Functionality: What does it do?

As part of Microsoft’s Power Platform®, Power Automate® is a workflow automation tool used to automate repetitive tasks and workflows. The purpose of workflow automation tools is to streamline manual processes and tasks in order to maximize company time and resources, increase operational efficiency, and improve overall business productivity.

Common Power Automate tasks include the following:

• Notifications: This can be as simple as creating a notification when something is submitted or changed or setting alerts to act according to a designated schedule (e.g., seven days before due date).
• Approvals: Documents and list items can be routed to specific individuals by email with a simple button to approve or decline and then automatically move along to the next step in the process.
• Document Management: Email attachments can be automatically added to OneDrive® or SharePoint; metadata (e.g., time/date, sender, and email body) can also be added.
• Form Processing: Form processing can automatically create ID numbers for list items to help with tracking. In addition, data from one form can be used to populate multiple lists. For example, entering data into a customer feedback form includes a checkbox asking if it requires a corrective and preventive action (CAPA). If so, relevant data from the feedback form populates a new entry in the CAPA list.
• Records Management: When a record is created, the retention period can be added. When the retention period expires, the record is then automatically archived or deleted.
• Calendar Management: With calendar management, you can do things like email yourself a list of your calendar entries daily or weekly, email reminders for any calendar entries you have not yet responded to, and create Outlook events or meetings from a Power App® button.
• Data Management: Large data sets can be transferred easily from Microsoft Excel® to SharePoint. Data can also be manipulated, cleaned, or transformed during or after the transfer.

Benefits: Why do you need it?

• Fewer mistakes. Replacing manual data entry with automation reduces opportunities for human error and the potential mistakes, inaccuracies, and costs that can accompany it.
• Streamlined processes. Workflow automation creates more efficiency by automatically making assignments and moving projects/documents/tasks along in the process. It is also easier to track and manage processes and performance when all steps are in Power Automate.
• Improved productivity. Automating manual tasks frees up time and resources to focus attention elsewhere. Being able to easily track a project or process through an automated system can further improve productivity and ensure tasks are completed as planned.
• Enhanced collaboration and accountability. A clearly designed workflow helps ensure all employees understand the process and their role in it. A common system further enables cross-functional collaboration and improves accountability.
• Informed business decisions. Power Automate offers real-time reporting and performance metrics that can be used to inform decisions and modify processes to enhance performance.

Technology Used

Microsoft Power Automate

Consultant Meghan Stenslien has become KTL’s newest Certified Environmental Auditor (CEA). Meghan has completed all experience and eligibility requirements—including recently passing the rigorous National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP) CEA exam. The CEA certification is a specialty certification program intended for professionals conducting environmental compliance and risk audits of operating facilities, related equipment and ongoing procedures.

Meghan is a Consultant with a diverse background in food safety; quality; and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance. She has conducted routine environmental, safety, quality, and food safety environmental audits and facility assessments and designed programs, policies, and procedures to effectively manage requirements to help ensure regulatory compliance. In addition to her CEA certification, Meghan is a certified ISO 45001 (safety) and 14001 (environment) Lead Auditor, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Green Tier Auditor, R2 certified Lead Auditor, and HACCP certified. 

NREP is widely considered to be the foremost not-for-profit organization in the environmental and safety industry. Earning a CEA certification demonstrates the highest level of knowledge, experience, and education in the environmental field. 

The U.S. experienced several high-profile food recalls in 2024 that have caused illnesses and deaths—and heightened public awareness and unease. The emergence of new bacterial and viral strains and the evolution of pathogens that are becoming resistant to traditional food safety measures are growing concerns when it comes to preventing foodborne illnesses. According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s Food for Thought 2025 Report, hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food doubled in 2024, and recalls from Listeria, E. coli, and Salmonella increased by 41%.

Regulatory Focus on Microbiological Safety

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new unified Human Foods Program outlines a number of strategies focused on microbiological food safety that are intended to prevent and mitigate foodborne illnesses. In January 2025, FDA also released the draft Establishing Sanitation Programs for Low-Moisture Ready-to-Eat (LMRTE) Human Foods and Taking Corrective Actions Following a Pathogen Contamination Event: Guidance for Industry to help manufacturers of LMRTE human foods comply with 21 CFR part 117 and establish routine sanitation programs that can prevent pathogen contamination events.

FDA’s LMRTE Guidance specifically discusses the importance of establishing and implementing a detailed Sanitation Program and routine environmental monitoring to help prevent pathogen contamination events. 

Sanitation and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)

Having a properly implemented Sanitation Program and adequate GMPs provides the essential foundation for preventing pathogen harborage and product contamination events.

GMPs are intended to reduce cross-contamination by defining hygienic personnel practices, controlling traffic and product flow, ensuring proper equipment design and maintenance, and ensuring sanitary building conditions. To be effective, GMPs must be developed based on the company’s specific operations and must be implemented consistently to minimize the risk of contamination and foodborne illness.

Correspondingly, Sanitation Programs include written procedures outlining how cleaning and sanitizing tasks should be done, including the frequency and methods for cleaning surfaces, equipment, and utensils. Sanitation Programs should be regularly monitored, which might include visual checks/inspections for cleanliness. Lastly, Sanitation Programs need to be verified for effectiveness, which brings in environmental monitoring.

Environmental Monitoring

From a consumer protection perspective, environmental monitoring is intended to protect consumers by keeping harmful pathogens from contaminating the food we eat. An Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) refers to an entire program that focuses on identifying, monitoring, and mitigating environmental risks, particularly pathogens—and foodborne illness—that may compromise food safety. EMPs involve systematic sampling and testing of the production environment for pathogens, spoilage and indicator organisms, and allergens to verify that the Sanitation Program and associated controls are working as intended to prevent foodborne illness.

Environmental monitoring is typically done by swabbing various surfaces in a designated bio-zone for pathogens and sending those samples to an accredited lab for analysis. This monitoring helps to:

• Assess how effective the plant’s cleaning, sanitation, and cross-contamination processes are.
• Determine whether there are any pathogen harborage points in the facility so it can respond accordingly (e.g., adjusting cleaning procedures, addressing equipment or facility issues, etc.).

Ultimately, the purpose of an effective EMP is to help a facility identify and implement strategies to eliminate pathogens and prevent their recurrence. It can help serve as an early warning system for identifying a potential contaminant before it spreads throughout the facility and into food that reaches the consumer. Analyzing EMP data collected over time for trends is particularly effective in continuously improving sanitary conditions.

To-Do Today

There are a number of key actions food processors can undertake today to prevent environmental pathogens from contaminating their facilities and food products:

• Apply GMPs. GMPs apply to EMPs, as with every other aspect of a strong Food Safety Program. GMPs that will impact environmental monitoring results include employee hygiene practices, cross-contamination controls, sanitary facility and equipment design, and cleaning and sanitation processes.
• Evaluate, implement, and verify preventive controls. Identify your greatest risks for environmental pathogens and proactively develop strategies to implement controls in your process flow. These may include controlling pedestrian walkways to avoid personnel contamination; using dedicated tools, equipment, and/or staff post-process; having special uniforms for staff, etc. Just as important, you must verify the performance of your preventive controls through environmental monitoring and take corrective action immediately if problems arise.
• Ensure employees and other resources are qualified. Employees responsible for sanitation, sampling, and overseeing the EMP must have the necessary training and/or experience for assigned duties. In addition, any outside labs used for environmental testing must be accredited under ISO 17025.
• Regularly review and update the Sanitation Program, GMPs, and the EMP. Products, operations, equipment, employees, processes, and other environmental factors change—and all of these can impact the Sanitation Program, GMPs, and the EMP. Conducting periodic reviews to ensure processes and procedures reflect any new conditions is important in ensuring a facility’s overall hygiene and its products’ quality and safety. Reviewing the EMP results and trending on a regular basis and adjusting your program according to the results is important to keep ahead of any potential issues.

As discussed in KTL’s recent EHS: Top Trends for 2025 article, there are a number of anticipated challenges and opportunities in environmental, health, and safety (EHS) for 2025—some ongoing and some just gaining traction with impacts yet to be known, particularly with the change in Administration just taking hold. Regardless, the importance of investing in a strong health and safety program cannot be underestimated. Here are five tips to help start the year strong in health and safety.

1. Plan for Consistency. With so many changes happening in the world at such a rapid-fire pace, consistency creates a predictable environment for employees to maintain positive health and safety practices. Consistency in both action and communication is equally important in the health and safety world. Inconsistent expectations and actions lead to inconsistent behaviors. Ambiguity in messaging and instructions can further cause health and safety hazards.

Keep it simple and consistently reinforce the same message to elicit consistent safety performance. As some examples:

• Always use the right tool for the job.
• Stop work when needed to address hazards.
• Communicate with other personnel about hazards.
• Always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for each task.

2. Focus on Continuous Small Improvements. Continuous improvement does not mean erratic change. Change should be sustainable, and that happens best when it is introduced and implemented incrementally. Small changes can lead to big differences; it just requires a plan.  Identify the big goal, and then define those small steps needed to reach it. Thinking big but acting small can help create buy-in across the organization, consume fewer resources, and create small “wins” more quickly to drive momentum toward reaching the big goal.

3. Prioritize Communication in All Forms. When it comes to the characteristics of an excellent safety culture, communication is at the top. It is vital that all levels of management (i.e., senior, middle, supervisory) communicate their commitment to safety clearly to workers. It is equally important that workers feel empowered to discuss their safety concerns. Having a safety culture where workers do not feel like they can speak up at work when it comes to their safety can present significant threats to workers and the overall well-being of the company. 

• Use a variety of communication channels (e.g., one-on-one conversations, regular safety briefings, written materials, visual aids) to improve worker understanding.
• Practice active listening; communication goes two ways!
• Be clear, concise, and consistent in your messaging (see #1 above).

4. Incorporate Leadership. In its Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines best practices for implementing and maintaining a health and safety program. Management leadership is a core element. According to the guide, management provides the leadership, vision, and resources needed to implement an effective health and safety program. Management can exhibit this in several ways:

• Demonstrate a commitment to continuously improving workplace health and safety, including eliminating hazards and protecting workers.
• Make safety and health a core organizational value with associated health and safety goals and objectives.
• Establish program expectations and responsibilities that engage employees.
• Provide adequate resources and support for the program
• Set a good example when it comes to prioritizing health and safety.
• Communicate regularly with workers about the importance of workplace health and safety.

5. Encourage Worker Participation. Worker participation is another of OSHA’s core elements of workplace health and safety in its Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs. Engaging workers at all levels in establishing, implementing, evaluating, and improving health and safety in the workplace creates buy-in. It is important that organizations encourage workers to report health and safety concerns and promote a psychologically safe environment. Organizations should also work to actively engage employees in other health and safety initiatives, such as conducting hazard assessments, developing policies, serving on safety committees, leading toolbox talks, and more.

All of these tips come down to one thing—protecting employee health and safety. Regardless of external factors (e.g., regulatory uncertainty, supplier requirements, consumer demands, financial incentives, etc.), protecting employees should always be a top priority, and these five tips can help ensure you start the year strong.

Functionality: What does it do?

Organizations face endless numbers of tasks associated with compliance, certification, and other internal and external requirements. Task tracking can provide an effective project management tool to track all these tasks and their associated deadlines in one place. Leveraging Microsoft SharePoint®, KTL’s Task Tracking Tool not only tracks tasks to completion, it also allows project managers to assign tasks to responsible individuals, automate reminders, attach documents, share updates with their team, and more for any task—from project management to regulatory deadlines.

Benefits: Why do you need it?

KTL’s Task Tracking Tool offers the following benefits:

• Centralization: Users can view all tasks, owners, details, and due dates in one place.
• Customizable: All aspects of a task list can be customized to track the information you need.
• Notifications: Custom notifications can be tailored for upcoming deadlines, status changes, and task assignments.
• Recurring Tasks: Routine tasks can be scheduled to recur according to desired schedules.
• Dashboards and Reporting: Data related to tasks (e.g., percent completion) can be displayed visually to help identify and report on trends and patterns.

Technology Used

• SharePoint
• Power Automate
• Power Apps or alternative
• Power Bi

The food system and supply chains continue to change and evolve at an accelerated pace. That introduces new risks and challenges—and heightens some familiar ones. As we move into 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established priorities that will impact how food companies operate in the coming year. In addition to the FDA’s priorities, here are some of the top food safety trends KTL’s food safety experts are tracking in 2025…

FDA 2025 Priorities

On October 1, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began implementing its reorganization, including launching a unified Human Foods Program (HFP) to oversee all activities related to food safety and nutrition. The HFP has prioritized key deliverables for FY 2025 to strengthen regulatory oversight, advance science, and better leverage partnerships in the areas of microbiological food safety, food chemical safety, and nutrition. The FDA also restructured the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) into the Office of Inspections and Investigations (OII) to allow the Agency’s field operations unit to focus on inspections, investigations, and imports.

As with any regulatory change, FDA-regulated companies need to understand the restructuring and its potential impacts. The HFP has outlined priorities and compliance expectations that companies need to align with their internal programs, protocols, etc. It will also be important to prepare for potential changes when it comes to inspections, including more frequent and more specialized inspections.

Update: According to Food Safety Magazine, on January 21, 2025, federal public health agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) received orders from the new Administration to temporarily pause all external communications until further notice. This includes the FDA and U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which are jointly responsible for ensuring the safety of most of the U.S. food supply and responding to foodborne illness outbreaks. All external communications must be reviewed and approved by a Presidential appointee before being issued. The directive will be in effect until February 1, 2025

Foodborne Illness

The U.S. has experienced several high-profile food recalls in 2024 that have caused illnesses and deaths—and heightened public awareness and concern. The emergence of new bacterial and viral strains and the evolution of pathogens (e.g., Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella) that are becoming resistant to traditional food safety measures are growing concerns when it comes to preventing foodborne illnesses.

The FDA’s focus on microbiological food safety (see above) is intended to advance strategies to prevent and mitigate foodborne illnesses. On July 29, 2024, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued its proposed rule and determination to more effectively reduce Salmonella contamination and illnesses associated with raw poultry products; final rulemaking is anticipated in 2025. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) further announced several immediate initiatives to enhance its approach to mitigating foodborne pathogens, including modernizing L. monocytogenes regulation and ready-to-eat (RTE) sampling, in response to the Boar’s Head inspection results.

Companies need to re-evaluate their food safety programs and their effectiveness. This review may necessitate changing the current level of scrutiny for current and prospective suppliers. If sourcing any products implicated in recalls, re-evaluating current suppliers’ compliance with food safety regulations is also recommended. Sanitary equipment design, robust cleaning procedures, effective traceability programs, adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and adequate training will remain key to avoiding recalls.

Supply Chain Traceability

There continues to be a real need for standardization, stronger linkages throughout the supply chain, improved communication and recordkeeping, and faster response when it comes to product traceability. As such, the FDA has prioritized the advancement of traceability tools and resources to help remove contaminated products from the marketplace more quickly.

From a regulatory standpoint, companies must start meeting the requirements of the Food Traceability Rule by January 2026, though there is speculation this may be delayed due to a provision in the current draft House appropriations bill that would prohibit funding for implementation, administration or enforcement of these regulations. Regardless, organizations should be performing traceability exercises to help identify gaps, testing protocols and verifying effectiveness, implementing corrective actions, and ensuring adequate traceability processes are in place. Investing in a good technology solution that integrates with the food safety management system (FSMS) will help to further streamline the process.

Sustainability

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cites that food and food packaging materials make up almost half of all municipal solid waste in the U.S. Federal and state regulatory agencies, as well as various food safety certification schemes, have begun incenting—or requiring—organizations to incorporate sustainable food management and recycling practices into their operations. For example, the New Jersey Recycled Content Law, which came into effect on January 18, 2024, is considered one of the most ambitious recycled content laws to date.

A thorough food and packaging assessment serves as the foundation for reduction efforts. Having a general understanding of operations and waste streams can help identify appropriate strategies to avoid waste, cut down on disposal costs, reduce over-purchasing and labor costs, optimize inventory management, use more recycled content, and reduce water and energy use associated with food production.

Employee Safety

Between October 2018 and September 2019, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued 1,168 citations resulting in over $7 million in fines to the food manufacturing industry, with lockout/tagout and machine guarding topping OSHA’s annual list of the most frequently cited standards in food manufacturing. Occupational safety and health risks in food manufacturing are often heightened because of the nature of the product (i.e., food or drink) being manufactured.

OSHA is watching, and facilities need to prioritize employee safety. Conduct a thorough hazard analysis of the facility, operations, and processes to identify potential safety hazards. Based on the analysis, develop, implement, and maintain the appropriate safety programs, procedures, and instructions. Provide the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep employees safe. And, importantly, train employees so they understand what they need to do to protect themselves and others.

PFAS

The EPA continues to make significant contributions to confront the human health and environmental risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In April 2024, EPA introduced the first national drinking water standards for PFAS, and many states are introducing policies related to PFAS, including monitoring and testing for PFAS in water and banning PFAS in food packaging, clothing, and other consumer products. The FDA is further working to limit PFAS in food and food packaging. In 2024-2025, the FDA has committed to testing foods from the general food supply to more accurately estimate exposure to PFAS from foods. This includes testing total dissolved solids (TDS) samples, conducting a survey of bottled water, and conducting additional seafood testing.

Organizations need to address PFAS in their operations, products, supply chains, and waste streams; stay informed about ongoing PFAS regulatory developments; and adjust compliance programs and operational practices, as needed.

Digital Transformation

According to McKinsey & Company, automation could increase productivity by up to 20% in the food manufacturing sector. More companies are employing technology solutions to improve business efficiency, and the FDA has prioritized developing AI approaches to help monitor new data and trends in FY 2025.

AI is quickly becoming a more viable solution for many food companies in automating, monitoring, and managing food safety, helping to identify contamination risks, analyze data, predict potential hazards, conduct training simulations, and even optimize cleaning schedules. While the efficiencies and other benefits of technology solutions are many, the increased reliance on AI will require an investment, not just financially but also in oversight and management, training, and cybersecurity measures. As the digital transformation continues, companies will need to determine where automation is appropriate and where the human factor is still required.

Others to Watch

• Red No. 3: On January 15, 2025, the FDA amended its color additive regulations to no longer allow for the use of Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs. Manufacturers who use Red No. 3 will have until January 15, 2027 (food) or January 18, 2028 (ingested drugs) to reformulate products. Foods imported into the U.S. must also comply with this requirement.
• Produce Safety Rule: Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water: In May, 2024, the FDA released the updated requirements for the Produce Safety Rule, Subpart E for pre-harvest agricultural water. Facilities are now able to justify not testing agricultural water if there are no conditions (e.g., animals, human waste, or biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO)) on nearby or adjacent land that pose a risk to the water source. The first compliance date for large farms is April 7, 2025.
• SQFI New Edition 10: The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) is slated to release SQF Edition 10 in July 2025. Anticipated updates focus on the identification of new food safety risks, changes in the global supply chain that may impact food safety, unforeseen events (e.g., foodborne illness outbreaks), new technology, and harmonization with other internal food safety programs.
• Bird Flu (H5N1): With the rise in cases and mutations, the USDA has announced different approaches to prevent the spread of H5N1, including testing bulk raw milk. The State of California also declared a state of emergency to allocate more resources to address the continued spread of Bird Flu.
• Food Date Labeling Reform: In December 2024, the FDA and USDA announced a joint Request for Information (RFI) regarding food date labeling (e.g., ‘Sell By,’ ‘Use By’ and ‘Best By’). Open date labeling is currently not mandated or standardized by federal law. The RFI seeks information on industry practices and preferences for date labeling.

Set Your Goals for 2025

In 2025, organizations will continue to encounter workplace challenges, regulatory adjustments, food safety concerns, and rapid technology advancements—and, in most cases, fewer resources to manage it all. KTL suggests completing the following early in 2025 to prepare for whatever is on the horizon:

• Get senior leadership commitment and invest in creating a food safety culture that prioritizes food safety, quality, and employee health and safety. Focus on changing from a reactionary to a preventive mindset. And remember that your people are as important as your products.
• Conduct a comprehensive food safety and quality gap assessment. Know your operations, inventory your ingredients, understand your supply chain, quantify your food waste. This assessment should be the starting point for understanding your regulatory and certification obligations and current compliance status—and for ensuring you are prepared to meet pending regulatory developments.
• Explore technological advancements that allow for further digitization and promote more timely and accurate collection and management of important data. This could mean stepping into the world of AI and machine learning; it could also mean implementing a digital FSMS to help manage compliance/certification and recordkeeping requirements. Technology advancements can help create significant business efficiencies when used appropriately.
• Train your staff. Every trend discussed above requires employee understanding. Train your team routinely on requirements, responsibilities, processes, expectations, etc. Of particular note for Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals (PCQIs), the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) has released Version 2.0 of the Preventive Controls for Human Foods course. The old version will no longer be taught as of May 2025, but the training will still be recognized.

Seek third-party oversight. Having external experts periodically look inside your company provides an objective view of what is really going on, helps you to prepare for audits, and allows you to implement corrective/preventive actions that ensure compliance. An outside expert can often provide the “big picture” view of what you have vs. what you need; how your plans, programs, and requirements intersect; and how you can best comply with changing requirements.

Every year, we see a number of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) trends rise to the surface that have the potential to impact many industries. As we enter 2025, some challenges and opportunities in EHS remain ongoing; some are just gaining traction with impacts yet to be known, particularly with a change in Administration just taking hold. Here are some of the top EHS trends KTL is keeping watch on in 2025…

Regulatory Landscape

In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan to communicate the Agency’s vision, priorities, and strategies. Specifically, the Plan includes targeted objectives and outcomes in the areas of climate change; environmental justice; compliance enforcement; clean land, air, and water; and chemical safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) focus centers on National Emphasis Programs (NEPs) for 2025 related to combustible dust, fall protection/prevention, heat, silica crystalline, and warehousing and distribution center operations, as well as many regional directives.

With a new Administration taking office in January, a big unknown of the coming four years is how the EHS regulatory landscape will change. There is speculation regarding plans to reorganize the EPA and establish “pause and review” teams to assess major rules, guidance materials, grants, legal settlements, budgets, etc. How this will translate into regulatory action remains to be seen.

Update: According to InsideEPA.com, acting EPA Administrator James Payne issued a directive on January 24, 2025, ordering all EPA staff to stop all communications with external parties pending further instruction. Exemptions will allow EPA staff to continue to communicate with state and federal agencies, provided they do not discuss enforcement matters; talk to relevant partieis to facilitate imports; and continue conducting inspections. It is unclear at this time how long the directive will remain in place.

Mental Health

Companies are increasingly recognizing that traditional safety programs must evolve to prioritize mental health as much as physical health—from mental health days to employee assistance programs, to stress management training, to flexible work hours. Correspondingly, psychological safety is becoming a critical concept for building effective teams and encouraging workplace innovation and success. A psychologically safe culture allows employees to take reasonable risks in a safe environment without negative interpersonal consequences.

A related concept is safety culture, which is concerned with many cognitive aspects of safety, like norms, perceptions, beliefs, and values. Emphasizing mental health as part of the organization’s safety culture may become a priority for mature organizations. As the concept of total worker health continues to expand, the focus on mental health is also likely to be reinforced by new regulations and standards regarding psychological safety in the workplace.

Sustainability and Climate Change

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives have dominated many corporate agendas for the past several years, particularly with Europe and Canada advancing standards related to sustainability and climate change data reporting and ISO’s recent Climate Change Amendments. Many organizations have worked to significantly improve their data collection efforts and have integrated climate change management and circular economy principles into their sustainability strategies.

The change in Administration may increase scrutiny regarding the value of these ESG initiatives. We have already seen the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) March 2024 Climate-Related Disclosures Rule stayed due to multiple petitions and lawsuits. This may be a sign of things to come. Many companies have invested in their ESG efforts and will continue to do so, but 2025 may present an opportunity to reassess and streamline initiatives to ensure they are practical and upholding sustainability goals, while also contributing value to the company.

PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) became a focal point for EPA in 2021 with the publication of its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, which committed to addressing concerns related to PFAS exposure. Actions have included improving reporting on PFAS, as well as adding seven additional PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) in January 2024 and an additional nine in January 2025. In April 2024, EPA announced three more notable actions, including introducing the first-ever national drinking water standards and designating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as “hazardous substances” under Superfund. In addition, the updated Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of PFAS and Materials Containing PFAS will require entities to report releases of these “forever pollutants” that exceed threshold quantities. 

Beyond federal regulations, many states are introducing policies related to PFAS, including monitoring and testing for PFAS in water and sewage sludge and banning PFAS in food packaging, clothing, and other consumer products. Organizations need to address PFAS in their operations, products, supply chains, and waste streams; stay informed about ongoing PFAS regulatory developments; and adjust compliance programs and operational practices, as needed.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Properly fitting PPE is essential for workers to complete their tasks safely. If PPE is not correctly fitted to the body, it can cause discomfort and increase the risk of workplace accidents and injuries. On December 11, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its finalized revision to the PPE Standard for Construction, which requires PPE to properly fit any construction worker who needs it, including women and physically smaller or larger workers.

Employers must ensure that every employee not only has the right PPE, but that it also fits. Fit testing may identify the need for PPE alternatives to meet the anthropometric needs of all workers. Importantly, employees must be trained and empowered to speak up if PPE does not fit appropriately to ensure their safety.

Technology/AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies have the capacity to significantly alter how companies manage their EHS programs. While still not fully mature, these technologies are becoming more sophisticated. As AI evolves and becomes more generally accepted, more companies are likely to start adopting it to automate routine compliance tasks, conduct EHS assessments, perform training simulations, predict potential safety incidents, monitor workplace conditions in real-time, and more.

While the efficiencies and other benefits of technology solutions are many, the increased reliance on AI and machine learning will require increased oversight and management. In particular, companies will need to determine where automation is appropriate and where the human factor is still required. Not all processes lend themselves to AI. It will also be imperative to consider stronger data privacy protocols to ensure the security of the company.

Others to Watch

• OSHA Reporting: On January 1, 2024, the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) final rule requiring employers in designated high-hazard industries to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA took effect. KTL inspections routinely find errors and omissions in OSHA recordkeeping. Effective solutions, particularly areas where hard copies can be replaced by digital forms, are needed.
• Hazard Communication Standard: The final Hazard Communication Standard took effect on July 19, 2024, implementing the first major updates since 2012. The first compliance date requires chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors to update labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for chemical substances by July 19, 2026.
• Lead Levels: In January 2024, the EPA reduced the acceptable amount of lead in soil for residential exposure, stating that no level of lead is acceptable. These reduced levels may soon be translated into commercial exposures. 
• One Health: Both the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and Society of Toxicology (SOT) have adopted One Health initiatives as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems (SOT). The idea is to look at the health of our environment and all aspects of our environment as a whole and not one component at a time. This idea is being translated into health impact assessments. 
• Pesticide/Herbicide Re-evaluation: The EPA has initiated re-evaluations of registered pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, and fungicides, including the highly publicized Roundup. These reviews are expected to result in a recommendation to focus the use of these chemicals rather than using a general broadcast application. 
• Microplastics: Microplastics have been found in every ecosystem on the planet—in food, beverages, and human and animal tissue. Scientists do not fully understand the impacts of microplastics on human health and aquatic life, and industry is struggling with how to manage them due to their pervasive nature and wide variety of shapes and sizes. Ongoing research in pollution prevention will be forthcoming.

Getting Ahead in 2025

In 2025, organizations will continue to encounter evolving workplace challenges, regulatory adjustments, societal demands, economic pressures, and rapid advancements in technology—some of which can be anticipated, some which remain to be seen. KTL suggests completing the following early in 2025 to prepare for whatever is on the horizon:

• Get senior leadership commitment. Even with the best EHS personnel, the organization and its EHS system will only be as strong as the top leadership and what they prioritize.
• Stay abreast of regulatory developments. Monitor what is going on at the federal (i.e., EPA and OSHA) and state levels, assess your regulatory applicability, and evaluate how any potential regulatory changes over the next year(s) may impact your operations.
• Conduct a comprehensive gap assessment to ensure you are efficiently meeting your EHS requirements (i.e., regulatory, management systems, internal, supply chain). Think critically about how overlapping requirements may apply (e.g., your chemical inventory may uncover requirements for air permitting, waste management, Tier II report, etc.) and how you can integrate systems to improve efficiency and compliance.
• Determine where you can integrate technology solutions into your operations. This could mean stepping into the world of AI and machine learning; it could also mean implementing compliance information management systems to help manage compliance and reporting requirements. Technology advancements can help create significant business efficiencies when used appropriately.
• Seek third-party oversight. Many EHS departments are severely understaffed. Having external experts periodically look inside your company provides an objective view of operations, helps you to prepare for audits, and allows you to implement corrective/preventive actions that ensure compliance. An outside expert can often provide the “big picture” view of what you have vs. what you need; how your plans, programs, and requirements intersect; and how you can best comply with changing requirements.

As the role of technology continues to expand at a significant pace, keeping up with advances can be challenging. Technology can offer opportunities to simplify compliance, create efficiencies, improve recordkeeping, inform better decision-making, and more if used appropriately. Here are some of the top Microsoft 365® technology advances KTL anticipates will be trends in 2025…

SharePoint® Modernization

SharePoint is constantly evolving to provide enhanced functionality to users. In 2016, Microsoft introduced the “modern” experience for SharePoint as a significant improvement, with its more modern interface that integrates better with mobile screens. When it was introduced, converting to the modern interface was optional; companies could continue operating their existing “classic” sites without necessitating significant updates. But in the past eight years, classic sites have become outdated, have limited mobile integration, and are beginning to experience performance issues resulting from limited ongoing support. Further, previous methods of creating custom forms (InfoPath) or workflows (SharePoint Designer) are slowly being phased out in favor of modern replacements, and Microsoft is removing SharePoint 2013 Workflow from existing tenants and fully retiring it in April 2026. 

Because of this, organizations are being pushed to migrate from classic to modern SharePoint to keep their sites running and usable. Beyond responding to the slow depreciation of classic sites, modern SharePoint offers significant enhancements that improve user experience and overall site performance. Transitioning from a classic SharePoint site to a modern one is not considered a “simple” process, because there is no one-to-one mapping between the functionality offered by classic web parts and what is offered on modern pages. But it is worth doing. Modern sites are less costly to create, quicker to implement, easier to manage, and much simpler to edit and update.

Digital Forms

Companies have completed inspections and assessments via paper forms for years. Many still follow this traditional process, creating mountains of paperwork and related inefficiencies. Digital forms are a simple technological advancement that more companies are embracing to improve compliance and productivity. Digital forms allow employees to quickly and easily collect data from a mobile device—from daily inspections (e.g., forklifts) to near-miss information—as it is happening in the plant/field. That data is submitted directly to the system and can then be further analyzed through dashboards to identify concerns and trends. Notifications for identified issues and program compliance can also be configured to create greater visibility.

With digital forms:

• Data can be submitted directly and immediately for review with no manual data entry required.
• Data is stored for future analysis and improvements.
• Issues can be identified quickly and assigned to relevant people for resolution.
• Program compliance is tracked in real time.

Custom Business Apps

Power Apps is Microsoft’s low-code platform for creating custom business apps. Users can create apps, add their own data sources, create custom workflows, design their own user interface—all without extensive coding experience. With its growing popularity, Microsoft is continuing to expand Power Apps’ functionality and help more organizations leverage its flexibility. Specifically in 2025, Power Apps users can look forward to the following advances:

• Deeper integration with Microsoft 365 and other emerging technologies/data sources to create smoother workflows, better collaboration between tools, and an overall simpler user interface and experience.
• Enhanced low-code/no-code capabilities, such as more drag-and-drop features, visual interfaces, and templates to allow for faster development of line-of-business apps, mobile apps, and web apps.
• Improved mobile responsiveness to ensure Power Apps functions well not only on computers, but also on smartphones and tablets.
• Integration with Power BI to allow businesses to develop comprehensive data solutions, manage workflows, and visualize key metrics through dashboards (see below).

Automated Workflows

Microsoft Power Platform® allows businesses to automate workflows and streamline and standardize processes. For example, a document approval workflow can be set up to automatically route documents, assign review tasks, track progress, and send reminders and notifications when needed. It takes documents from development through final approval, ensuring documents are reviewed at the appropriate time by the appropriate party.

Automated workflows can be developed for virtually any business process, and the benefits of doing so are many, including:

• Standardized and streamlined approach for approving and completing tasks.
• Improved accuracy with less opportunity for human error.
• Business efficiencies from automated and streamlined practices.
• Version control and history to create a reliable audit trail.
• Improved access/security for sensitive information.

Data Visualization and Insights

A dashboard is a tool used to quickly display and visualize data, typically using charts, tables, and other graphic elements. Dashboards provide a quick and simplified way for users to understand complex data sets, review key performance indicators (KPIs), and identify trends or patterns.

The data collected in most business processes—ranging from the outputs of an inspection form to the inputs into a companywide sales program—can be displayed in a dashboard. Centralizing and visualizing this data can have significant business benefits, including the following:

• Dashboards provide an integrated view of data pulled from multiple sources into an easy-to-read display.
• Simplified data visualization allows for improved and more efficient decision-making.
• Dashboard metrics provide for monitoring of data that has been collected.
• The collaboration, customization, and transparency provided through dashboards help support organizational objectives.

Getting Ahead in 2025

Traditional processes tend to produce traditional results. Integrating technology can help companies to stretch and empower every limited resource. The key is identifying those traditional processes that will realize benefit from technological integration, such as those outlined above.

The right technology can enhance traditional business practices to create greater efficiencies and enhanced business value. Integrating technology with current business practices not only allows for continual improvement, it also helps create the next level of competitive advantage. Doing so requires businesses to start thinking strategically about these trends now. It also requires working with someone with the technology expertise to design and build scalable systems that allow the organization to more efficiently and effectively manage compliance and business processes. Technology solutions should be designed with the end in mind. That means considering the company’s immediate issues/needs within the context of the overall business need, and then formulating platforms/systems, as required, into an aligned system.

KTL is pleased to welcome the following new Consultants to our team!

Margaret Roy, Senior Consultant

Margaret is an expert risk assessor who specializes in conducting ecological and health-based risk assessments ranging from screening level to complex baseline assessments under a variety of state and EPA programs. She has been providing risk assessment subject matter expertise to KTL for years as an LTE, and we are thrilled to have her join the team as a Senior Consultant. Margaret applies her experience to help clients design sampling plans, identify technical data gaps, and develop overall project strategy. Margaret is a Diplomate in the International Board of Environmental Risk Assessors (IBERA), as well as a member of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and Association for Environmental Health and Science (AEHS). She is based in Austin, TX. Read her full bio…

mroy@goktl.com | 512.913.5142

Connor Odekirk, Consultant

Connor is a food safety and quality assurance (FSQA) professional with five years of experience working in various capacities in the food industry, including restaurants, cattle ranches, farming operations, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-inspected meat processing plants. Connor excels at managing sanitation and maintenance programs to maintain corporate and regulatory standards. He further has experience developing training and educational curriculum. He is based in Charleston, WV. Read his full bio…

codekirk@goktl.com | 304.545.5555

Access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is a challenge in rural settings and communities of color due, in part, to the limited availability of healthcare providers equipped and willing to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Recent discussion has explored the role of pharmacies in enhancing access to MOUD within underserved areas. However, pharmacies face multiple obstacles related to expanded responsibilities in dispensing MOUD, especially in rural and other communities.

To address this issue, the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) funded a study (CTN-0124) to examine the practicality of expanding pharmacy roles in treating OUD in underserved communities.

KTL helped to lead the nine-month engineering systems analysis, assessing the existing system, envisioning an ideal future state, identifying gaps, and highlighting improvement opportunities. The study, Delivering MOUD to the Underserved: How Can Pharmacies Really Helped?, was recently published in the October 15, 2024 edition of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.