IHMM Today October 5, 2021

IHMM Certificant Recognition

IHMM has completed inserting new credential badges in every certificant’s MYIHMM account. Everyone may access those badges for use in their email signatures, LinkedIn accounts, and other social media and communications media.  With a link from your credential badge to the IHMM website [see above] you can not only stand out as an IHMM-certified professional, you can also promote IHMM credentials to others. Right-click on the badge of choice, save as to your computer, then load it to whatever medium you choose.

Throughout our certificant’s MYIHMM accounts are also now placed 10 Year, 20 Year, and 30 Year badges signifying their longevity as an IHMM certified professional.

IHMM has also added Distinguished Diplomates and Fellows of the Institute badges to the appropriate people in the MYIHMM database. These two badges will be accompanied by new lapel pins to be sent to each of those distinguished by holding these designations.

June Brock-Carroll, Board Member and Treasurer

IHMM 2021 Board of Directors Election

Each year, one or more seats are about to become vacant on the IHMM Board of Directors as a person’s term or tenure is ending. In 2021, the position held for the CHMP seat on the Board will become vacant as June Brock-Carroll’s first term ends on 12/31/2021.

June is running for re-election to another 4-year term, unopposed.

June’s Bio Is Here

June’s Nomination Papers Are Here

Every IHMM certificant in good standing will receive an email from IHMM with a discreet identification number that may only be voted once. The Election begins October 1, 2021, and runs through October 31, 2021. Results will be announced on November 9, 2021, in IHMM Today.

CALL TO ACTION – Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act

IHMM and PCC will host a “virtual fly-in” on October 6 at 1:00 p.m. ET to urge Members of Congress to support H.R. 2171/S. 905, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, and the soon-to-be-introduced REBUILD Skills Act.  Visit our website to register.

The goal of the fly-in is to encourage Members of Congress to cosponsor each of these bills and to persuade them to request that congressional leaders allow the bills to move expeditiously, either on a standalone basis or as part of a larger legislative package.  We are pleased to announce that Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), the author of the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, is confirmed to speak to participating PCC members at the beginning of the virtual fly-in. After the Congresswoman’s remarks and an internal PCC member strategy and prep session, PCC members will participate in virtual meetings with their Members of Congress (arranged either by the PCC or by the PCC members, depending on preference/availability).

You can support this effort with your voice and message. Go here>  https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/  and fill out your contact information where provided and help to pass H.R. 2171/S. 905.

PHMSA Emergency Response Guidebook

Quickly Identify Hazardous Materials Emergency Procedures

PHMSA’s 2020 Emergency Response Guidebook provides first responders with a go-to manual to help deal with hazmat transportation accidents during the critical first 30 minutes.

DOT’s goal is to place an ERG in every public emergency service vehicle nationwide. To date, more than16 million free copies have been distributed to the emergency response community through state emergency management coordinators. Members of the public may purchase a copy of the ERG through the GPO Bookstore and other commercial suppliers.

See: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/erg/emergency-response-guidebook-erg

Finding the Program You Want at HMS/Education and Training

Every IHMM certificant needs to earn 200 certification maintenance points [CMPs] over 5 years in order to successfully recertify their credential.  Certificants receive 100 points for the job they perform. Earning the other 100 points can be done in many ways, as outlined in the IHMM Recertification Claims Manual here > https://ihmm.org/recertification-claims/

Earning CMPs by taking education and training programs is simple and easy. Certificants may earn CMPs in many places, though one way we have made it easy to find is on the HMS website.

First, go to https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/  

Second, see the row of quick-search buttons, shown below with “CMPs” circled in red.

Press the CMPs button and you will see the courses with CMPs in the display.

It’s really very easy.

NPDES: EPA Issues the 2021 PGP

NPDES: WEBINAR: Putting the Brakes on Water Pollution: A Story of Industry and Government Collaboration

IHMM Associate Hazardous Materials Manager [AHMM] Committee

The IHMM Associate Hazardous Materials Manager Committee [AHMM] is in the latter stages of creating a new hazardous materials credential targeted specifically at the more than 250,000 military service personnel who muster out of the armed services each year with no degree and less than three years experience in a MOS, as well as recent college graduates with degrees in targeted disciplines but with no experience as they begin their hazmat careers. The latter serves as the next step after IHMM’s present Student CHMM program.

Call for Volunteers – Student CHMM Committee

From Spring 2020 through Early Summer 2021 IHMM ran a pilot program for the newly created Student CHMM credential. See > https://ihmm.org/student-chmm/ The pilot program involved two colleges that brought forth 90 Student CHMM applications. Having successfully conducted this pilot program, IHMM now seeks to have a small group of volunteers oversee and help to guide the program.

You can learn more about the program here > https://ihmm.org/ihmm-student-chmm-committee/  including the charter of the committee as approved by the IHMM Board of Directors.

If you would like to help increase interest in IHMM credentials among college students, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful and valuable contribution to IHMM and to college students before they graduate from college and start their professional hazmat careers.

Go here > https://ihmm.org/ihmm-student-chmm-committee/  and volunteer today! Preference is given to CHMMs.

Call for Volunteers – IHMM Professional Textbook Committee

IHMM is calling for volunteers to participate in updating the IHMM Managing Hazardous Materials – A Definitive Text, textbook. Preference is given to those who last participated in this endeavor, though IHMM seeks CHMM and CHMP hazardous materials professionals generally to populate this committee and contribute to this effort.

Information about and volunteering for this committee is here > https://ihmm.org/ihmm-professional-textbook-committee/  Note that this scholarly work will be peer-reviewed. In addition, this committee will be permanent and provide continuous improvement of the material by not only produced a single new textbook but also producing an annual update of material.

Here is how a professional certification body operates:

The IHMM Managing Hazardous Materials text is an integral part of the system that begins with producing or updating a blueprint for an IHMM credential, such as the CHMM or CHMP. Arising from the blueprint next comes creating examinations and item banks of questions that feed the exams. The IHMM text then mirrors the blueprint and examinations in order to best prepare applicants to take the exam. Then, arising from the blueprint and textbook comes the creation of preparatory courses further enabling applicants to prepare for and ultimately to pass the exam. The prep courses are offered through IHMM’s foundation at the Hazardous Materials Society.

Call for Volunteers – IHMM CSSS-CSSM Committee

IHMM is calling for CSSS and CSSM volunteers to participate in the CSSS-CSSM Committee. IHMM inherited the CSSS and CSSM credentials when it acquired ISHM in April 2019. The CSSS and CSSM credentials have no job task analysis, no blueprints, no exams, or item banks. Now that IHMM has spent the past 18 months establishing the updated processes to recreate the CSHM and CSMP credentials, we can turn to the CSSS and CSSM designations.

IHMM welcomes CSSS and CSSM designation holders to volunteer and participate in the committee. Volunteering may be done here > https://ihmm.org/csss-cssm-committee/

IHMM-AHMP 45 in 5 Task Force

We are preparing an initiated rulemaking at EPA to amend 40 CFR § 312.10 – Definitions to include CHMMs, as well as a petition to the Small Business Administration recognizing CHMMs for the purposes of conducting Phase I and Phase II site assessments.

These regulatory proposals go to the IHMM Board for its September 24, 2021 meeting.

IHMM CSHM Scheme Committee

The IHMM CSHM Scheme Committee is expected to complete the task of creating a new blueprint for the credential by Q4 of 2021. When released, this will lead to IHMM creating a separate group to organize the creation of new supporting text materials as well as working to create a new exam preparatory course.

Call for Volunteers – IHMM CSMP Scheme Committee

IHMM’s Certified Safety and Management Practitioner (CSMP) Scheme Committee has an immediate vacancy for volunteers. The CSMP Scheme Committee consists of subject matter experts whose responsibilities are twofold:

1) To develop and maintain valid, legally defensible, and credible certification examinations, and

2) To recommend and maintain standards for recertification, to evaluate activities that may be claimed for recertification, and to hear appeals of recertification decisions in accordance with the latest approved policies and procedures.

The policies and procedures are based upon professionally recognized psychometric principles and on the standards of the accreditation body(ies) by which IHMM is accredited or recognized.

To participate in the Committee, it requires that members attend virtual meetings, participate in teleconferences to work on Job Task Analysis, item writing, psychometric and technical review, and standard-setting.  Members of the committee are required to hold confidential all exam related information, and may not be involved in activities that train or prepare candidates for any IHMM examination(s), or be willing to cease such activities for the duration of service on the Committee and for a period of five (5) years thereafter.  Committee membership is awarded in 2-year increments.

In January 2020, IHMM began a new Job Task Analysis (JTA) to develop a new CSMP Test Specifications (Blueprint).  The Committee meets via teleconference and the web and it will take approximately 20 hours of participation, and at times work on individual assignments.  The teleconference and web meetings range from 1-2 hours in duration.  All committee members will receive training. If you would like to contribute to the continued vitality of the Institute and the CSMP credential.  You will earn 10 certification maintenance points (CMPs) per year toward your recertification for your participation, and an additional 10 CMPs for participating in the Job Task Analysis.

If you are interested, please send your resume and a cover letter indicating that you understand the commitment of approximately 20 hours of participation to begin the development of the new examination blueprint to M. Patricia Buley at [email protected]. Please put CSMP Scheme Committee in the subject line.

The application deadline for this opportunity is Friday, October 8.

IHMM Professional Standards Committee

The IHMM Professional Standards Committee is in the process of creating a new IHMM Code of Ethics orientation program for use by new applicants as well as during the recertification process. This committee also has the task of reviewing and recommending a standard for managing conflicts of interest.

IHMM Microcredential Task Force

The IHMM Microcredential Task Force is in the latter stages of preparing two draft blueprint recommendations for the IHMM Board for the creation of microcredentials for Pandemic Preparedness and Pandemic Response.

IHMM Professional Sustainability Task Force

The IHMM Professional Sustainability Task Force is in the initial stages of exploring the potential of creating a sustainability credential for IHMM and making a recommendation to the IHMM Board to that end.

IHMM 

IHMM is pleased to announce that three new credential videos are underway for the CSHM, CSMP, and ASHM credentials. These videos follow the two credential videos already produced for the CHMM and CHMP; see https://youtu.be/EGAChcNVeeY and https://youtu.be/tAV-RlKeHJ4

IHMM is also completing an update with Association Anywhere/MYIHMM to facilitate the transition of former ISHM credential holders [CSHM and CSMP] to participate in the IHMM recertification system. When formally announced, CSHM and CSMP credential holders will have one year to complete what will be a simple process of recertification.

IHMM has been soliciting responses to its RFP for a 360° cybersecurity audit of its operations and those of the contractors with whom IHMM works. IHMM has solid cybersecurity protection and is making sure that status remains ahead of the curve.

IHMM has just completed its application for ANSI/ANAB accreditation audit for the 2020-2021 year. The strength of credentials is based on the strength of their accreditation and IHMM’s ANSI/ANAB accreditation is the gold standard.

IHMM and HMS

The graphic to the left illustrates the relationship between IHMM and HMS. IHMM formed HMS to serve IHMM’s certificants. IHMM offers a variety of professional credentials and HMS creates education and training programs to serve the applicants and certificants of those credentials.

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 11.000 programs are webinars delivered online and virtually all carry IHMM CMPs values with them for your annual / 5-year CMP planning.

Learn more here.

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.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Do you want to hold polluters accountable? Clean up contaminated sites? Address environmental crimes?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance [OECA] is holding a Virtual Career Fair on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 9.30 am Eastern. For more information on the OECA Virtual Career Fair, including an opportunity to register please visit https://lnkd.in/gbZQwz2v Space is limited, so sign up early!

Donate to HMS

One of the most important projects of the Hazardous Materials Society is our Scholarship Program.

HMS wants to make it as easy as possible for those who cannot always afford to participate in pursuing certification, or keeping up with professional development, or attending great conferences and receiving outstanding training. HMS does not solicit contributions from the general public. HMS does ask IHMM’s certificants and their companies and our education and training vendors to consider a contribution.

Here, through your generosity, you can make a difference in promoting the ability of those who can afford it least to become participants in our communities of practice.

It’s never too late to make a difference, so don’t let this opportunity to make a difference pass you by. Please consider a tax-deductible donation of $250, $500 or what you can to help build HMS’s effort to help others in our communities of practice.

Retiring? IHMM Invites You to Become an Emeritus

You may have decided, after a long and successful career, to retire from active daily duty. Congratulations. That doesn’t mean you have to completely disengage from your profession. IHMM is pleased to offer Emeritus status to all certificants who will no longer be actively engaged in their communities of practice but who still want to stay in touch. Please let us know when you’re approaching that decision and we will assist you in the credential transition.

Please contact Jim Drosdak at [email protected] and he’ll be happy to help you.

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.