December 2018 SPRAY 19
some U.S. states have announced their own adoption of SNAP
rules.
Bipartisan legislation—The American Innovation & Manufacturing
Act (AIM)— supports a flexible, market-based approach to introduce
next-generation technology for air conditioning, refrigeration,
foam insulation and other important uses. It instructs the EPA Administrator
to implement a market-based phase down of HFCs following
the schedule laid out in the Montreal Protocol. Traditionally,
U.S. industry has supported the global effort to phase down
HFCs and to introduce next generation technologies, including
hydrofluoroolefins, blends, hydrocarbons and others. The AIM
Act provides the EPA with the necessary authority to implement
a phasedown of HFCs and seeks to encourage implementation
steps consistent with the Montreal Protocol. AIM also encourages
flexible approaches for industry, more effective refrigerant management
and stresses minimization of cost impacts on businesses and
consumers.
Raymond Rannala of FutureNet Group presented
Cyber Security 101. A virus is malicious
software that is attached to another program
to execute a particular unwanted function on
a user’s computer or device. A worm executes
arbitrary code and installs copies of itself in
the infected computer’s memory, which infects
other hosts. A Trojan horse is different only in
that the entire application was written to look
like something else, when, in fact, it is an attack tool. Attackers
using Ransomware lock down systems and extort money. Cyber
threats are real and pervasive, explained Rannala, and everyone
must be cautious. Businesses should educate employees and
maintain strict security protocols and policies. It is wise to engage
third-party professionals to assess vulnerabilities, as the problem is
not going away.
Mae Hrycak of Nexreg Compliance highlighted
GHS Worldwide: The Challenge of Global
Compliance. The extensive presentation tackled
the U.S., Canada, Australia, Brazil, Singapore,
Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan,
China, EU and Mexico. Topics discussed were
Global Harmonization Systems (GHS) hazard
differences and CBI claim requirements for
safety data sheets (SDS) and GHS SDS chemical
disclosure rules. Hazardous product codes and regulations were
also analyzed, as well as distributor information requirements and
additional country-specific considerations.
Steve Bennet gave a Household & Commercial
Product Association (HCPA) Update. The Wercs
Ltd. provides software tools and services to
help advance the health and safety of the
environment where people work and live,
including multilingual GHS-compliant SDS
authoring, management and distribution
software and services, retailer compliance,
manufacturing chemical materials management,
supply chain compliance and Green chemistry. UL acquired
The Wercs in 2013. Upon the recommendation of the CEOs of
HCPA and five other trade associations, UL Wercs formed an
Advisory Council in January 2018 with the HCPA, four major
retailers and eight product manufacturers and suppliers. Product
manufacturers now work in cooperative partnership with retail-
Rannala
Hrycak
Bennet