Environmental, Health & Safety

What you need to know about federal and state regulatory and state legislative decisions impacting printing and packaging.
Gary Jones Vice President of Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs
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Gary A. Jones is the Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Affairs at PRINTING United Alliance in Fairfax, VA. His primary responsibility is to monitor and analyze EHS regulatory activities at all domestic and some international government levels. He provides representation on behalf of the printing and specialty graphic imaging industry. Mr. Jones works closely with the federal and state-level Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other agencies. He also provides membership assistance on EHS compliance and sustainability programs through a variety of approaches including responding to inquiries, presentations, writing, and consulting services.

He holds a BS in biology from LaRoche College and an MS in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

Speaking Topics:

  • Regulatory compliance and sustainability
  • Webinars on a wide variety of EHS related topics
  • Customized seminars and workshops, including: Compliance Today, Beyond Compliance Tomorrow, OSHA Compliance Essentials, and Hazardous Waste Boot Camp
  • Two-day workshops Environmental Compliance for Printers and OSHA Compliance for Printing
Sara Osorio Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs Coordinator
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Sara Osorio is the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Affairs Coordinator at PRINTING United Alliance. Her primary responsibility is to assist members with EHS regulatory compliance, sustainability, and EHS consulting. Sara also monitors the EHS regulatory activities at the federal and state-level that impact the printing industry including those occurring at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and other agencies. She develops guidance material for members, gives presentations, and writes articles on EHS regulations and sustainability issues. She also supports the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership and Alliance members in their efforts to certify printing operations in sustainable manufacturing.

Sara received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Florida International University and is pursuing and Master of Science in Sustainable Management from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

Speaking Topics:

  • Regulatory compliance and sustainability
  • Webinars on a wide variety of EHS related topics
  • Customized seminars and workshops
  • Employee training on safety and environmental compliance
Safety & Health Environmental Sustainability

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Breaking and up to date news on EHS and Sustainability issues impacting the printing and packaging industry

California and the SEC Are Being Sued for Their Climate Reporting Requirements

Recently, both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and California have passed climate-related disclosure mandates for certain types and sizes of companies. In March of 2024, the SEC approved its final rule after almost two years since the initial proposal, while California got ahead of the game …

OSHA Walkaround Rule Allows Third Parties, Including Union Reps, At Any Worksite

The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) has finalized one its most controversial rules about who may accompany OSHA officials during worksite inspections. The revised rule has the potential to dramatically change the dynamics associated with OSHA inspections. Due to the significant resistance …

SEC Issues Final Climate Related Disclosures Rule

Nearly two years after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules that would require publicly traded companies to provide climate-related disclosures, the agency issued its final rule on March 6, 2024. With a 3-2 vote, the SEC passed a pared down version of what was initially proposed …

New Department of Labor Independent Contractor Rule Now in Effect

A new Department of Labor (DOL) Independent Contractor (IC) Rule went into effect on March 11, 2024. The new IC Standard is now the guide to determine whether a worker is an employee of a company or is self-employed and therefore “independent” from the company. If the worker is independent, then the …

SoCal Printers - Action Needed to Avoid Disruption

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which covers the four counties in the LA area, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino, wants to ban the use of two chemicals, Parachlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF) and Tertbutyl Acetate (TBAC), because they are considered toxic chemicals …

PRINTING United Alliance Supports Sensible Regulation of PFAS

Legislation at the federal and state levels directed at regulating or banning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has reached a frenzy. PRINTING United Alliance has been engaged through a variety of approaches urging regulators and legislators to take a systematic approach to regulating PFAS chemicals …

Safety & Health Services

Protecting workers is a number-one priority for the printing industry. It pays to be aware of what you need to do to implement a safety and health program. Take advantage of PRINTING United Alliance's information and services to integrate safety into your workplace and update your safety and health programs
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Environmental Compliance Support

We are here to help! All printing operations have environmental compliance obligations, at federal and state levels. Contact PRINTING United Alliance for up to date information on your specific state requirements for air, hazardous waste, wastewater and stormwater requirements.

Fact Sheet: New York’s Regulations on Stand-Alone Printing Cleaning Equipment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued a letter to PRINTING United Alliance on July 6, 2021, providing much needed guidance on how stand-alone press cleaning machines will be regulated under the NYSDEC code. The equipment in question is commonly found in screen, flexographic, and rotogravure operations and used to clean screens, flexographic plates, flexographic plates mounted to cylinders, anilox rolls, ink, and press components such as coating application components, ink, and coating trays, etc. The letter from NYSDEC now ensures that printing operations in New York will continue to be allowed to use this equipment as they were almost prohibited from being used.

Download this fact sheet for more information on how NYSDEC now regulates stand-alone printing cleaning equipment.

Anti-Microbial Coatings Fact Sheet

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a renewed interest in anti-microbial coatings as one method to help stop the spread of the virus. While anti-microbial coatings are not new, their use during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased as new ones have been developed and are being deployed. Anti-

microbial coatings are highly regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) so those who want to use them need to be aware of the requirements.

Members can Download this fact sheet fact sheet and watch this video for an introduction and basic background information on the types of anti-microbials, how they work, an overview of EPA’s regulations, and what marketing claims are allowed by EPA.

Federal and State Environmental Agency Regulations

PRINTING United Alliance is your advocate before federal and state environmental agencies. Since the late 1980s, we have been working to ensure that all regulations -- air, waste and water -- that are adopted reflect the technologies used by our industry sector.

Over the last 20 years our industry has made great strides in reducing its environmental footprint. Current and near-term regulations, as well as pollution prevention and waste minimization practices, have contributed to this phenomenon.

PrUA stands ready to help you understand the environmental issues you face on a daily basis. Contact Marci Kinter or Gary Jones with your questions at Government Affairs.

  • EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act
    If you use, manufacture, supply or import chemicals, you need to be aware of changes the U.S. EPA is making that will impact you. Check with PRINTING United Alliance for the latest updates regarding new programs under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA).
  • Air Permitting Issues
    Do you use products containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? Do you operate print equipment? States require all facilities to determine if air permitting is required. Do you know yours? Contact us for a quick look at your state’s requirements.
  • Air Pollution Control Regulations
    Your facility doesn’t have to be in California to need to worry about reducing air emissions. Do you know if your state regulates what you put into the air? Contact us for a look at what your state has implemented.
  • Hazardous Waste
    All facilities generate hazardous waste. How much you generate determines what you need to do. Do you know your generator status? And what requirements might apply to you? And, yes, used shop towels need to be considered as well. Contact us to learn more about what PRINTING United Alliance has to offer to help you along this pathway.

EHS Consulting Services

PRINTING United Alliance has a hand-picked team of many talented third-party consultants to provide expertise on environmental health and safety regulation compliance right to your door.

Whether you are just starting out and need help creating written policies and programs, assistance creating an effective training program, advice on an OSHA citation, or you want to improve any aspect of your current environmental health and safety plans, our consultants are here for you.

We Can Help You with All of Your EHS Requests

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): We can help you navigate through OSHA citations, prevent violations from occurring, guide you through what to expect in an OSHA audit, etc.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Need guidance on complying with your federal, state, and local agencies’ requirements? Look no further. Our consultants can help with compliance with air emissions, wastewater, storm water discharges, hazardous and solid waste, and community right-to-know requirements.

Department of Transportation (DOT): If you ship more than a specific amount of hazardous materials, your company needs to register with the DOT. Employees handling any amount of DOT hazardous materials or signing an EPA Hazardous Waste Manifest, must receive training every three years.

Do You Need Consulting Services?

PRINTING United Alliance provides technical assistance and services designed to allow printing operations to manage OSHA compliance and stay informed. Contact PRINTING United Alliance’s Government Affairs staff with your consulting needs and we will match you with an outside consultant that is best suited for the job.
Contact Government Affairs