IHMM Credential Recognition
Below you will see the credential badges that are now in each CHMM, CHMP, CDGT, CDGP, Student CHMM, 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 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.
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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 AHMM Scheme Committee – Call for Volunteers
The IHMM Associate Hazardous Materials Manager [AHMM] Scheme Committee has an immediate vacancy for membership. We are also seeking Subject Matter Experts who are CHMMs, CHMPs, as well as those with some military service.
Charter: The Associate Hazardous Materials Manager [AHMM] Scheme Committee shall consist of subject matter experts whose responsibilities are twofold: To develop and maintain valid, legally defensible, and credible certification examinations in accordance with the latest approved policies and procedures; and 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. Initially, IHMM will not seek accreditation for this credential until the population attracted to this new credential reaches a critical mass capable of sustaining the investment in accreditation, while this committee nonetheless is aware that accreditation will eventually be sought.
The committee membership is awarded in 2-year increments. It requires that members attend virtual meetings, participate in the test specification process, review the draft blueprint and finalize the blueprint according to best practices. Also, develop the examination and write items, participate in the content validation and technical review, and set the cut score. The reward is recognition for your contribution to the continued vitality of the Institute and 10 certification maintenance points (CMPs) per year toward your recertification for your participation and an additional 10 CMPs for developing the final blueprint. In addition, volunteers agree to adhere to the appropriate IHMM Code of Ethics and the IHMM Volunteer Code of Conduct, all members of the scheme committee shall execute an Agreement of Confidentiality at the beginning of each term.
If you are interested, please go to: https://ihmm.org/ahmm-scheme-committee/
If you have any questions, please contact M. Patricia Buley, AHMM Scheme Committee Staff Liaison, at [email protected].
IHMM Meets to Create Strategy on Credential Recognition
On November 22, 2021, IHMM Executive Director Gene Guilford met with Craig Saperstein of Pillsbury Law in Washington, and Craig’s colleagues Anne Austin (former EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator) and Matt Morrison (former EPA enforcement head), on creating the strategy to approach the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on recognition of the CHMM credential.
§ 312.10 Definitions.
(a) Terms used in this part and not defined below, but defined in either CERCLA or 40 CFR part 300 (the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan) shall have the definitions provided in CERCLA or 40 CFR part 300.
(b) When used in this part, the following terms have the meanings provided as follows:
Abandoned property means: property that can be presumed to be deserted, or an intent to relinquish possession or control can be inferred from the general disrepair or lack of activity thereon such that a reasonable person could believe that there was an intent on the part of the current owner to surrender rights to the property.
Adjoining properties means: any real property or properties the border of which is (are) shared in part or in whole with that of the subject property, or that would be shared in part or in whole with that of the subject property but for a street, road, or other public thoroughfare separating the properties.
Data gap means: a lack of or inability to obtain information required by the standards and practices listed in subpart C of this part despite good faith efforts by the environmental professional or persons identified under § 312.1(b), as appropriate, to gather such information pursuant to §§ 312.20(e)(1) and 312.20(e)(2).Date of acquisition or purchase date means: the date on which a person acquires title to the property.
Environmental Professional means:
(1) a person who possesses sufficient specific education, training, and experience necessary to exercise professional judgment to develop opinions and conclusions regarding conditions indicative of releases or threatened releases (see § 312.1(c)) on, at, in, or to a property, sufficient to meet the objectives and performance factors in § 312.20(e) and (f).
(2) Such a person must:
(i) Hold a current Professional Engineer’s or Professional Geologist’s license or registration from a state, tribe, or U.S. territory (or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), or hold a current Certified Hazardous Materials Manager certification from the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management, and have the equivalent of three (3) years of full-time relevant experience; or
(ii) Be licensed or certified by the federal government, a state, tribe, private certification body accredited by the American National Standards Institute, or U.S. territory (or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) to perform environmental inquiries as defined in § 312.21 and have the equivalent of three (3) years of full-time relevant experience; or
(iii) Have a Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a discipline of engineering or science and the equivalent of five (5) years of full-time relevant experience; or
(iv) Have the equivalent of ten (10) years of full-time relevant experience.
(3) An environmental professional should remain current in his or her field through participation in continuing education or other activities.
(4) The definition of environmental professional provided above does not preempt state professional licensing or registration requirements such as those for a professional geologist, engineer, or site remediation professional. Before commencing work, a person should determine the applicability of state professional licensing or registration laws to the activities to be undertaken as part of the inquiry identified in § 312.21(b).
(5) A person who does not qualify as an environmental professional under the foregoing definition may assist in the conduct of all appropriate inquiries in accordance with this part if such person is under the supervision or responsible charge of a person meeting the definition of an environmental professional provided above when conducting such activities.
Relevant experience, as used in the definition of environmental professional in this section, means: participation in the performance of all appropriate inquiries investigations, environmental site assessments, or other site investigations that may include environmental analyses, investigations, and remediation which involve the understanding of surface and subsurface environmental conditions and the processes used to evaluate these conditions and for which professional judgment was used to develop opinions regarding conditions indicative of releases or threatened releases (see § 312.1(c)) to the subject property.
Good faith means: the absence of any intention to seek an unfair advantage or to defraud another party; an honest and sincere intention to fulfill one’s obligations in the conduct or transaction concerned.
Institutional controls means: non-engineered instruments, such as administrative and/or legal controls, that help to minimize the potential for human exposure to contamination and/or protect the integrity of a remedy.
IHMM To Launch $32,000 Scholarship Program in 2022
The IHMM Board of Directors is pleased to announce that in 2022 the Institute will launch a $32,000 annual scholarship program to support students pursuing Environment, Health, and Safety as well as Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods disciplines in undergraduate as well as graduate studies.
Spearheading the new program is Jan Rosenberg, CSHM, currently serving on the IHMM Board as well as Chair of the ASHM Committee. Jan’s committee will also be working on creating a new Student ASHM credential, also launching in 2022. Jan is forming the IHMM Scholarship Committee now and is expected to be joined initially by Pinkie Wood, CSHM, Sarath Seneviratne, CHMM, Emily Lucas, CSHM, and Robin Spencer, CHMM. See: https://ihmm.org/ihmm-scholarship-committee/
Who Is Your Company Marketing Head?
Please provide the answer on this webform: https://forms.gle/B2FcmsajPLo6oYzg9
NIOSH Seeks Comments on the Need to Establish Centers of Excellence
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is soliciting public comment on the need to establish centers of excellence to address research and practice needs in the area of personal protective technology (PPT), including personal protective equipment. The request for information has been published in the Federal Register, and complete details of the information requested can be found in the published notice:
Comments can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail as explained in the notice. Comments need to be received by January 31, 2022.
FEDERAL CREDENTIAL RECOGNITION – CALL TO ACTION – Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act
CALL TO ACTION – Representative Spanberger of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District has drafted legislation entitled, H.R. 2171, “Freedom To Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act.” This legislation expands the provisions of existing law with respect to the allowable uses of Section 529 education tuition accounts to include most expenses paid by the holders of private professional certifications. We need you to contact your House and Senate members to ask them to co-sponsor this legislation.
CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE
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.
GFL employee charged for illegally dumping 12 tons at residence
EPA tasks Science Advisory Board with reassessing health effects of PFOA and PFOS
Corporate Growth Conference 2021: What’s driving waste valuations?
Colorado department launches third year of NextCycle program
Bubbling Up: Previously Hidden Environmental Impact of Bursting Bubbles Exposed in New Study
Electronic Nose on a Drone Sniffs out Wastewater Treatment Plant Stink
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources Technology Review
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Surface Coating of Automobiles and Light-Duty Trucks, Surface Coating of Metal Cans, Boat Manufacturing, and Clay Ceramics Manufacturing; Technical Correction
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Carbon Black Production and Cyanide Chemicals Manufacturing Residual Risk and Technology Reviews, and Carbon Black Production Area Source Technology Review
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Flexible Polyurethane Foam Fabrication Operations Residual Risk and Technology Review and Flexible Polyurethane Foam Production and Fabrication Area Source Technology Review
Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request; NIH COVID-19 Vaccination Status Form Extension
EPA and Army Take Action to Provide Certainty for the Definition of WOTUS
FINRA’s Eileen Murray Defends Increased Regulation of ESG
EPA Denies TSCA Section 21 Petition Seeking the Elimination of Hazardous Chemicals Used in Mixtures in Cosmetics
We Have a New EPA Definition of “Waters of The United States” But If You Were Looking for A Bright Line You’re Going to Be Disappointed!
The New ASTM E1527-21 Standard Practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
SEC Continues to Advance ESG Agenda
NNI Holds Webinar on “What We Know about NanoEHS: Risk Assessment and Risk Management”
CEQ Takes Action to Restore Pre-2020 NEPA Regulations
OIG Report Includes Ensuring the Safe Use of Chemicals among EPA’s FY 2022 Top Management Challenges
Vermont PFAS Settlement For Over $30 Million – Key Takeaways
PHMSA seeks to suspend transport of LNG by rail
State legislators say they’ll tweak oil spill regulations
IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations – Is It Time to Go Electronic?
Maintaining safe lithium batteries operations
When are Absorbents Required by Air?
The challenges of transporting hazardous materials
Short staffing ‘continues to be the biggest risk’ to Chemical Safety Board: EPA OIG report
Waste and recycling employers prepping for OSHA coronavirus requirements amid legal holdups
NSC Webinars
- November 23 – The Myths and Misconceptions of FR/AR Clothing
- November 30 – Users of Industrial Hydrogen Look Beyond Delivered for Security of Supply
- December 1 – Are You Ready to Lead “Safety Differently”?
- December 2 – Four (and a Half) New ANSI Fall Protection Standards: What You Need to Know Before Buying Equipment
Beltway Buzz – Ogletree & Deakins
House Builds Back Better. After months of starts, restarts, delays, and negotiations, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the Build Back Better Act on November 19, 2021, by a vote of 220–213. The bill would invest approximately $1.7 trillion, primarily in climate and domestic social programs, and add $367 billion to the federal deficit between 2022 and 2031. In the labor and employment law space, the bill would add a new four-week federal paid leave program, as well as new penalties—and dramatic increases to existing statutory amounts—for employer violations of various federal labor laws that the Buzz described in our October 29, 2021, issue. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where it will be the subject of further debate and negotiation, as well as rulings by the Senate parliamentarian about what provisions can and cannot be included pursuant to the budgetary reconciliation process. This process is expected to unfold in the Senate during the last few weeks of the year.
OSHA Vaccination ETS Challenges Land in Sixth Circuit. For all its rules, process, and precedent, our legal system sometimes quite literally comes down to the flip of a coin or the bounce of a Ping-Pong ball. This week, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation randomly selected “from a drum” the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the consolidated legal challenges to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). More than 30 legal challenges to the ETS have been filed in a dozen different federal circuit courts of appeals. In the meantime, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ stay of the ETS remains in place, and OSHA has updated its ETS website to note that it “has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the ETS pending future developments in the litigation.”
FTC to Examine Noncompetes? Agencies that are not normally associated with labor and employment law policy seem to be growing increasingly interested in the topic. The Buzz recently noted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) “human capital disclosure” efforts. This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released for public comment its draft Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2022 to 2026. Among the proposals are the following worker-related items:
- “Reach out to workers: Provide workers and those looking for work, including those in marginalized communities, with practical, user-friendly educational resources and information to help them identify and report market power abuses and consumer protection violations in the marketplace.”
- “Focus on workers: Study and investigate the impact on worker wages and benefits from merger and nonmerger conduct, as well as non-compete and other potentially unfair contractual terms resulting from power asymmetries between workers and employers.”
In July 2021, President Biden issued an executive order recommending, among other things, that the FTC examine covenants not to compete. Comments on the FTC’s proposed strategic plan are due by November 30, 2021.
EEOC Adds Retaliation Information to COVID-19 Guidance. In conjunction with its new joint anti-retaliation initiative with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this week updated its COVID-19 guidance with new information relating to unlawful retaliation in the workplace. The new guidance includes the following:
- Requesting an accommodation for a disability or a religious belief is protected activity. The EEOC clarified that “the EEO laws prohibit an employer from retaliating against an employee for requesting continued telework as a disability accommodation after a workplace reopens.”
- Such requests for accommodation are protected from retaliation “even if the individual is not legally entitled to accommodation, such as where the employee’s medical condition is not ultimately deemed a disability under the [Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)], or where accommodation would pose an undue hardship.”
- Employees engaging in protected activity may still be disciplined for legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons. For example, “an employer may take non-retaliatory, non-discriminatory action to enforce COVID-19 health and safety protocols, even if such actions follow EEO activity (e.g., an accommodation request).”
- “Under the ADA, employers may not coerce, intimidate, threaten, or otherwise interfere with the exercise of ADA rights by job applicants or current or former employees.”
Anti-Arbitration Bills on the Move. This week, the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary advanced the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (H.R. 4445), just a couple of weeks after a companion bill (S. 2342) was approved by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The bill would prohibit any “predispute arbitration agreement or predispute joint-action waiver” relating to a “sexual assault dispute” or “sexual harassment dispute.”
DOL Moves to Rescind Trump-Era Apprenticeship Rule. On November 15, 2021, the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to rescind the Trump administration’s Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP) rule that was finalized in March 2020. In the NPRM, the DOL reasons that “the IRAP rule does not provide adequate focus on worker needs and protections, does not ensure adequate program quality standards, does not provide sufficient equal employment opportunity protections for apprentices, and does not provide a proven pathway to family-sustaining jobs.” Comments on the proposal are due on or before January 14, 2022.
Hazardous Materials Society Board of Directors Election
In the 2021 Hazardous Materials Society Board of Directors election there are 7 total candidates for 4 open positions. There are 6 candidates for 3 regular Board positions and 1 candidate for 1 Public Member Board position. Of the 6 candidates for the 3 regular Board positions, you may vote for up to 3 people. You may also vote for the 1 candidate for the 1 Public Member Board position.
Each HMS Board seat is for a two-year term commencing Jan 1, 2022, and ending Dec 31, 2023.
The candidates are shown with their bios below. Each IHMM certificate in good standing has received their numbered, secure ballot instructions by email from our voting system. The election runs through the end of November.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New! Vaccine Data Dashboard. We now have a specific dashboard dedicated to state vaccination plans, updated daily. For each state, you’ll find:
- Current distribution phase,
- Brief overview of state plan,
- Current and future eligible populations, and
- Links to state documentation.
A Collaborative Culture
There are 534 different conversations going on in the IHMM/HMS Collaboration platform this week.
A collaborative culture is important for every business but is especially important for our hazardous materials, dangerous goods, environment, health, and safety communities of practice. Do you have a problem you need to solve and want the opinions of your colleagues? This is where we come together to help each other.
IHMM credentialed professionals are at the top 1% of their professions and their reach is global. We are at the forefront of environmental protection, health, and safety and this is where collaborating with the best people in their fields, always willing to help one another, lessens the stress of our jobs, and where we strive as a team to make a difference of which we are proud.
We opened COLLABORATION to enable thousands of certificants and supporters to collaborate together. You can collaborate here.
Access to COLLABORATION is through the same username/password you use to access your MYIHMM account. Having a problem? Contact Jimmy Nguyen at [email protected]
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.
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 2021-22
IHMM will attend and support a number of conferences and trade shows throughout 2021-22, virtually as well as in-person as COVID issues allow. Below are some of the conferences IHMM will support in 2021-22.
Are there conferences you believe IHMM should attend that do not appear here? If so, let us know by sending an email to [email protected]
Federation of Environmental Technologists Environment 2021 Conference
December 7-9, 2021
The Ingleside Hotel, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
This will be an in-person event – more information here.
EnviroWorkShops 2022 Global Enviro Summit
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.
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.
Vendor Alert
How much of this business are you getting? If you want to get involved with delivering services to the growing number of IHMM applicants and those preparing for exams as well as continuing education, contact Jillian Wood at [email protected] or call 301-244-4863 today.
IHMM-HMS EVENTS CALENDAR
IHMM has a companion organization for which education and training programs are presented and delivered. The Hazardous Materials Society is IHMM’s Professional Association and HMS’ education and training website can be found here.
IHMM AFFILIATIONS
9210 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 470
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
www.ihmm.org | [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 | Fax: 301-984-1516