IHMM Remotely Proctored Exams Available Now
IHMM is pleased to announce that the American National Standards Institute [ANSI] has approved Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for IHMM’s CHMM, CHMP, and CDGP exams. IHMM has been using the Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for the CSHM and CSMP exams since April of this year.
About 60% 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. There are Kryterion centers available world-wide and we also offer remotely-proctored testing wherever you are.
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.
Phone: 301-984-8969 | [email protected]
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
IHMM Today is an online publication of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
Other than content specifically provided by IHMM, articles contained in IHMM Today are compiled from independent sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IHMM.
IHMM Credential Recognition
Below you will see the 8 credential badges that are now in each 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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IHMM UPDATES
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.
CDC – When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
CDC – When You’ve Been Fully VaccinatedIf you are fully vaccinated against #COVID19, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, incl. local business and workplace guidance.
Read More > https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
IHMM Board Nominations for 2021 Open
IHMM Board Nominations for 2021 OpenThis newsletter opens the 2021 Board Nominations season. In 2021 we have one position open, the CHMP representative, open for a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2022.
This process is guided by the IHMM Nominating Committee, chaired by Nathan Phelan > https://ihmm.org/nominating-committee/ We appreciate our Nominating Committee volunteers’ work working through the following documents and reviews before coming to a proposed slate of nominees.
- 2021 IHMM Nominations and Elections Process
- 2021 IHMM Call for Nominations
- 2021 IHMM Fillable Nominations Form
This announcement is the Call for Nominations. ONLY CHMPs may participate in this year’s process as the position is for a CHMP representative on the Board. IHMM will hold this phase of the process open through June 30, 2021, when it will then close to further nominations.
The Nominating Committee will review nomination documents, interview nominees, perform a series of background checks, and then deliberate on a proposed slate of nominees through August 13, 2021. After August 31, 2021, the proposed slate will go to the IHMM Board for review at its September meeting.
The CHMP representative’s elections will begin on October 1, 2021, and run through October 29, 2021. The winning nominee will be announced during the week of November 5, 2021, for a term to commence on January 1, 2022.
To nominate a CHMP for this position, use only the
Thank you.
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.
PLEASE GO HERE TO PARTICIPATE: https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/
All you have to do is enter your name, address, and zip code and the IHMM VoterVoice system does the rest and automatically sends our message to your Senators and members of the House of Representatives. It’s very easy and matters!
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education costs. 529 plans, legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under H.R. 2171 those pursuing or who already have private credentials may use their Section 529 savings for applications, examinations, professional development/certification maintenance points costsrecertification, and so on.
The “Freedom To Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act” will enable those who seek professional, post-secondary credentials from institutions recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. A copy of the draft legislation is here.
Spanberger co-led the introduction of the legislation alongside U.S. Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI-06), Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01). A companion bill in the U.S. Senate is led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Braun (R-IN).
Hazmat Civil Penalties Raised for the Second Time in 2021
Hazmat Civil Penalties Raised for the Second Time in 2021Federal law concerning compliance orders and civil penalties are subject to change. The US Department of Transportation has increased hazmat civil penalties for regulatory violations effective May 3, 2021, including violations of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). The increase applies to hazardous materials violations by ground, air, and sea transportation.
Adjusting Hazmat Civil Penalties
The new hazmat civil penalty amounts are as follows:
1. The maximum hazmat civil penalty for hazmat shipping violations has risen from $83,439 to $84,425 per day, per violation.
2. For a violation that results in death, serious illness, severe injury, or substantial property damage, the maximum hazmat civil penalty has risen from $194,691 to $196,992 per day, per violation.
3. The minimum penalty for failure to provide hazmat training for employees has risen from $502 to $508 per employee, per day.[see 49 USC 5123(a)(1), (2), and (3)]
How Hazmat Civil Penalties Amendments Affect Hazmat Employees
The changes to hazmat civil penalties are widespread. To learn more about these revised penalties click https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-05-03/pdf/2021-08224.pdf to have access to the Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 83 / Monday, May 3, 2021 / Rules and Regulations.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, this final rule provides the 2021 inflation adjustment to hazmat civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations.
With that said, hazmat employees must be compliant and attentive in the handling and processing of hazardous material shipments to avoid incidents that can bring on a civil penalty and jeopardize our transportation system.
OSHA has new resources to help protect workers from occupational exposure to beryllium.
A Spanish-language webinar was held as part of the National Safety-Stand-Down to Prevent Falls. A video of the webinar and the slide presentation are available online
A new pamphlet provides information on personal protective equipment for emergency response and recovery workers.
Register for a free event on trenching safety that will take place in New Jersey on June 8.
A federal judge ruled that Bradenton behavioral healthcare center exposed workers to attacks by residents and destroyed video evidence.
A Dollar Tree store was cited for exposing workers to hazards from fire, entrapment, falling boxes and blocked exit routes.
Six contractors face penalties for exposing workers to the risk of falls at a residential construction site.
A Wisconsin truck bed cover manufacturer improved safety management and training after working with OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program.
Welcome CITI Program to IHMM and HMS
Welcome CITI Program to IHMM and HMSToday we welcome CITI Program to IHMM and HMS. The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) is dedicated to serving the training needs of colleges and universities, healthcare institutions, technology and research organizations, and governmental agencies, as they foster integrity and professional advancement of their learners. Organizations around the world, including the top 25 in the U.S. News and World Report 2020 Best College Rankings and all of the academic medical centers in the U.S., rely on CITI Program for their research, ethics, compliance, and professional development education needs. In addition, the U.S. military, government agencies, cutting edge technology companies, and many of the most prestigious companies involved in research today use our training program.
See>> https://about.citiprogram.org/en/homepage/
Welcome!
Become a Mentor
One way to contribute to IHMM’s communities of practice is to become a mentor. Helping to guide applicants or newly certified professionals with your wealth of experience means we grow the most important element of our communities – our people. We already have 8 mentors signed up and always look for more and we thank the 8 who have come forward thus far.
Becoming a mentor is easy, though it requires a commitment of some time that the mentor controls and is done through IHMM’s Collaboration platform.
- Go to Collaboration > https://community.ihmm.org/home
- See the toolbar where it says MENTOR MATCH, click on it
- See the drop-down menu…as follows…
4. Click on ENROLL AS A MENTOR. Mentors fill out the areas of issue interests most closely resemble their background, decide how long a period of time they wish to be a mentor, how much time they prefer to mentor others, how many mentees they are willing to work with, and how they wish to communicate with mentees.
5. Those who are looking for mentors simply click on ENROLL AS A MENTEE, and fill out a simple form of issue interests as well. Having done that the system matches a mentees issue interests with the mentor’s issue interests and the match is made.
Give it a try. Those who enroll as Mentors can earn up to 10 Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs] per year.
Anyone who needs assistance with becoming a Mentor or a Mentee need only click on the I NEED HELP button on the IHMM website and a member of the staff will be happy to assist you. https://ihmm.org/we-can-help-here/
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Self-Paced, Top-Rated Online Hazmat Training
CHEMTREC, the world’s leader in hazmat emergency response, can help keep your company safe and compliant with our online hazmat training courses. Available training includes Hazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness, 49 CFR, IATA, Lithium Battery Shipping and more. Sign up today!
New Course Available on OFCCP’s Contractor Compliance Institute
New Course Available on OFCCP’s Contractor Compliance InstituteOFCCP has released a new course in the Contractor Compliance Institute for federal contractors and subcontractors (“contractors”). The new course, titled Compliance Evaluations, will help supply and service contractors better understand OFCCP’s compliance evaluation processes and procedures.
Some of the key items examined in this new course are:
- The types of compliance evaluations OFCCP is authorized to conduct
- OFCCP’s procedures for each of the four types of compliance evaluations:
- Compliance Checks
- Compliance Reviews
- Focused Reviews
- Off-Site Review of Records
OFCCP is committed to providing meaningful compliance assistance to contractors to ensure they know how to comply with their equal employment opportunity obligations. Find additional compliance assistance resources on OFCCP’s website.
IHMM & AHMP 45 in 5 Project – National Credential Recognition – 21 States Targeted
On January 25th, we began outlining the strategy to go after the 21 states in yellow, above. Since then we have succeeded in adding Nebraska, Colorado, and California.
This is just the beginning. Here is the present composition of the 45 In 5 Task Force and the states we are focusing on. More people may volunteer anytime! https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/
- Washington state AHMP chapter is about to file its material seeking recognition of the CHMM with the state and that can serve as a template for other states – MTCA regulatory update in your library.
- We need everyone to engage their federal House and Senate Members on HR 2171, here > https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/
- Every IHMM credential page now has a section on “Who Hires…” and you can see the CHMM version here > https://ihmm.org/chmm/ The federal and state agencies that recognize our credentials is extraordinary ranging from EPA to NASA and private sector companies from Abbvie to Texas Instruments. This is a great foundation on which to build formal govt recognition
- When Oracle in Karnataka, India needs an Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Oracle looks for an IHMM CSHM.
- Explore with Erik Vega in Puerto Rico on the approach to agencies there.
- The CSHM and CSMP will have new blueprints by the 4th q of this year, so our efforts on behalf of both should wait until that project is completed.
- Any other areas where we need attention?
- We can launch on the regulatory update of https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/312.10 40 CFR 312.10 this summer
- We can launch on the regulatory update of SBA guidance to lenders for Phase I and II assessments this summer, anything else from the last meeting on this topic? Environmental Phase I Assessment Reports in your library
In 2019 Mark Bruce from AHMP and Gene Guilford from IHMM worked on a project to get the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to recognize the CHMM and CDGT credentials. With Mark’s work on the ground in Pennsylvania, we succeeded.
Since the launch, we have added Delaware, Florida, Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Iowa, North Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico as the next places for us to work on with 44 volunteers.
The Task Force meets again on May 25th.
This is why the IHMM-AHMP 45 in 5 Project is Important to You. IHMM credentials are known and respected worldwide. Here are a few examples…
When Oracle in Bengaluru North, Kamatka, India looks for an Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Oracle looks for an IHMM CSHM
When Avon Rubber in Irvine, CA looks for a Global EHS Manager, Avon Rubber looks for an IHMM CSHM
When GEL Group in Charleston, SC looks for an Environmental Health & Safety Officer, GEL Group looks for an IHMM CSHM
IHMM NEWS RECENT UPDATES
EPA Will Rescind Final Rule Establishing Administrative Procedures for Issuing Guidance Documents
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Nominee for EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Withdrawal
Return to Work Resistance: Navigating the ADA Interactive Process and COVID-19 Disability Accommodation Requests
Employer FAQs Regarding CDC’s New Guidance Allowing Fully Vaccinated Individuals to Go Mask-free and Forego Social Distancing in Most Settings
OSHA officials talk COVID, whistleblowers during panel discussion
‘2020 Economic Impact of the Safety Equipment Industry’: ISEA launches web tool
Checking In: Understanding and Prioritizing Mental Wellness in the Workplace
Telephone number on the lithium battery mark
Airlines race to find sniffer dogs to meet cargo inspection rules
OSHA to review safety guidance, directs employers to follow CDC mask update
Contractors weigh new OSHA guidance on adverse vaccine reactions
Biggest OSHA fines of Q1 2021
DOE receives six pointers on waste management
Where Do IHMM CSHMs Work? All Over the World.
Where Do IHMM CSHMs Work? All Over the World.Here are a few examples…
IHMM is a member of the National Safety Council and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants
2021 Job Outlook
Opioids and the Workforce
OSHA Standards and the “competent person”
It’s Time to Rethink Incident Investigations
NSC Impact Tracks
The NSC Impact Tracks provide valuable educational opportunities for safety professionals looking to enhance their career, brush up on their skills and earn CEUs in the comfort of their home or office. This new virtual opportunity provides a day of topically focused education featuring five 60 minute technical sessions, lunch and stretch breaks, and an opening welcome from NSC President & CEO, Lorraine Martin. Each session will be taught by leading safety and subject experts in the field.
SAVE MY SPOT
NSC Webinars
May 19 – Accident Investigations: Finding and eliminating root causes
May 20 – Housekeeping Tips for Your Safety Program
May 20 – Respiratory Protection Program: What OSHA’s Looking for and How to Protect Against New Hazards
May 20 – OH&S Industrial Hygiene Virtual Summit
May 26 –Webinar: New Administration, New Changes for OSHA
June 2 – Webinar: OSHA Safety Training – How to Make it Effective
Please join us in participating in Safe + Sound Week from August 9-15, 2021. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August to show your business’s commitment to keep workers safe year-round. Safe + Sound Week is also a time when information and ideas are shared to help get your safety and health program started or improve an existing program.
Download the Save the Date and share that you’ll be participating in Safe + Sound Week on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtAWork.
A Safety and Health Pledge for Managers
| When management leadership is sincere and is supported by actions, workers know that safety and health are important to business success. A safety pledge is one way to demonstrate your commitment to workplace safety and health. Create your own safety pledge using A Safety and Health Pledge for Managers template, then share it with your workers and on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtAWork. |
Economic Benefits of the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program
OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services for small and medium-sized business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. When employers use consultation services, the employers and their workers experience benefits that include lower injury and illness rates, improved morale, and economic benefits.
In fact, the On-Site Consultation Program generates national economic benefits of approximately $1.3 billion per year.
The table below breaks down the program’s economic benefits.
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
The 8th annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction is scheduled for May 3-7, 2021. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries. OSHA encourages construction employers and other stakeholders to join the event to raise awareness and provide training to address one of the industry’s most serious dangers. Use #StandDown4Safety to promote the event on social media, and to share feedback after the events. Visit the National Safety Stand-Down webpage for more information.
Registration opens in July and will be announced via IHMM Today and EHS Professional.
Spring Arrives with a Slate of Exciting
Virtual Events and Trainings
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to share information regarding a full slate of upcoming opportunities for chemical industry stakeholders to stay abreast of key regulatory developments both in the United States and internationally. We hope you will join B&C professionals, industry colleagues, and regulatory agency speakers for one or more of these events.
TSCA at Five Virtual Conference – June 30, 2021
This June marks the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the game-changing Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg) that amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). With a new Administration and the relentless pace of regulatory developments related to Lautenberg implementation, there are many issues to consider and problems to solve.
The Environmental Law Institute (ELI), the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) are pleased to announce the fifth annual conference providing updates and insights regarding the current state of TSCA implementation, ongoing and emerging issues, and related developments. Topics will include how EPA is implementing Section 6 risk evaluation provisions, changes in new chemical review, existing chemical risk management provisions, and TSCA’s role in achieving environmental justice, among other topics.
As with our previous TSCA anniversary events, a stellar faculty of speakers from government, non-governmental organizations, industry, and academia will convene to inform, analyze, discuss, and debate the most pressing issues related to TSCA with regulatory practitioners and other stakeholder attendees.
Detailed program and registration information to come. SAVE THE DATE!
TSCA Tutor® On-Demand Virtual Training
Available 24/7/365
Enroll Online
B&C’s TSCA Tutor online e-training platform offers expert, efficient, essential TSCA training. Professionals seeking TSCA training can preview and enroll in on-demand classes to complete at their own pace and timing.
TSCA Tutor online training courses include:
• Video lessons.
• Detailed handout materials, including copies of all presentations and relevant course materials from EPA and other sources.
• Customizable, yet detailed and ready-to-use Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the regulatory topic covered in the session.
Interested professionals should visit www.TSCAtutor.com to view sample course segments and purchase modules. Volume discounts are available for companies wishing to purchase courses for multiple employees.
HMS and Earning Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs]
IHMM created HMS, in large measure, so that IHMM certificants could have one, central place within which to find professional development courses in which to earn certification maintenance points. HMS courses cover all of IHMM’s 8 credentials, not only one.
We’ve made it easy to find CMPs.
- Go to https://hazmatsociety.org/
- Go to the Education and Training tab
- Scroll down until you see these buttons…and click on the CMPs button
- The system will produce a listing of the programs on the platform that have already been reviewed and given CMP ratings. You can find the programs suitable for you.
For example, one of the programs is from Columbia Southern University, offered online, has 36 CMPs attached, and is FREE. This is only one example. There are hundreds of programs on HMS.
The informal comment period opened May 12th and closes May 28th on ISO 45006-201X (proposed and in draft]
Balloting opened on Approval of ISO FDIS 45003 as an American National Standard
Balloting opened on Approval of ANSI NWIP ballot form for Proposed ISO 45006.docx
Safety News You Need: National Safety Stand-Down
Protecting the Public From Construction Hazards
ASSP’s Fall Protection Toolbox Supports OSHA’s Stand-Down
Safety News You Need: Protecting Young Workers
OSHA Guidance on Recording Illnesses Caused by COVID-19 Vaccinations
ASSP Webinars
IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to provide this information to all of our certificants.
HMS UPDATES
HMS Donations
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.
HMS Education and Training
Hazardous Materials Society now has 11,585 education and training programs on its website https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/ 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.
This is the center of education and training for IHMM certificants and prospective certificants. Among these more than 15.000 programs are webinars delivered online and virtually all carry IHMM CMPs values with them for your annual / 5-year CMP planning. SEE: https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
HMS Affinity Programs – CINTAS Uniforms
Reaching more than 127,000 people – here is where HMS leverages our numbers for member’s benefit. There is strength and value in numbers and that translates into lower costs for you.
Save up to 65% off Cintas uniforms, safety and facility services.
Keep your team and workspace looking their best. New Cintas contracts enjoy special discounts and a free one-time UltraClean service and free installation of hygiene dispensers. Enroll with NPP today and save on Cintas!
Enroll your business for FREE with NPP to learn more about Cintas discounts. Enroll with NPP here: https://mynpp.com/association/hms/
IHMM/HMS Coronavirus Resources
IHMM/HMS Coronavirus ResourcesIn 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.
COVID-19 Data Tracker By State
COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Non-Healthcare Workplaces
COVID-19 Weekly Review – May 14, 2021
CDC Communications Toolkit
Are adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine recordable on the OSHA recordkeeping log?
In general, an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is recordable if the reaction is: (1) work-related, (2) a new case, and (3) meets one or more of the general recording criteria in 29 CFR 1904.7 (e.g., days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid).
If you require your employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment (i.e., for work-related reasons), then any adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is work-related. The adverse reaction is recordable if it is a new case under 29 CFR 1904.6 and meets one or more of the general recording criteria in 29 CFR 1904.7.
State Vaccination Distribution Plans
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.
HMS Jobs Board
We invite our participating companies to post their available employment opportunities here. There is no charge for this service. HMS staff reviews each proposed posting for clarity and completeness before posting to the public view and may remove a posting without notice.
Astra, Alameda, CA. As a Hazardous Materials Specialist on the EHS Team, you will have the opportunity to develop, improve, and scale health and safety programs from the ground up! You will keep folks safe and healthy by supporting dynamic day-to-day operations across all Astra facilities.
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.
A Collaborative Culture
There are 401 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. 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> https://community.ihmm.org/home
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
IHMM will attend and support a number of conferences and trade shows throughout 2021, virtually as well as in-person as COVID issues allow. Below are the first few conferences we have coming up early in 2021.
AHMP 2021 National Conference
July 25-28, 2021
Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center
Kansas City, Missouri
College & University Hazardous Materials Management Conference
August 7-12, 2021
Denver, Colorado
This conference is currently planned as being entirely virtual.
ASSP Safety21 Conference & Expo
September 13-15, 2021
Austin, Texas
This is a hybrid conference of both virtual and in-person events
IHMM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Beltway Buzz – Ogletree & Deakins
nemployment Insurance Update. Late last week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing that the nonfarm economy added only 266,000 jobs in April 2021, well short of the 1 million jobs that many economists were predicting. The disappointing news had many policymakers and lobbyists in Washington, D.C., this week looking for answers. While workers’ fears of contracting COVID-19 as well as ongoing childcare issues certainly remain roadblocks to filling open jobs, the potential impact of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits on individuals’ willingness to return to work took center stage this week. For example:
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a statement calling for the end of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program’s $300 weekly premium. The Chamber’s internal economic analysis concluded that “the $300 benefit results in approximately one in four recipients taking home more in unemployment than they earned working.” The FPUC program, which was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in the early stages of the pandemic, has always been a bit controversial among certain lawmakers and employers that expressed concern about its potential impact on workers returning to work.
- Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) will introduce the National Signing Bonus Act, which would provide individuals with “a federal signing bonus equal to 101 percent of two months of the [FPUC] benefit” if they get a job by July 4, 2021. The bonus would be paid in installments.
- Nine Republican lawmakers introduced the Get Americans Back To Work Act, which would reduce the FPUC premium to $150 dollars beginning on May 31, 2021, before ending it altogether on June 30, 2021. Under current law, FPUC and other CARES Act programs, such as the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program (providing extra benefits weeks for individuals who exhaust their state UI benefits) and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for workers who are not traditionally eligible for unemployment insurance (such as independent contractors), are scheduled to end on September 6, 2021.
- At the time of this writing at least 15 states—Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming—have announced that they will stop participating in the FPUC weekly premium program and other federal pandemic UI programs. At least one senator feels a bit berned by these actions, and wrote a letter to Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh arguing that the CARES Act requires PUA funds to be distributed.
ETS AWOL? While not exactly absent without leave, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) long-anticipated COVID-19–specific emergency temporary standard (ETS) is taking a bit longer than anticipated. President Joe Biden essentially ordered OSHA to promulgate an ETS by March 15, 2021, but OSHA didn’t finish its draft until April 26, 2021. Since then, the draft ETS has been at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. As part of its review, OIRA is meeting with concerned stakeholders about the potential ETS. Meetings are currently scheduled through May 18, 2021, meaning that it is unlikely (though not impossible) that OIRA will complete its review and release the ETS prior to that date. All told, OIRA is scheduled to meet with nearly 40 stakeholder groups, which is indicative of the intense interest in this issue.
Pregnancy Accommodation Bill Passes House. On May 14, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 1065) by a vote of 315–101, with 99 Republicans joining their Democratic colleagues. The bill, which the Buzz has been tracking for some time, would require employers to provide pregnant workers with reasonable accommodations, such as extra bathroom breaks. With the bipartisan House vote and backing of members of the business community, the bill has a decent chance of passing the U.S. Senate and landing on President Biden’s desk.
DOL Finalizes Prevailing Wage Rule Delay. On May 13, 2021, the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration officially delayed until November 14, 2022, the effective date of a final rule that will increase the prevailing wages that must be paid to H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 nonimmigrant visa holders, as well as many employment-based green card applicants. Implementation of the new rule will begin on January 1, 2023. The rule was finalized in the waning days of the Trump administration after a previous rulemaking effort was struck down by multiple federal courts for failure to follow Administrative Procedure Act notice and comment protocols.
Nominations Update. This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) advanced the nominations of Jocelyn Samuels (to serve another term as commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) and Seema Nanda (to serve as solicitor of labor). The next stop for them is a vote on the Senate floor. However, the HELP Committee deadlocked 11–11 on the nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo to serve as general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, which means the full Senate will have to vote in order to discharge her nomination from the HELP Committee. As the Buzz has discussed, Abruzzo’s position on President Biden’s labor transition team and her potential role in the president’s decision to replace former Board general counsel Peter Robb has rankled Republican lawmakers.
PHMSA – Hazardous Materials: Notice of Public Meetings in 2021 for International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
PHMSA – Hazardous Materials: Notice of Public Meetings in 2021 for International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous GoodsSUMMARY: The notice announces that PHMSA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety will host four public meetings during 2021 in advance of certain international meetings.
- The first meeting will be held in preparation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) Working Group 21 (WG/21) virtual meeting scheduled for May 24– 28, 2021.
- The second meeting will be held in preparation of the 58th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) scheduled for June 28 to July 2, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland.
- The third meeting will be held in preparation of the ICAO DGP 28 Meeting (DGP/28) scheduled for September 27 to October 1, 2021.
- The fourth meeting will be held in preparation of the 59th session of the UNSCOE TDG scheduled for November 29 to December 8, 2021. For each of these meetings, PHMSA will solicit public input on current proposals.
Public notices will be published in the Federal Register prior to the public meetings conducted by the International Standards Group.
PHMSA International Program Overview
Federal Register Notice > https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-04-02/pdf/2021-06871.pdf
Vendor Alert: How much of this business did you get?
IHMM saw an increase in applications of more than 50% in 2020, and for the first 1/3rd of 2021 now has 393 people waiting to take exams. How much of this business did your company see? If you’re missing out contact Diane McLevy at [email protected] and see how you can benefit from a relationship with IHMM and HMS.
IHMM EVENTS CALENDAR
IHMM NOW HAS A COMPANION ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED AND DELIVERED. THE CALENDAR IN THIS SPACE FROM THE IHMM WEBSITE IS BEING REPLACED BY THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SOCIETY WEBSITE AND THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTION FOUND HERE: https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
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