AHCES Blog

This FAQ Friday is focused on questions about OSHA. If you have any hazard communication questions or safety questions about common chemicals, ask in the comments below or send an email to contact@ariadne-hces.com. Do I have to follow OSHA if I only have a few employees? Do I have to follow OSHA if I have less than 15 employees? Once you have an employee, if it is just one person, OSHA regulations begin to apply. There are a few exceptions to specific rules, including  a partial exemption   for employers with 10 or fewer employees when it comes to some of the record-keeping requirements. It is best to review what OSHA regulations may apply to your business when in the planning stages, as the regulations do vary somewhat by industry and specialization. It is also important when expanding or shifting the focus of your business, to check if there are any new OSHA regulations to consider. Where can I find OSHA Regulations and Resources? How do I figure out OSHA as a small business? There i

What is Orange Oil? Orange oil, also known as orange essential oil and orange terpene, is a mixture of naturally occurring oils found in the rind of the orange fruit. The primary component of the oil mixture is d-limonene. Orange oil is popular as a fragrance used in aromatherapy, candle making, and soap making. It is also sold as a cleaning agent, often being the primary ingredient in many products sold as a "natural cleaner" or "natural degreaser." Orange terpene, as a mixture of naturally derived oils, has the CAS Number 8028-48-6. Pure D-Limonene has the CAS Number 5989-27-5. The CAS Number is used to identify orange oil as an ingredient on safety data sheets (SDS) and other safety documents. When looking for orange oil as an ingredient in fragrances, cleaning agents, or other products, look for the above CAS Numbers within the composition table. Notable Properties of Orange Oil Orange oil is valued for its fragrance, smelling like citrus, as well as being a deg

What is Mica Powder? Mica is a group of natural hydrous silicate minerals noted for their lustrous shine, which makes it a popular additive in powder pigments. Mica can be found both in cosmetics and in artists' pigments used in painting, epoxy resin, soapmaking, and other crafts. Mica groups several different naturally occurring hydrous silicate minerals, including the more common biotite and muscovite, as well as lepidolite, margarite, phlogopite, roscoelite, and zimmwaldite. Mica has a CAS Number 12001-26-2. The CAS Number is used to identify mica as an ingredient on safety data sheets (SDS) and other safety documentation. When looking for mica as an ingredient in pigments, colorants, finishes, or other materials, look for the CAS Number within the composition table. Notable Properties of Mica Powder Mica is most noted for its lustrous shine or shimmer due to the shape of the hydrous silicate crystals. It is naturally colorless and odorless, with any color or odor coming from na

Does OSHA cover self-employed people? In short, no. OSHA has addressed this in a Standard Interpretation "OSHA has no authority to issue citations to a self-employed ... worker." Self-employment is also addressed within some of the OSHA regulations pertaining to incident reporting under 29 CFR 1904.31(b)(1) "self-employed individuals are not covered by the OSH Act." However, if you are self-employed, you should still care about OSHA. Self-Employed OSHA Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Regulations The Basics There are some core definitions that are key to understanding how OSHA regulations are implemented. E mployer means a person engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees, but does not include the United States or any State or political subdivision of a State. 29 CFR 1910.2(c) Employee means an employee of an employer who is employed in a business of his employer which affects commerce. 29 CFR 1910.2(d) OSHA regulations are general