EHS Professional – October 6, 2022

IHMM Certifications Matter

Validate your knowledge and experience. It’s how professionals stay on top of their field.

It’s how you differentiate yourself.

Thursday, October 6, 2022

EHS Professional is an online publication of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)

Other than content specifically provided by IHMM, articles contained in EHS Professional
are compiled from independent sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IHMM.

Phone: 301-984-8969 | [email protected]

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IHMM Credential Recognition

Below you will see the 4 EHS credential badges that are now in each CSHM, CSMP, ASHM, and Student 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.

IHMM is in all 50 of the United States and in 47 countries around the world.

CHOOSE ONLINE-PROCTORED OR IN PERSON EXAMS (1)

IHMM In-Person or Remotely Proctored Exams

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 2020.

76% 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.

IHMM UPDATES

IHMM Credentials Accredited By

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.

Hurricane Ian Devastates Puerto Rico and Florida – We Can Help

The images showing the devastation left by Hurricane Ian this week are heartbreaking. We can help our neighbors in need. Here are just a few of the agencies assisting hundreds of thousands who have lost family members and property.

Feeding South Florida > https://feedingsouthflorida.org/donate-now/
Volunteer Florida > https://www.volunteerflorida.org/?fbclid=IwAR2_l2HHD6R0ikkEQJz3AJQgxmIXwxZ1EyqOXoxlzG6TUur331qdUfjvTE0
American Red Cross > https://www.redcross.org/

OSHA Hurricane Recovery Operation Resources

Due to the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Ian, many workers are and will be affected with on-going cleanup and recovery efforts. We wanted to remind everyone that OSHA has an Emergency Preparedness and Response webpage that provides information to protect workers responding to hurricanes and floods. Attached is a PDF for our Worker Safety and Health Resources for Hurricane and Flood Cleanup and Recovery, found on OSHA web page here. OSHA is dedicated to the protection of ALL workers including day laborers, temporary workers, and non-English speaking workers. Many of the OSHA materials are available in other languages, along with a few Public Service Announcements that have been recorded and transcribed.

On September 29, 2022, DOL issued a press release urging first responders, recovery crews, and the public to be vigilant from hazards in Hurricane Ian recovery operations. DOL also has a Disaster Recovery Assistance page that provides resources to assist with recovery efforts. Please share this information, as appropriate, with your members and stakeholders, including those who may be hurricane cleanup and recovery employers, workers, and volunteers.

See > Worker Safety and Health Resources for Hurricane and Flood Cleanup and Recovery

For questions about these resources, please contact Christopher Lawver (202-693-1985; or [email protected]) or Bill Matarazzo (202-693-2160 or [email protected]).

2022 IHMM Board of Directors Election

On Monday, October 3, 2022, the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management will begin its 2022 elections for the IHMM Board of Directors for 3 seats with service beginning January 1, 2023. IHMM’s Nominating Committee began soliciting candidates for three seats on March 8, 2022, and continued in every Tuesday edition of IHMM Today through June 28, 2022. The three seats up for election in 2022 are [1] seat for a CDGP, [1] seat for a CSHM, and [1] seat for At-Large, which can come from a CHMM, CDGP, CHMP, CSHM, or CSMP.

The election will run from Monday, October 3, 2022, through Friday, November 4, 2022.

At Large Candidates
[On the ballot you vote for 1 of the following]

Bennett, Stephen M., CSMP. Read more about Stephen here.

Breton, Gerard A., CSMP. Read more about Gerard here.

Kasanicky, John, CSMP. Read more about John here.

Rehlander, Matthew, CSMP. Read more about Matthew here.

Sharratt, Ryan B., CHMM. Read more about Ryan here.

St. Peter, Shawn, CSMP. Read more about Shawn here.

Winning, Erika, CHMM. Read more about Erika here.

Certified Safety and Health Manager [CSHM] Candidates
[On the ballot you vote for 1 of the following]

Rosenberg, Jan, CSHM. Read more about Jan here.

Certified Dangerous Goods Professional Candidate [CDGP].

[On the ballot you vote for 1 of the following]

Schmelczer, Ivan, CDGP. Read more about Ivan here.

NOTE: When you receive your IHMM Election Buddy email with a unique key and access to your 2022 Board of Directors Ballot, vote for one person in each of the 3 categories above. One CDGP, one CSHM, and one At Large.

Thank you for participating in the 2022 IHMM Board elections on Monday, October 3, 2022, through Friday, November 4, 2022.

IHMM Certified School Safety Manager® [CSSM®] Credential

Mike Howe, CSSM, Chair of the CSSM-CSSS Committee, is pleased to announce that the committee now releases its credential blueprint. When IHMM took over the CSSM credential in 2019 it had no blueprint or examination. Thanks to the outstanding leadership of Mike Howe leading his committee not only do we have a credential blueprint, we are almost ready to begin finalizing the CSSM examination as well.

Identifying all of the threats and vulnerabilities likely to impact a K-12 school district or post-secondary schools is a critical part of the emergency operations planning process for all schools. One only has to look at the day’s news to understand the importance of having professional, certified school safety managers in place guiding the planning and execution of sound safety programs. Colonel Chris Owens, a CSSM committee member, is already at work with the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency on how what IHMM is creating can be incorporated into the operations of Georgia schools.

This IHMM committee is making the CSSM credential real, and is starting to engage their communities with efforts to make schools safer using professionally certified school safety managers. Look for the new CSSM examination before the end of 2022.

The new CSSM credential blueprint is found here.

IHMM Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist® [CPPS®] Credential

Dan Blankfeld, CSHM, CSMP, Chair of the Microcredential Task Force, is pleased to announce the release of the IHMM Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist [CPPS] credential blueprint. The Task Force received more than 200 suggestions for microcredentials that could be used in conjunction with existing IHMM credentials to add depth to specific knowledge and experience areas. Microcredentials are short, focused credentials designed to provide in-demand skills, know-how and experience.

A Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist® (CPPS®) Microcredential holder is first a CHMM or CSHM credentialed professional who has demonstrated, through education, experience, and examination, the ability to identify and assess the risks associated with pathogens and their effect on public health, commerce, industry, and/or government operation. The focus of the CPPS microcredential is to: assess and provide guidance concerning the preparedness levels of different entities, and develop and implement risk-reduction strategies.

The Task Force is making progress on the construction of the CPPS examination at this writing. We look forward to the completion of the examination and launch of the credential to the IHMM community and then begin working with federal officials from the CDC, NIH, and White House Pandemic Innovation Task Force on being better prepared for the next pandemic. Read the March, 2022 release from the White House here.

The new CPPS credential blueprint is found here.

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. The 45 in 5 Project is for ALL IHMM credentials. This summer we have worked on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers health and safety manual that recognizes the CSHM and CSMP credentials. We are working with a CSHM in New York on their Department of Labor recognizing the CSHM.

We have already succeeded in 13 states – New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Indiana, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Arkansas, Oklahoma. Ohio, North Dakota, and Georgia. [Red states in the map above]. These are states where IHMM credentials are cited or 40 CFR 312.10 is cited by reference.
We have partially succeeded in another 16 states – Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. [Orange/Black Stripe states in the map above] These are states where the requirements of an “environmental professional” or QEP are cited that coincide with an IHMM credential so that relatively little work would need to be done to clarify the desired outcome.
We have 21 states where no reference to an IHMM credential is made in either statute or regulation, nor is there anything defined in the area of an environmental professional. These states will require legislation or regulatory work. [Yellow states in the map above].

In January 2021 Mark at AHMP and Gene at IHMM has launched 45 in 5, getting the other 45 states to recognize our credentials in 5 years. If we can find a volunteer like Mark in other states [see above] we can work with those volunteers on crafting the right message to the right agencies in state governments across the country. If we find enough volunteers we can get this done in less than 5 years.

In January 2022 Gene Guilford released the 40 CFR § 312.10 EPA regulation that states a private certification that meets or exceeds the requirements of the regulation is an Environmental Professional under the regulation. Here is the crosswalk between the 40 CFR § 312.10 EPA regulation and the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager [CHMM] blueprint. The CHMM meets or exceeds the requirements of an Environmental Professional.

Here’s what we ask each volunteer to do:

Watch legislative and regulatory developments in your state that provide an opportunity for us to create amendments or other interventions
Be willing to speak with regulators and legislators in your area about the recognition efforts we craft together

Learn more about the AHMP-IHMM 45 in 5 Project here

Fatal Trench Collapse in Missouri Leads to OSHA Safety Citation

DUDLEY, MO ‒ A federal workplace safety investigation alleges that a Dexter construction contractor might have prevented a pipelayer’s fatal injuries in a trench collapse on April 8, 2022, if the company had used trench safety protection measures as required by law.

The worker was installing storm water drainage in an 8-foot-deep trench along Old Highway 60 in Dudley when the tragedy occurred.

Trench collapses are among the construction industry’s most lethal hazards. In the first six months of 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports 22 workers suffered fatal injuries in trenching and excavation work.

Following its investigation, OSHA determined Brown Construction Co. Inc. failed to use a trench box, or to shore or slope the trench walls to prevent collapse. The company did not provide a required means to exit the 80-foot-long trench. It also failed to train employees about excavation hazards and safety precautions and did not have a competent person inspect the trench daily for potential hazards.

US Department of Labor announces selection of OSHA Training Institute Education Centers

Centers extend safety and health training opportunities throughout US

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the addition of a new organization to its OSHA Training Institute Education Center network and the renewal of 25 existing education centers. OTI Education Centers are non-profit organizations that offer training courses on OSHA standards and occupational safety and health topics to workers and employers across the country.

Since 1992, the OTI Education Center program has provided training nationwide to private sector and federal personnel from agencies outside OSHA and trained more than 42,000 people in fiscal year 2022.

The centers also help administer OSHA’s Outreach Training Program and fulfill the program’s monitoring requirements. They are the sole distribution channel for Outreach Training Program trainer courses, including OSHA standards and update courses. The program trained more than three million people from fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2022. This voluntary program is not a training requirement of any OSHA standard.

Following a national competition, the new and renewed OTI Education Centers were announced on April 18, 2022. The competition evaluated applicants on organizational commitment, experience and qualifications; staff experience and qualifications; location and training facilities; marketing and administrative capabilities; Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility; and language accessibility.

OSHA does not fund OTI Education Centers. The centers are supported through established tuition and fee structures and provide instructors and facilities. For more information on the OTI Education Centers Program, the Outreach Training Program, and the Office of Training and Education, please visit the OSHA Training webpage.

The new and renewed OTI Education Centers are in the link below.

How to Respond When OSHA Knocks

Learn what to expect during an OSHA inspection and how to handle the entire OSHA inspection process with confidence. Goldberg Segalla’s Michael Rubin and Kate Badey of Safety Consultants USA will provide practice pointers for each stage of an inspection, with an emphasis on those most-important rights that employers should know and exercise each step of the way.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Business owners in all industries, managers, project superintendents, foremen, and anyone involved with occupational safety and health issues

ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:
Your most important rights during an OSHA inspection What to expect during each stage of an inspection, including specific practice pointers What you can do today – before OSHA ever shows up – to put yourself in the best position to successfully navigate a future inspection

Register Here.

Considerations When Deciding Between an OSHA 10-hour or OSHA 30-hour Training Course

Are both training courses necessary?

According to Curtis Chambers, an OSHA-authorized 10 and 30-hour trainer, many employers and employees are confused when trying to decide if they need an OSHA 10-hour training course, or a 30-hour training course, or even both. So, his company, OSHA Training Services Inc., just posted an update to their OSHA Training Blog with the information needed to make an informed decision.

“According to federal OSHA, taking an OSHA 10 or 30-hour training course is completely voluntary”, says Mr. Chambers. “However, it is certainly the prerogative of an employer, general contractor, or government agency to impose a requirement for a worker or supervisor to possess an OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour training course completion card as a condition of employment, or to access a worksite. In fact, there are at least nine states, plus several municipalities, that have passed laws requiring you to possess a 10 or 30-hour OSHA training card to access certain work sites.”

Mr. Chambers continues; “Two more questions that come up a lot are whether or not it a requirement to take OSHA 10-hour training before you can take OSHA 30-hour training, and, whether or not a person who completed an OSHA 10-hour training course is able to take just 20 more hours of training later to get their OSHA 30-hour card. OSHA has very clear policies that address these two questions, which are explained in our blog post.”

Readers can access The OSHA Training Blog to get answers to these common questions about OSHA policies and requirements for OSHA 10 or 30-hour training courses.

OSHA Training Services Inc. conducts on site OSHA 10 and 30-hour training classes anywhere in the United States for groups of eight or more students. They also offer on-demand computer-based OSHA training courses on a variety of the major general industry and construction topics, including online OSHA 10 and 30-hour courses, confined space training courses, fall protection training courses, and more

Deciding between OSHA 10-hour and OSHA 30-hour training courses? Watch this video.
Read the original article here > https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/592908026/considerations-when-deciding-between-an-osha-10-hour-or-osha-30-hour-training-course

California’s COVID-19 Workplace Requirements Continue to Evolve

In recent weeks, California state legislators and regulators have considered significant changes to the state’s COVID-19 requirements for workplaces. On September 29, Governor Newsom signed AB 2693 into law, extending but simplifying the statutory COVID-19 notice requirements. On September 15, Cal/OSHA agreed to substantially revise its proposal for a non-emergency regulatory standard for 2023 and beyond.

COVID-19 Notice Requirements Extended but Simplified

Since early 2021, California employers have been subject to extensive notice requirements for COVID-19 cases, as codified in Section 6409.6 of the California Labor Code. Those requirements were originally set to expire on January 1, 2023. Last week, Governor Newsom signed AB 2693 into law, which extends the notice requirements for one year and streamlines the requirements in several notable ways. California employers should be aware of the following changes, which will take effect starting January 1, 2023:

Direct written notice is no longer required

Under the current law, employers must provide direct written notices to employees (and employers of subcontracted employees) who are on the premises at the same time as a confirmed COVID-19 case during their infectious period. Under the amended law, employers will have the alternative option to “prominently display” the notice in the workplace wherever notices regarding workplace rules or regulations are customarily posted. The notices must be posted within one business day of receiving notice of the positive case, remain posted for at least 15 days, and include:

Dates and locations of confirmed COVID-19 cases at the workplace;
Contact information for employees to receive information about COVID-19-related benefits to which the employee may be entitled; and
Contact information for employees to receive the cleaning and disinfection plan that the employer will implement according to CDC and Cal/OSHA guidelines.

Employers may continue to provide direct written notice as an alternative to a displayed notice in the workplace. They must also keep a log of the dates that any such notices were posted.

Outbreak reporting requirement eliminated

At this time, employers must notify the local health department when they are aware of positive cases that meet the California Department of Public Health’s definition of an “outbreak.” As amended, this requirement will be eliminated. Starting January 1, 2023, employers will no longer be required to report “outbreaks” to their local health departments.

Current Law Remains in Place Until January 1, 2023

The prior law is set by statute to remain in effect until January 1, 2023. These amendments will not take effect until that date. As a result, employers should continue to comply with the existing notice requirements for the remainder of the year.

Cabinet Manufacturer Faces Citations After Worker Electrocuted

By Alex Saurman • Oct 05, 2022

A cabinet manufacturer was recently cited after a worker was fatally injured.

In March of this year, a 33-year-old technician was replacing a light fixture when they “came into contact with a 277-volt circuit,” according to an OSHA news release. The technician, emloyed by Wellborn Cabinet Inc of Alabama, was fatally electrocuted.

After an inspection, the agency determined parts were not checked for de-energization, and “energy isolation devices” were not used to control energy, the agency said. Other violations OSHA found relate to PPE use while “spraying coatings, paints and finishes” and ladder use. The company was cited for eight serious violations. The agency also proposed penalties totaling $115,188.

“A worker’s family, friends and co-workers now grieve a terrible loss which might have been prevented had Wellborn Cabinet followed federal safety requirements,” explained OSHA Area Director Ramona Morris in Birmingham in the news release. “Every worker has a right to a safe and healthful workplace and every employer is legally responsible for providing one. We encourage employers to contact us with questions about keeping their employees safe.”

Read the original article here > https://ohsonline.com/articles/2022/10/05/cabinet-manufacturer.aspx

IHMM CSHMⓇ 2022 Salary Survey

IHMM is pleased to release its 2022 salary survey for Certified Safety and Health Managers Ⓡ [CSHMⓇ] across a broad range of position titles in the CSHMⓇ community of practice.

You may download the CSHM survey here.

IHMM – 26 Fellows Are Mentors | Where are the Mentees?

IHMM Fellows Committee Chair Atanu Das, CHMM, is leading the effort within the IHMM Collaboration networking platform to provide instruction to the more than 75 IHMM Fellows in becoming mentors.

Given the extraordinary experience Fellows have, this is a unique opportunity for IHMM Fellows to help guide more recent certificants in their professional development activities.

Atanu and Gene exchanged information about this program on 10/3 and while we are grateful for the 26 Mentors – We Have No Mentees! No one could use help?

IHMM’s Collaboration platform contains a “Mentor Match” module [see below at right] that allows mentors to signup designating the hours, number of mentees, subject areas, and length of time they wish to mentor – as well as allowing mentees to signup requesting assistance in specified areas. The mentor match module does the rest by matching mentors and mentees.

Recert Video #1

Recert Video #2

IHMM Recertification Videos

IHMM is pleased to release two YouTube instructional videos about navigating the IHMM recertification process. These step-by-step videos easily enable IHMM certificants to start and complete a recertification application.

While the full recertification cycle is 5 years, IHMM encourages all certificants to start a recertification application and add certification maintenance points as they are earned to make the final submission quick and easy to accomplish.

Every CSHM and CSMP should start a recertification application now.
Even if your recertification is years away, starting an application now and adding your accumulated points enables you to see where you are all the time and it makes it very easy when you have to file your application

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 News

NSC Webinars

October 6 – Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment: Understanding the Law and Avoiding Liability
October 27 – Is Your Written Hazard Communication Program OSHA Compliant?
November 11 – Forklift Compliance: Inspection Requirements, Training and FAQs

IHMM News & Recent Updates

IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.

- ASSP News
  ASSP Webinars
  - Sept 22 – Oct 20 – ONLINE COURSE: Enterprise Risk Management for Safety Professionals
  - Sept 22 – Oct 20 – ONLINE COURSE: Implementing ISO 45001 Course
  - October 13 – The Importance of Data Analytics in Your Journey to Predictive EHS Management
  - October 19 – What Safety Professionals Need to Know About Battery Energy Storage Systems
  - October 24 – Live Virtual Classroom: Advanced Safety Management Methods
  - October 25 – A Standards-Based Approach to OSH Performance Measurement
  - Risk Management for OSH Professionals

IHMM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Beltway Buzz – Ogletree Deakins

Lawmakers Avoid Shutdown, Extend Government Funding Deadline. The U.S. Congress narrowly averted a federal government shutdown this week, as it approved a stopgap continuing resolution to keep the government funded and running through December 16, 2022. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the short-term measure today before the midnight deadline of September 30, 2022, when government funding will expire. The logjam broke when legislators agreed not to include Senator Joe Manchin’s federal permit streamlining plan in the funding package. While this is good news for the moment, it also means that Congress will need to revisit the shutdown drama in mid-December. The last time Congress punted federal spending beyond the midterm elections was in 2018, at which time Congress failed to come to an agreement, and the federal government shut down for a record thirty-five days from December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019. Just sayin’…

House Pandemic Proxy Practice Persists. Speaking of Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) extended the practice of voting by proxy until November 10, 2022, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have been permitted to vote remotely since March 2020, and the practice would have expired on September 26, 2022.

NLRB Revises Mail-Ballot Standard. In a decision released on September 29, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) revised its six-factor analysis that regional directors should use for determining when a representation election should be conducted by mail balloting, as opposed to in-person voting, due to COVID-19. In the decision, the Board amended the existing second factor to allow for mail-ballot elections when the risk of COVID-19 transmission in a particular community level is “high,” based on the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metric. (The previous second factor examined the fourteen-day trend of positive cases in the surrounding county.) Dissenting members Marvin Kaplan and John Ring criticized the majority’s failure to seek stakeholder input or expert opinion on the matter, as well as its failure to acknowledge the problems with mail-ballot voting. The dissent claimed that rather than “comprehensively explore both when it is or is not appropriate for Regional Directors to direct mail-ballot elections at this stage of the Covid pandemic,” the majority “simply substitut[ed] one imperfect basis for calculating voter risk with a different imperfect basis.”

IRAPs Scrapped. On September 26, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) finalized a rule rescinding the 2020 Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) regulation that implemented former president Donald Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 13801, Expanding Apprenticeships in America. According to a DOL announcement, “the department determined EO 13801 had created a duplicative, lower-quality system that was not in the best interest of workers and industries.” The final rule becomes effective November 25, 2022.

DOL IG Warns of Pandemic UI Fraud. A recent memo from the DOL’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) warns that the ETA paid out more than $45 billion in “potentially fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) pandemic benefits” from March 2020 to April 2022. Worse, the memo states that despite the OIG’s previous suggestions for ways “to mitigate fraud and other improper payments to ineligible claimants, … ETA has not taken sufficient action to implement the[] recommendations.” The OIG implores the ETA to amend its regulations and guidance to ensure that state workforce agencies fully cooperate with audits, investigations, and oversight of the UI program to “prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse.”

OFCCP Revises FAAP Requirements. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently revised its directive setting forth the process for contractors wishing to request, modify, or renew Functional Affirmative Action Program (FAAP) agreements. In addition to permitting establishment-based affirmative action programs (AAPs), OFCCP also allows AAPs organized around contractors’ functional or business units, such as sales departments that span multiple establishments in different geographic areas. According to OFCCP’s announcement, “[t]he revised Directive provides clarification regarding procedural requirements, in addition to minor language and formatting changes.” The directive is effective as of September 21, 2022.

HMS UPDATES

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 Makes Finding Courses to Earn CMPs Easy

Every year more than 1,600 IHMM certificants have to recertify their credentials, evidenced their continuing commitment to improvement and learning to elevate their professional credential.

Earning Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs] is illustrated under Recertification of Your Credential, that includes the Recertification Claims Manual – Appendix A, that details all of the ways a certificant may earn CMPs > https://ihmm.org/recertification-claims/

Having mastered that manual, how does an IHMM certificant find courses to earn CMPs?

HMS has made that simple and easy.

Go to https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
Scroll down until you see a row of buttons…click on the CMPs button

The system will then generate all of the courses on the HMS E&T platform with IHMM CMPs already attached.

The next developments by the HMS E&T committee will refine available courses’ CMPs by individual credential!

Linking IHMM and HMS Exam Training

Every IHMM credential page has a section providing guidance on Exam Preparation.

In each credential’s Exam Preparation section is the graphic at left, linked to the section of the Hazardous Materials Society [HMS] website where the applicant can find the exam prep courses being offered to assist the applicant with preparing for the IHMM exam.

If you are a vendor offering exam prep courses and your prep course is on the HMS site, IHMM applicants will find it. If you do not have an exam prep course on the HMS site, no applicant will find it.

Click on the graphic at the left, from the CHMM Exam Preparation page, and see where it takes you. Is your prep course there?

Make your IHMM credential exam prep courses visible to IHMM applicants by contacting Gene Guilford at [email protected]

Easily Find Courses to Help You Pass IHMM Credential Exams

CDGP Prep Course

CE-1112: CDGP Exam Prep – Columbia Southern University – Available On Demand

CHMM Prep Courses

CSHM Prep Courses

Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM®) Exam Preparation Course – VUBIZ – Available on Demand

RCM&D Professional Liability Insurance

HMS is proud to have partnered with RCM&D to be able to offer an outstanding comprehensive professional liability insurance program to IHMM certificants. Here, you will find information about this important program offering Environmental Consultants and Engineers Professional Liability coverage. This coverage is intended to add protection for loss stemming from actual or alleged negligent acts, errors and omissions in performing professional services.

For more information see > https://hazmatsociety.org/professional-liability-insurance/

Member Benefits of Hazardous Materials Society

99% 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.

Applications for the 2022 HMS Scholarship Awards Now Open

The HMS scholarship award is given annually to undergraduate and graduate students whose academic program and research studies have the potential to address the most serious issues in handling hazardous materials, dangerous goods, environmental issues, health & safety challenges. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in accredited U.S. academic institutions.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD APPLICATIONS IS December 1, 2022. All submissions and associated materials must be submitted using the online form.

Scholarship Winners Will Be Announced at the HMS Annual Meeting.

For More Information, Visit > https://hazmatsociety.org/scholarship/

There are 785 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 Margaret Toscano at [email protected] and she’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 2022

IHMM will attend and support a number of conferences and trade shows throughout 2022, virtually as well as in-person as COVID issues allow. Below are some of the conferences IHMM will support in 2022.

Are there conferences you believe IHMM should attend that do not appear here? If so, let us know! Send an email to [email protected] and tell us what conferences we should attend.

2022 FET Environmental Conference

October 25-27, 2022
Pewaukee, WI

IHMM CONFERENCES FOR 2023

IHMM will attend and support a number of conferences and trade shows throughout 2023, virtually as well as in-person as COVID issues allow. Below are some of the conferences IHMM will support in 2023.