EHS Professional – May 18, 2023

Texas A&M University -Qatar Joins the IHMM Student ASHM Program

AIHce EXP 2023

Phoenix Convention Center

Visit IHMM at Booth #908!

May 22-24, 2023

IHMM Board of Directors Nominations

IHMM Directors and Officers are volunteers who serve without pay. They may serve up to two, four-year terms. Directors are responsible for the governance of IHMM, including establishing the overall direction of IHMM, the appointment of Executive Director, policy-making, and financial management.

IHMM has two Board seats expiring at the end of 2023. IHMM is soliciting candidates for these two seats; one At-Large Director seat that may be held by a CHMM, CHMP, CDGP, CSHM or CSMP. One CSMP Director seat must be held by a CSMP.

The composition of the present Board is here > https://ihmm.org/board-of-directors/

Qualified candidates may submit nomination papers [self-nomination is acceptable] on or before June 30, 2023. The documents for this announcement, procedures, and nomination form are here:

• 2024 IHMM Nominations and Elections Process

• 2024 IHMM Call for Nominations

• 2024 IHMM Fillable Nominations Form

• The Certified School Safety Manager [CSSM] credential has now had its examination questions loaded into the Kryterion system and we will be ready to deliver exams for this important credential. The draft website is here > https://ihmm.org/cssm/  and the only element left to complete is a 60-second video.
• The Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist [CPPS] credential had a review by the IHMM Board on April 21st and IHMM will be able to start to build the website. The examination questions for the CPPS exam are being loaded into the Kryterion system at this writing. Dan Blankfeld and Gene Guilford have met with the Maryland Congressional delegation on this credential and look forward to more meetings.

There are 956 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]

IHMM Excellence in EHS Management Award

The Excellence in EHS Management Award recognizes an individual who has excelled in their role as an EHS manager. The Institute for Hazardous Materials Management [IHMM] will present the award at the annual National Safety Council Expo.

The honoree will receive a commemorative plaque and be recognized in a press release and in IHMM member communications. Travel expenses to the award ceremony will be subsidized. If traveling from overseas IHMM will pay travel expenses from the nearest port of entry.

Nominations will be accepted from March through July of each year and the presentation to the winner will be in conjunction with the National Safety Council Congress and Expo, this year on October 23-25, 2023 in New Orleans.

Make your nominations here >>  https://ihmm.org/ehs-management-award/

See previous award winners here >> https://ihmm.org/past-honorees/

AIHA and IHMM Collaborate on Education and Training

The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management [IHMM] and the American Industrial Hygiene Association [AIHA] have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding granting access to AIHA education and training assets to IHMM certificants.

IHMM’s Certified Hazardous Materials Manager [CHMM®], Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner [CHMP®], Certified Safety and Health Manager [CSHM®], and Certified Safety Management Practitioner [CSMP®] credential blueprints all have components of industrial hygiene disciplines and the access of IHMM’s certificants to the AIHA education and training programs vastly strengthens those credentials and the professionals who hold them.

In the coming weeks look for these AIHA programs to be added to the IHMM foundation’s education programs at the Hazardous Materials Society [HMS]. IHMM organized its HMS foundation to, in part, provide access to the best education and training programs available and the addition of AIHA programs is a tremendous addition to support for IHMM credentials.

IHMM thanks AIHA for this collaboration in education and training and looks forward to a long and productive relationship.

American Industrial Hygiene Association – https://www.aiha.org/

Institute of Hazardous Materials Management  – https://ihmm.org/

IHMM Needs Volunteers

“There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” — Jimmy Doolittle. We all benefit from the expertise, knowledge sharing, content creation and mentoring that our volunteer leaders share with our communities of practice.

IHMM has a wide variety of ways that our certificants and members can volunteer their time, make a substantial contribution to their communities of practice, and earn valuable Continuing Maintenance Points [CMPs].

Volunteering with IHMM is a deeply rewarding and giving endeavor, ranging from being a subject matter expert on a scheme committee to leading discussions in our COLLABORATION engagement platform to becoming a mentor for a college student.

Take a few minutes and review How to Become An IHMM Volunteer, and then scroll down and take the volunteer self-assessment.

Government Affairs Committee

• Open to all certificants > https://ihmm.org/government-affairs-committee/
• We need volunteers in these states:  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.
• IHMM engages in credential recognition from government for all of its credentials – so volunteering for govt affairs matters to every credential holder.

If You Feel You Are Being Watched, You Are

New survey shows 96% of companies are using employee monitoring software.

Every since COVID many companies have developed ways to keep an eye on employees.

What are the results of this surveillance? In March, ResumeBuilder.com surveyed 1,000 business leaders at companies with a primarily remote and/or hybrid workforce and found the following:

96% of Remote Companies Use Employee Monitoring Software
“It’s clear from our survey that there are still organizations struggling to manage their workforce post-pandemic,” comments Chief Career Advisor Staci Haller, in a statement. “The focus on hours worked versus actual productivity and the successful completion of timely projects seems to reflect the challenges management teams are facing when it comes to readjusting how they manage a remote workforce.”

This confusion is causing employers to turn to monitoring. And employees know about this; only 5% say their employees are unaware they are being monitored.

Just 10% of remote companies were monitoring employees pre-pandemic, while 37% started during the first year of the pandemic and 20% started monitoring within the past year.

Read more by clicking here.

Improve Your Workforce’s Health and Safety: Why Access to Resources Matters

To make a difference in our communities, it is essential to focus on the safety and mental health of our mission-critical workforce.

The news cycle these days is often filled with stories that leave us feeling discouraged and even horrified. From school shootings to rising mental health issues, it can be difficult to maintain a positive outlook.

Shockingly, nearly one in five American adults will experience a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year. Additionally, 46 percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, with half of those people developing conditions by the age of 14. These types of statistics are eye-opening and highlight the need for more training in the workplace on topics as direct as mental health awareness, but also those that are connected to our mental health, such as trauma, stress management, and depression.

The workplace is a complex environment, wrought with a unique set of potential risks and hazards. Employees rely on their employers to provide them with the information and resources they need to stay safe on the job, not just physically but also mentally. Business leaders have a legal and ethical obligation to ensure their workforces have access to critical health and safety data, such as safety protocols and occupational health resources.

Read more by clicking here.

US Department of Labor Fines TOPGOLF USA Oregon Location For Allowing Minor-Aged Employees To Work On Prohibited Tasks

U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found a subsidiary of Topgolf International Inc. in Hillsboro allowed minor-aged employees to load trash bags into compactors, a prohibited job under the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

“Learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up, but we must protect children and make sure their first jobs are safe and that their jobs don’t interfere with their education or well-being,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Carrie Aguilar in Portland, Oregon. “The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for developmental experiences but restricts the employment of young workers in certain jobs and provides for penalties when employers do not follow the law.”

Read more by clicking here.

Three Sessions You Don’t Want to Miss at AIHce 2023

No matter your expertise in the industry, AIHce EXP 2023 has an educational session for everyone.

We’re just one week away from the American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo (AIHce EXP 2023). If you haven’t already, it might be time to start packing your bags and planning your agenda.

Not sure what sessions to attend? Here are just a few you don’t want to miss.

On the first day of the show, Monday, May 22, “A5: Adjusting Your Company’s PPE Program for Female Workers” will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. PDT. During this session, Presenter Katie Stryker, CIH of CNA Insurance and Moderator Diana Peroni of BioMarin Pharmaceuticals “will debunk the myth of pink it and shrink it to offer insight and perspectives into how a program can use diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts to ensure that a company’s PPE program is a fit for everyone,” per AIHce’s website. Register for this advanced session online.

Read more by clicking here.

https://ohsonline.com/articles/2023/05/15/three-sessions-you-dont-want-to-miss-at-aihce-2023.aspx?admgarea=news

In the works: Training program on psychological safety in construction

A construction worker turned college professor is developing training aimed at strengthening psychological safety in the construction industry.

Hongtao Dang, assistant professor of construction management at Washington State University, will work with construction firms to gather data and information for case studies, according to a university press release. Those studies are expected to aid in the development of student and instructor manuals to be used in training modules.

“Each manual includes a case study that will be based on real work scenarios, with any identifying information about the project or people removed,” the release states. “The scenarios will be focused on inclusion, diversity and equity; professional development and personal growth; mental health and team success; and active care and suicide prevention.

“After being presented with a case study, the workers will have the chance to think about, discuss and share solutions in small groups. The trainer later helps the group understand what might be an optimal solution.”

Read more by clicking here.

US Department of Labor Finds Contractor Exposed Workers to Trench Hazards After Investigation Into 23-Year-Old Worker’s Fatality in Aurora

Coronado Excavation of Sewer and Water Repair failed to follow standards, train employees

In late December 2022, an unprotected trench at an Aurora residential worksite collapsed and fatally injured a 23-year-old employee, a tragedy that a Brighton sewer and water contractor could have prevented by using required protections against a leading cause of industry deaths.

Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined Coronado Excavation of Sewer and Water Repairs LLC exposed its workers to an unprotected trench at an Eastman Drive worksite. The collapse occurred while employees installed residential pipes and their employer failed to use adequate protective systems in the trench as required by law. Fire and rescue workers later recovered the deceased worker.

In addition to identifying the employer’s failure to provide trench protection, OSHA found Coronado Excavation had not trained workers on trenching and excavation hazards and did not protect them from excavated material falling into the trench nor did they provide safe access to and from the trench. The company faces $112,508 in proposed penalties.

Read more by clicking here.

Hydrating in the Heat Part 1: How Much Water Should Employees Drink?

Knowing the amount of water to consume in hot temperatures is vital, but employees should understand when to drink water too.

With summer and warm temperatures just around the corner, many employees will soon find themselves working in the heat. When the sun comes out, everyone needs to take extra precautions to ensure heat-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities are avoided.

One component of staying safe in the heat is something many people do daily and might not think about: staying hydrated.

The importance of hydration cannot be overstated. Per the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, high temperatures and physical exertion can lead to a greater chance of dehydration. Why is this a concern? Besides the fact that water keeps our bodies functioning and helps us maintain a healthy body temperature, dehydration can lead to heat injury and illness, seizures, weakness, organ damage and, in severe cases, death.

Read more by clicking here.

Hydrating in the Heat Part 2: What Does Urine Color Have to Do with Hydration?

If employees want to know if they’re adequately hydrated, there’s a quick and easy solution they may be able to turn to.

OH&S’ first part of this series went over the volume of water employees working in heat should drink and how often they should drink. But how can employees tell if they’re sufficiently hydrated or if they need to consume more water?

A simple solution: Look at the color of your urine. Although there are many ways to check your hydration status, a trip to the restroom can provide a quick answer.

Read more by clicking here.

Hydrating in the Heat Part 3: Can Other Drinks Besides Water Affect Hydration?

People prefer different beverages depending on the time of day, but when it comes to working in the heat, it’s vital to know how they’ll impact a worker’s hydration.

OH&S’ first and second parts of this series went over the volume of water employees working in heat should drink and the role urine color plays in knowing your hydration status.

However, water is not the only drink most people consume throughout the day. People often choose what drink suits their needs or wants. Some might prefer energy drinks to help get them through a long shift while others may pick soda or a sweeter drink simply because they enjoy the beverage’s flavor.

But when you’re working in hot temperatures, should these or other non-water drinks be avoided, and what effect does consuming them have on hydration?

Read more by clicking here.

10 Questions about Your Organization’s COVID-19 Response

The COVID-19 public health emergency is finally over; now it’s time to evaluate how to prepare for the next one—because there will be a next one.

Now that the emergency phase of COVID-19 has come to an end, organizations should take the opportunity to review “lessons learned” from their response to the pandemic. What procedures worked well? What didn’t work? What should you do differently next time (because there will be a next time)?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recommends regular reviews of emergency response plans to support organizational resiliency. Ask these 10 questions about your organization’s response to COVID-19. If there are areas that need improvement, initiate actions, assign ownership and incorporate updates into your organization’s “pandemic preparedness plan” for use in future health emergencies.

Read more by clicking here.

Most exertion-related injuries and deaths attributable to heat: study

Heat exposure and heat-related illness cause the vast majority of exertion-related injuries and deaths in the workplace, according to researchers from the University of Connecticut.

“Heat is a problem and it might not be one people automatically think of,” said Margaret Morrissey, president of occupational safety for UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute and the study’s lead author.

The team examined data from OSHA on reports of severe injuries, categorizing nearly 59,000 reported injuries and fatalities as exertional or nonexertional. They found that heat-related cases comprised 91.9% of exertional injuries from 2015 to 2020, as well as 87.6% of exertion-related fatalities from 2017 to 2020.

Exertion-related injuries and fatalities most often were reported in the Southeast and in the construction and excavation industries, and typically involved nonunion workers.

Read more by clicking here.

Making the Right Move: Keeping Workers Safe in the Moving Industry

Creating a safe working environment in the moving industry is important but comes with unique challenges.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of injuries affect professionals in the moving industry, from herniated discs to carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you work in this field, you likely know how common these kinds of injuries are and how detrimental they can be to your colleagues. Do you know how to prevent them though?

Below, you’ll learn more about the risks associated with creating and maintaining safety in the moving industry. You’ll also discover how to mitigate these risks and protect your employees.

Read more by clicking here.

US Department of Labor Places New Jersey Manufacturer in Severe Violator Enforcement Program After Worker Suffers Serious, Preventable Amputation

United Hospital Supply Corp. faces $498K in penalties after November 2022 incident

An employee’s first day of work at a southern New Jersey manufacturing facility ended tragically when he suffered the amputation of three fingers while operating a press brake without required safety guards, similar to violations cited by federal safety investigators at the facility in 2010 and 2015.

After the incident prompted a complaint to the U.S. Department of Labor, investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration began two investigations at United Hospital Supply Corp. in Burlington in November 2022.

OSHA cited the company, which produces metal products for hospitals, laboratories and schools, for a willful violation because supervisors and employees deliberately bypassed the press brake’s light curtain, which led to the amputation. The agency also cited United Hospital Supply for willfully failing to remove and repair an inoperable forklift and to provide hazard communication training for chemicals used in the facility. OSHA has cited the company for the forklift and chemical training violations in its inspections dating back to 2010.

The agency also found the company exposed workers to welding fumes above the permissible exposure levels, did not provide respirators when needed, failed to develop a lockout/tagout program to prevent accidental machine startup and did not provide lockout/tagout training.

Read more by clicking here.

Menopause symptoms cost billions in lost work time, researchers say

Around $28.4 billion. That’s what researchers estimate is the combined annual cost of lost work time and medical expenses related to menopause symptoms.

Menopause, when a woman’s menstrual cycle stops permanently, occurs at a mean age of 52 years, the Mayo Clinic says. Common symptoms include hot flashes, trouble sleeping, night sweats, mood changes, achy joints and difficulty concentrating.

To evaluate the impact of menopause symptoms on women in the workplace, researchers at the clinic surveyed more than 4,400 women ages 45-60 who were currently employed and receiving primary care at the medical center between March and June 2021.

The researchers estimate that the annual financial impact in lost work time is about $1.8 billion in the United States alone, and $26.6 billion when factoring in medical expenses.

Read more by clicking here.

Workers Moving Products in Food Supply Chain Face High Risk of Injury

Supply chain pressures can turn into worker injuries.

According to a new Penn State-led study, the risk of serious injury to workers in the food supply chain has increased due to pandemic-caused supply-chain problems.

In an article on Penn State’s website, researcher Judd Michael, Penn State professor of agricultural and biological engineering compared the food industries to other industries and found that food manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing experience relatively high numbers of occupational injuries and fatalities.

“Materials handling and movement within and between facilities is critical to the efficient functioning of all links of the food-related supply chain, but product movement can be a source of occupational injuries,” he said, in the arcticle. “For example, manufacturers often use palletizers to aggregate individually packaged food products into a unit load before they can be transported using a pallet jack, forklift or other powered industrial truck.”

The survey examined OSHA data from 2015-2022 that involved severe injuries. The results were 1,084 severe injuries and 47 fatalities during the six-year period. Data indicated that 2020 saw a significant increase in severe injuries as compared to previous years.

Read more by clicking here.

OSHA’s FY 2023 Outreach Initiatives

IHMM  – 26 Fellows Are Mentors 

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.

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

IHMM Scholarship Program

The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management is pleased to have created $32,000 in academic scholarships, divided equally between $16,000 for students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education in approved schools and who are also Student CHMMs, and $16,000 for students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education in approved schools and who are also Student ASHMs.

IHMM seeks to foster the growth and academic success of students whose courses of education, and participation in one of our Student certifications, will lead to those students becoming fully-certified IHMM credential holders later in their professional lives.  The first two IHMM Scholarships were awarded before Thanksgiving to Thomas Gerding, Student ASHM, and Ryan Bellacov, Student CHMM! Congratulations to Thomas and Ryan for being our first scholarship award winners.

Go to >  https://ihmm.org/scholarship/

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

Registration Open – June 5-7, San Antonio

ASSP News

• We Can Impact Worker Well-Being

• Episode 106: What the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Means for Safety Professionals and Employers

• ASSP Joins With Other Groups in Supporting OSHA and NIOSH Funding for FY2024

• ASSP Launches Online Education Series on Standards

• ASSP Comments on OSHA’s Effort to Modernize VPP

• ASSP Launches Online Education Series on Standards

• What Is a Battery Energy Storage System and What Are the Workplace Risks?

ASSP Webinars

Respiratory Protection Program Management – Susan Harwood Training Grant

University of Texas Medical Branch, William J. Pate, CHMM

This training course is intended to educate participants on the requirements of developing and implementing a compliant Respiratory Protection Program. The focus of this course will be on topics related to preparation for an infectious disease pandemic. At the end of this training the attendee should be able to:
1) Manage an effective respiratory protection program through proficient application of 29 CFR 1910.134
2) Compare potential routes of exposure
3) Identify and implement potential controls (engineering, administrative, and PPE)
4) List the equipment needed to support fit testing
5) Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative fit testing
6) Discuss the different types of respiratory protection available
7) Demonstrate correct donning/doffing of respiratory protection

This training course is 7.5 hours and participants will receive a certificate of completion that may be suitable for professional certification maintenance (CSP, CIH, CHMM, CHSP, etc.).

This course will provide 7.5 Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) contact hours. Accreditation statement: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Louisiana State Nurses Association –  Approver, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. LSNA Provider No. 4002176

This training is available only to employees and employers who are subject to OSHA regulatory requirements.  Grant-funded training is not available to state or local government employees unless they have occupational safety & health responsibilities (e.g. occupational safety and health trainers, program managers, committee members, or employees responisble for abating unsafe and unhealthy working conditions for their organization).  Registration in this course confirms that meet these conditions.  This training will include the opportunity to don, doff, and fit test respiratory protection including N95, half-face, full-face, and powered air-purifying respirators.  Anyone participating in this training and wanting to put on a respirator agrees that they have been medically cleared by their employer to do so in accordance with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard.

The 8-hour training program is offered at various dates from March through September. For more information and registration for this FREE program go here >> https://www.utmb.edu/ehs/programs/radiation-occupational-safety-program/RPPSHTG2023

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/