IHMM Remotely Proctored Exams Available Now
IHMM is pleased to announce that the American National Standards Institute [ANSI] has approved Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for IHMM’s CHMM, CHMP, and CDGP exams. IHMM has been using the Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for the CSHM and CSMP exams since April of 2020.
About 65% of Kryterion in-person testing centers have reopened. If you prefer the comfort and convenience of taking your exam from your home or office instead of at a Kryterion center, IHMM is ready to enroll you in a remotely proctored examination.
Please contact either Kortney Tunstall at [email protected] for the CHMM, CHMP, or CDGP exams or Kaylene Cagle at [email protected] for the CSHM or CSMP exams.
Thursday, August 19, 2021
EHS Professional is an online publication of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
are compiled from independent sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IHMM.
IHMM Credential Recognition
Below you will see the 3 EHS credential badges that are now in each CSHM, CSMP, and ASHM certificant’s MYIHMM account. Every IHMM certificant may use these badges, linked as those below are to their IHMM credential page, for their email signatures, business cards, and other social media applications. You’re justifiably proud of the accomplishment of having earned your credential and you can show the rest of the world. Simply right-click on the badge of choice, then save as to your computer, and then load it to wherever you want to use it and please link that back to https://ihmm.org/.
IHMM UPDATES
Need Help?
Need Help? On the IHMM website just click on the “NEED HELP?” button
and let us know what you need and the right person will get right back with you.
IHMM “702” Project
Rule 702. Testimony by Expert Witnesses
A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if:
- (a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
- (b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
- (c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and
- (d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.
The IHMM “702“ project is based on rule 702 of the federal rules of expert testimony/witnesses and the use of experts in trials. Even though the project is based on that rule it is not relegated only to the use of experts in legal proceedings. It is our intention to extend the use of this project and its population to include media commentary and the demands of environmental, dangerous goods, health, and safety regulators on matters directly related to the jurisdictions of IHMM certifications.
IHMM would inform the news media, state and federal regulators, and the legal profession of the availability of “experts” for use in legal proceedings, working with environmental regulators or commenting on matters in the news for the news media. This will raise the level of visibility of all IHMM credentials and those who hold them.
We will construct a section of our AA/database allowing IHMM certificants to register for this project and select the areas of specialization they hold. Only those whose fees are up-to-date will be allowed to register and be available for public view of their levels of expertise.
This project will increase the value of our credentials as well as our ability to serve the legal, media, and government regulator sectors of the economy by offering experts to provide commentary or testimony. Registration would be strictly voluntary.
Survey
Before IHMM does any further work on this project we need to collect some data. This survey is designed to collect data from IHMM certificant’s general attitude toward this new feature being created and whether or not you may ultimately register for it. The survey obligates you to nothing. We are just collecting data on whether or not IHMM certificants believe this service if it is created, would be worthwhile.
Federal court blocks CMS vaccine mandate
A federal judge in Louisiana has granted a preliminary injunction against the COVID-19 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate following a lawsuit filed by Montana and 13 other states.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen previously told MTN the Nov. 5 CMS rule is not only unconstitutional, but also will exacerbate the shortage of health care workers, by leading many of them to quit or be fired because they won’t get vaccinated. In addition, a new Montana law that was passed this year by Republican legislators prohibits most private businesses from requiring their employees to be vaccinated.
The CMS vaccine mandate was set to take effect Monday, Dec. 6 and would have required most hospitals and other health-care facilities to have their employees vaccinated against Covid-19 by January.
The ruling by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty, appointed by former President Trump in 2017, of the Western District of Louisiana puts a hold on enacting the mandate until the case is decided.
Doughty’s order states: “During a pandemic such as this one, it is even more important to safeguard the separation of powers set forth in our Constitution to avoid erosion of our liberties.”
The judge states the Biden Administration does not have the power to bypass Congress, but also notes, “This matter will ultimately be decided by a higher court than this one.”
National Safety Council
IHMM is a member of the National Safety Council and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.
NSC Webinars
- January 19 – Understanding OSHA 1910.134 Respiratory Protection Program Requirements
- January 20 – Common OSHA Training Violations: What you can do to protect your company and your workers
- January 27 – Hazard Communication – Past, Present and Future
- February 2 – Celebrating Safety! Positive Reinforcement with Validity and Reliability
- February 3 – COVID-19 Update – The Latest on Mandates and Best Practices
- February 10 – Top 5 OSHA Safety Training Topics: Requirements and Best Practices for Safety and Health
Due to the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and its cascading effects on safety and health, work, travel, and large gatherings, all SafetyFOCUS events are now virtual. Our hope is that this format will make SafetyFOCUS events more accessible while offering the same networking opportunities and high-quality education you expect from ASSP. IHMM is a member of ASSP and we are pleased to send all IHMM certificants and you may learn more here.
Safety and Health This Week
- MSHA publishes posters on wintertime hazards
- DOL adjusts civil penalty amounts for inflation
- Despite PPE, medical instrument sterilization workers may face hazardous exposures
- Setting Realistic Safety Goals for 2022
- Respiratory protection: NIOSH publishes toolbox talk
- Wrapping Up 2021: Looking Towards the Future with Gratitude
- Addressing the Safety of Temporary Workers
- ASSP Sees Uncertainty in Workplace Fatalities
Latest Safety Tips
Latest Solutions
Do You Want Government to Recognize Your Credential?
IHMM & AHMP 45 in 5 Project – National Credential Recognition
On January 25th, we began outlining the strategy to go after the 21 states in yellow, above. Since then we have succeeded in adding Nebraska, Colorado, and California.
This is just the beginning. Here is the present composition of the 45 In 5 Task Force and the states we are focusing on. More people may volunteer anytime!
In 2019 Mark Bruce from AHMP and Gene Guilford from IHMM worked on a project to get the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to recognize the CHMM and CDGT credentials. With Mark’s work on the ground in Pennsylvania, we succeeded.
Since the launch, we have added Delaware, Florida, Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Iowa, North Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico as the next places for us to work on with 44 volunteers.
45 in 5 Task Force Votes to Move Forward
At its July 19th meeting the 45 in 5 Task Force voted to:
- Initiate a rulemaking with the Environmental Protection Agency to amend 40 CFR § 310 Definitions, to include the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager [CHMM] credential with the existing Professional Engineer and Professional Geologist.
- Initiate a guidance change with the Small Business Administration concerning the performance of Phase I and II environmental assessments.
- Support the IHMM/PCC Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. H.R. 2171.
Where do ASHMs Work?
IHMM credentials are known and highly regarded worldwide. Below is the evidence of just a few reasons why IHMM promotion of its credentials – all of them – matters to governments, employers, and the employees who work so hard to acquire our credentials and keep them up-to-date. Here are only a few examples of the companies and governments that hire IHMM ASHMs…
Environment & Safety Recent Updates
- Download OSHA’s recommended practices for safety and health programs.
- Sounds of nature can boost your health and well-being, study of national parks shows
- More workers feeling burned out compared with a year ago, ready to take vacations: surveys
- US Department of Labor announces $10M funding availability to improve gender equity among workers in Mexico
- Staying Safe on Construction Sites During the Summer
- Electrical PPE Five Tips for a Successful Wear Trial
- You have the right to be protected from retaliation.
- OSHA Resources on Worker Rights
- Oregon OSHA adopts 2 new rules to protect workers from wildfire smoke and excessive heat
- Worker Engulfment in Soybean Silo Leads to Citations of Central Illinois Grain Cooperative
- What HVAC Workers Need to Know About OSHA
- OSHA Initiates Protection Over Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana from Confined Space Dangers
- U.S. Department of Labor Intends to Protect Midwest Workers from Confined Space Hazards
- When Things Heat Up, Confined Spaces Can Become More Harrowing
- Alliance is Formed to Keep Shipbuilders Safe from Dangerous, Hazardous Work Environments
- Us Department Of Labor Partners With Dimeo Construction, Connecticut Osha, New Haven Building Trades To Promote Workplace Safety
- The Fundamentals of Lab Safety
- Staying Safe on Construction Sites During the Summer
- Issues with the Quality of Construction Operational Systems and Their Affect on Project Outcomes
- VPPPA Offers Multiple Ways to Attend Safety+ Symposium
- 5 Dangers of Working Around Heavy Equipment and How to Stay Safe
- 9 tips to prevent employee burnout for remote workers
- OSHA Issues Updated Guidance to Protect At-risk Workers from COVID-19
- 3 Ways Construction Tech Helps Leaders Create Cultures of Proactive Safety
- How can a safety assurance system improve HSE performance?
- OSHA Urges Employers to Require Vaccinated Workers to Wear Masks
- Oregon OSHA distributes masks to protect outdoor workers against smoke hazards
- Regulators refuse to step in as workers languish in extreme heat
- More than one-third of remote workers are still waiting for their employer’s return-to-office plan
- Watch the road: tips for keeping yourself and construction workers safe on the highway
- Coupang Invests over $200M in Worker Health and Safety Initiatives Since 2020
- Watch the road: tips for keeping yourself and construction workers safe on the highway
- Dollar Tree advertises worker safety in warehouse hiring push
- SAIF recommendations to keep workers safe from Covid
- Chronic Stress and the Remote Worker
- Distracted walking gets long overdue attention
- COVID pandemic: Charleston County School District approves emergency ordinance to require masks
- Women in Construction: How Mentors Helped Shape My Construction Career
- COVID-19 vaccines, safety policies offer strong rallying cries for labor campaigns
- Facing a pandemic, more Michigan workers turned to unions
- The Case For the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights: “Called Essential, Treated As Expendable”
- Punching In: Labor Enforcement Agenda Rests on Democratic Bill
- For gig workers, safety net nears end
- Food Work & COVID: Farmworker Solutions for an Unjust System
- VPPPA Partners with OSHA for Exciting Round Up of Workshops at Safety+ 2021
- Fall Rescue Plans — What to Include and How to Respond in an Emergency
IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.
ASSP News
- 5 Ways to Commit to Your Safety Career in 2022
- Final Days of Discounted Rate for SafetyFOCUS 2022
- The Current State of Our Society
- ASSP Sees Uncertainty in Workplace Fatality Report
- Safety Professionals Turn to ASSP for Knowledge
- Q&A: Proactively Preparing for OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard
ASSP Webinars
- January 19, 2022 – Implementing the Hierarchy of Controls to Reduce Risk
- January 26, 2022 – Mitigating Liability and Managing Safety on Multiemployer Work Sites
- February 2, 2022 – Women in Safety: What it Means for Women to Lead
- February 9, 2022 – Human & Organizational Performance: Viewing Safety Through a Different Lens
- February 16, 2022 – Turning over the right stones: Keys to building an incident investigation process that delivers results
- February 21, 2022 – Live Virtual Classroom: Analytics for Safety: A New Approach to Performance Measurement
- February 21, 2022 – Analytics for Safety: A New Approach to Performance Measurement
- February 21-23, 2022 – Live Virtual Classroom: Safety Management I
- February 21-23, 2022 – Live Virtual Classroom: Corporate Safety Management
OSHA Updates Coronavirus Guidance
OSHA issued updated guidance on August 13 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in all workplaces.
2021 Readers’ Choice Awards Winners: Best PPE, safety equipment products
ISHN Magazine recognizes the most innovative personal protection equipment and occupational health and safety products of 2021.
IHMM and HMS
The graphic to the left illustrates the relationship between IHMM and HMS. IHMM formed HMS to serve IHMM’s certificates. IHMM offers a variety of professional credentials and HMS creates education and training programs to serve the applicants and certificants of those credentials.
Survey
The Hazardous Materials Society has created a survey to learn from IHMM’s certificants what those certificants need most. If HMS is to serve IHMM’s certificants we need IHMM’s certificants to respond to this survey.
Please go here for a short, 5 question survey that takes less than 2 minutes to take.
Hazardous Materials Society [HMS] Scholarship Applications – DEADLINE November 1, 2021
Dan Levine, Chair of the HMS Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that HMS Scholarship applications for 2021 are live and available on the HMS website.
Visit the HMS Scholarship page and click the big red button that says APPLY NOW GET THE APPLICATION FORM HERE!
Thank you to Dan and his committee for getting the HMS Scholarship open in 2021, and for more information and the application form, please visit the website link above.
HMS Education and Training
Hazardous Materials Society now has 6,347 education and training programs on its website, with more coming every week. Certificants will note that most of these programs carry a CMP value, making it easier to know in advance what to expect. The HMS Education and Training platform also provides a wide variety of courses for professional development across all of IHMM’s credentials – and more are being developed by the HMS Education and Training Committee.
IHMM applicants and certificants are free to search the landscape for training. IHMM wanted to make that task easier by aggregating training in one place if you choose to use it. Among these more than 6.000 programs are webinars delivered online and virtually all carry IHMM CMPs values with them for your annual / 5-year CMP planning.
Member Benefits of Hazardous Materials Society
81% of IHMM certificants are aware of the Hazardous Materials Society, which we appreciate. IHMM established the Hazardous Materials Society in order to support and provide services to IHMM certificants.
Did You Know?
Your company’s membership dues for Associate Membership in the Hazardous Materials Society (HMS) are 100% tax-deductible and your participation directly supports scholarship and education/training opportunities for professionals working in hazmat and EHS. Joining as an Associate Member expresses your commitment and your company’s leadership in giving back to our professional community. Join today to claim your tax deduction for the 2020 tax year while expressing your company’s professional affiliation and accessing tools for your marketing and business development plans.
To learn more about what HMS is doing now and what they are planning for the future, please see the new Member Benefits page here.
CHEMTREC Becomes An HMS Annual Training Agenda Vendor
HMS is pleased to announce CHEMTREC [https://www.chemtrec.com/] has become an education and training vendor and a part of the development of the HMS Annual Training Agendas.
CHEMTREC is an Emergency Response Information Provider (ERIP). CHEMTREC is the premier call center for hazmat emergency response coordination. CHEMTREC’s world-leading call center operates on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week, providing emergency response information wherever hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, or used. With the right procedures and protocols in place, and by doing what’s right quickly and effectively, CHEMTREC helps minimize environmental impacts, protect people, and preserve the assets and reputations of its customers.
Operating globally, CHEMTREC has offices in major regions and on-the-ground knowledge of local regulations, understanding of local nuances, and appreciation of cultural sensitivities. CHEMTREC offers a suite of services along with L1 emergency response, including SDS management and authoring, hazardous materials training, crisis management, L2/L3 notification services, carrier solutions, data reporting, and lithium battery solutions. CHEMTREC is proud to contribute to the practice of safe handling and transportation of hazardous materials throughout the supply chain.
IHMM/HMS Coronavirus Resources
In February of 2020, the World Health Organization’s director-general has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. On March 13, 2020 President Trump declared a national emergency for the United States. IHMM and HMS’ first concern is with the safety and health of all of us; our staff and families, colleagues, certificants and members. We will update this page regularly as credible, authoritative information is available.
INFORMATION FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND LABORATORIES.
In February of 2020, the World Health Organization’s director-general has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. On March 13, 2020 President Trump declared a national emergency for the United States. IHMM and HMS’ first concern is with the safety and health of all of us; our staff and families, colleagues, certificants and members. We will update this page regularly as credible, authoritative information is available.
INFORMATION FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND LABORATORIES.
Environmental Workshops Becomes An HMS Annual Training Agenda Vendor
HMS is pleased to announce Environmental Workshops, LLC [https://enviroworkshops.com/] has become an education and training vendor and a part of the development of the HMS Annual Training Agendas.
Environmental Workshops, headquartered in North Carolina, is the largest training organization for environmental professionals worldwide. Since 2013, we have been training environmental professionals on the latest technologies in the industry. We have hosted over 300 workshops on 6 continents and more than 25,000 people have registered for our Professional Development Hours (PDH). Our sponsors are leaders in the environmental market and many of our speakers hold multiple patents and degrees. Their presentations address the following topics: Remediation, Vapor Intrusion, Air Monitoring, Air Quality, and Waste Water.
Columbia Southern University
The Hazardous Materials Society [HMS] is a partner of Columbia Southern University. Columbia Southern University is an online university based in Orange Beach, Alabama, that strives to change and improve lives through higher education by enabling students to maximize their professional and personal potential.
A subsidiary of Columbia Southern Education Group, CSU offers online degree programs at the associate, bachelor, master, doctorate or certificate levels in a multitude of areas such as occupational safety and health, fire administration, criminal justice, business administration, human resource management, health care administration and more. CSU also features undergraduate and graduate certificate programs to provide focused training in specialized areas for adult learners.
Click on the CSU graphic at left and learn more about the professional development and degree program opportunities at CSU.
IHMM CONFERENCES FOR 2021 & 2022
IHMM will attend and support a number of conferences and trade shows throughout 2021, virtually as well as in-person as COVID issues allow. Below are some of the conferences IHMM will support in 2021.
Are there conferences you believe IHMM should attend that do not appear here? If so, let us know! Send an email to Jillian Wood and tell us what conferences we should attend.
Ohio Safety Conference 2022
March 9-10, 2022
In March 2022, OSC22 will feature a premium lineup of online learning sessions and a newly enhanced digital expo.
Exhibitors to feature their products and services related to the safety of workers, their equipment, environment, and health all in a remote and virtual environment. Join us to access this exciting event that serves the individuals responsible for keeping Ohio’s workers safe on the job.
American Society of Safety Professionals – San Francisco
March 10, 2022
San Ramon, California
This Annual Symposium provides one of the most sought-after events for attendees to learn the profession’s best practices focusing on Safety, Health, Industrial Hygiene & Environmental Issues. The Symposium is attended by over 400+ attendees annually and features an Exhibition of over 40+ Sponsors and Exhibitors. The event features a keynote speaker and 20 breakout sessions with five concurrent tracks running throughout the day. The event is hosted at the San Ramon Marriott, located at 2600 Bishop Drive in San Ramon, California.
Thank you to Bart Miller, CHMM, for being the IHMM’s leader for this event.
AHMP National Conference
March 20-23, 2022
Planet Hollywood Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
Pre-conference workshops at the AHMP National Conference for 2022 include a Certified Dangerous Goods Professional [CDGP] exam prep course offered by Gene Sanders. The 3-day exam prep course will be offered on March 18-19-20. For more information see> https://ahmp.confex.com/ahmp/2022/meetingapp.cgi/Session/5584
Information about the AHMP National Conference is found here.
April 4-7, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina
Contaminated soil, groundwater, and the air is a global issue and over $1 trillion is spent every year to mitigate pollution. There is a lot still to learn from each other on how each segment of the environmental industry impacts the next. The 2021 Global EnviroSummit is postponed until April 4-7, 2022 due to COVID-19 Delta variant.
With over 75 speakers from around the globe, the EnviroSummit is likely the first environmental conference that will have presentations from all 6 continents about 4 different themes – Remediation, Air Quality, Vapor Intrusion, and Wastewater.
COSTHA Annual Forum and Expo
April 4-6, 2022
Beltway Buzz – Ogletree & Deakins
RIP, Richard Trumka. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka died unexpectedly this week at the age of 72. A former coal miner, Trumka became president of the United Mine Workers of America in 1982. He was just 33 years old at the time. Trumka was elected AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer in 1995 and then AFL-CIO president in 2009. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) broke the sad news on the floor of the U.S. Senate. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Chair Lauren McFerran described Trumka as “a steadfast defender of the rights protected by the [National Labor Relations Act] and importance of the work of the Board.” Speaker Pelosi has already discussed renaming the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act after the late labor leader.
It’s Infrastructure Week! The U.S. Senate this week began debating the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684), the 2,700-page infrastructure bill that has been the subject of heated negotiations over the last several weeks. (As a point of reference, the first published edition of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace was merely 1,225 pages long.) Here are a few things to note about the bill and the process going forward.
Hard infrastructure. The bill provides $1.2 trillion in funding for the building and repair of roads, bridges, ports, airports, public transit, broadband, power grid modernization, and other projects. The bill also takes steps to address climate change (it provides funding related to electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and carbon capture, for example), shrink red tape associated with major construction projects, and reduce pollution.
No PRO Act. Importantly, the bill does not contain provisions of the PRO Act, and it does not address paid leave, child care, Medicare expansion, unemployment insurance reforms, or other “social infrastructure” matters. Congressional Democrats plan to address these and other issues in subsequent legislation using the reconciliation process, which would allow them to pass such a bill with a simple majority vote.
ERTC shortened. Employers may want to note that the employee retention tax credit (ERTC), which was established by the CARES Act and extended in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will terminate early under the bill. Currently, employers can claim the retention credit through the end of 2021, but this date would be pushed forward to October 1, 2021 (though certain small businesses that began operations in 2020 may claim the credit for the remainder of 2021). The provision is included as a funding mechanism for the bill.
Bipartisan push. The bill has significant bipartisan support, as 17 Senate Republicans voted with all Democrats to begin debate on the bill. In addition, the bill enjoys support from groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as from the AFL-CIO.
What comes next? As for timing (always hard to predict), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that he would like to wrap up the amendment process quickly, which means that final passage of the legislation could take place sometime next week or sooner. Assuming the bill passes the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives will then have an opportunity to address it. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has promised that she would not address the bill until the second “social infrastructure” bill passes the Senate. This all means that we could be continuing this discussion about both bills into the fall.
Pregnancy Accommodation Bill—One Step Closer to Law? On August 3, 2021, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) advanced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) (H.R. 1065). The lopsided 19–2 committee vote on approval perhaps portends a favorable outcome for the bill on the Senate floor. The PWFA—which would require employers to make reasonable accommodation for pregnant workers (such as by providing more frequent bathroom breaks or easing lifting requirements)—has been on the Buzz’s radar for a while now. With this action this week, the bill moves one step closer to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Weil Nomination Slowed. In other Senate HELP Committee news, the committee voted 11–11 on David Weil’s nomination to be administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division. This means that Weil’s nomination (similar to the nomination of NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo) will need an additional vote from the full Senate in order to be discharged from the committee. Weil has the numbers on his side (ever so slightly), and he, like Abruzzo, will likely be confirmed in due course.
As the Buzz has previously discussed, Weil is known for his views on the “fissured workplace,” as well as a narrow interpretation of what it means to be an “independent contractor” and an expansive interpretation of “joint employer.”
Fed. Contractor Minimum Wage Reg. Deadline (Slightly) Extended. The DOL extended the deadline for stakeholders to submit comments in response to the proposed regulations implementing an increase in the minimum wage for certain employees of federal contractors. Interested parties probably should not think about booking a late-summer vacation, though: the period has only been extended from the original date of August 23, 2021, to August 27, 2021.
Congress Continues to Target Arbitration. House Democrats have reintroduced the Restoring Justice for Workers Act, which would “prohibit predispute arbitration agreements that require arbitration of work disputes.” The bill represents yet another front in the political battle over arbitration agreements. As the Buzz noted recently, another bill in the 117th Congress—the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445/S. 2342)—proposes to limit the enforceability of certain arbitration agreements.
OSHA – Request for Information on the Mechanical Power Presses Standard
OSHA – Request for Information on the Mechanical Power Presses StandardThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting information and comment on issues related to the mechanical power presses standard. OSHA is seeking information regarding whether it should update the mechanical power presses standard and, if so, how closely the standard should follow the current ANSI standard for mechanical power presses. It is also seeking information on the types of presses that should be covered, the use and certification of equipment, and other topics such as presence-sensing device initiation (PSDI) systems, and requirements for press modifications, training, and injury reporting. Please reference the Federal Register here.
Individuals may submit comments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket No. OSHA-2007-0003, which also includes documents referenced by OSHA in the RFI). Please refer to the Federal Register notice for additional details. The deadline for submitting comments is October 26, 2021.
Vendor Alert: 884 – How much of this business did you get?
IHMM has seen a 100% jump in applications and examinations over 2019, and for the first 8 months of 2021, we stand at 884. 244 new certificants and 640 more awaiting examinations. How much of this business did your company see?
If you’re missing out contact Diane McLevy at [email protected] and see how you can benefit from a relationship with IHMM and HMS.
IHMM-HMS EVENTS CALENDAR
IHMM has a companion organization for which education and training programs are presented and delivered. The Hazardous Materials Society education and training website can be found here.
9210 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 470
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
www.ihmm.org | [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 | Fax: 301-984-1516
