New York City are considering indoor air quality (IAQ) regulations that have been in the works for almost a year. Two bills being submitted would oblige the city to create, within 18 months, standards that measure, monitor, report, and enforce air quality inside schools and municipal buildings. Two more bills being introduced would initiate five-year pilot programs to analyze air quality inside residential and commercial buildings. Learn more