EHS Professional – December 15, 2022

Thursday, December 15, 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.
Institute of Hazardous Materials Management | Phone: 301-984-8969 | [email protected]

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

From all of us at IHMM we wish you and your family a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays.

IHMM Today will not be published on December 27th and EHS Professional will not be published on December 29th as we take time off with our families.

IHMM Offices are closed on December 26th and December 30th.

We are looking forward to 2023!

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IHMM Certifications Matter

Validate your knowledge and experience. It’s how professionals stay on top of their field.
IHMM’s Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM ®) credential recognizes professionals who are recent Bachelor’s degree graduates with a focus in health and safety-related fields. This credential puts the holder on the fast-track to the CSHM credential. With ASHM® on your resume, you tell employers you’re serious about a career in EHS Management.
It’s how you differentiate yourself.

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 85 countries around the world.

IHMM In-Person or Remotely Proctored Exams

The American National Standards Institute [ANSI] has approved Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for IHMM’s CHMM, CHMP, CDGP, CSHM and CSMP exams.

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 Credentials Accredited By

Need Help?

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.

Thank you, Richie, Mark, Pinkie, and Sarath

The recent IHMM Board of Directors meeting marked a milestone for 4 Board Members and IHMM is deeply indebted to their commitment and contribution to the mission and leadership of IHMM. These are exemplary volunteers and their presence on our Board will be missed.

Ending 2 terms as the CDGP representative and Chair of the Board, Richie Spangler, shown at left receiving an award from newly elected Chair Bill Diesslin. Ending 2 terms as a CHMM on the Board, Mark Baumgardner, shown at center receiving an award from newly elected Chair Bill Diesslin. Ending a term as the CSMP representative on the Board, Pinkie Wood, shown at right receiving an award from newly elected Chair Bill Diesslin.

Sarath Seneviratne could not be with us as he and his wife have a newborn. We hope all is well Sarath.

Thank you, all and have a Merry Christmas and well-deserved rest.

IHMM UPDATES

OSHA to hold online meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health on Jan. 10, 2023

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold an online meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health on Jan. 10, 2023, from 2 to 4 p.m. EST.

Open to the public, the meeting will include updates about the committee’s membership and recent OSHA developments, a report from the Heat Work Group, and follow-up discussion on the agency’s Whistleblower Protection Program.

To join the meeting online, visit the NACOSH webpage for login information.

Submit comments and requests to speak to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, Docket Number OSHA-2022-0002, by Jan. 3, 2023. Be sure to include the docket number on all submissions. Read the Federal Register notice for submission details.

NACOSH advises, consults, and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. NACOSH is a continuing advisory committee of indefinite duration.

Read the original article > https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/trade/12012022

Investigation into two workers' deaths in Edmund finds Arkansas contractor failed to test oxygen level in confined space, provide rescue equipment

Federal workplace safety investigators have determined that an Arkansas construction contractor failed to test oxygen levels in the confined space before two workers entered a sewer 20 feet below ground at an Edmund work site and died because of a lack of oxygen.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration into the June 14, 2022, incident found that an employee of Belt Construction Inc. climbed into a newly installed sewer manhole to conduct testing when they lost consciousness. Trying to rescue the worker, a second employee followed into the manhole and lost consciousness. Both workers later succumbed to their injuries.

OSHA investigators determined the Texarkana, Arkansas, company did not complete required planning before allowing workers to enter the space. In pre-entry planning, a confined space must be tested for safety, including finding out if ventilation is needed. Belt Construction also failed to provide rescue equipment and did not train workers on confined space entry procedures or obtain permits required by federal law.

OSHA cited the company for six serious and two willful violations and proposed $287,150 in penalties.

Read more > https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/region6/12072022

US Department of Labor Finds Manufacturer Exposed Workers to Machine, Other Hazards at Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Facility

Federal safety inspectors have determined that a falling load from a below-the-hook magnet crushed the leg of an employee at a Kewaunee heavy fabrication manufacturing company on June 7, 2022.

In response to a hospitalization reported by the worker’s employer, Kewaunee Fabrications LLC, investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found workers were exposed to an unguarded machine point of operation that did not prevent workers from having their hand in the danger zone while straightening parts.

OSHA issued citations to the company for one willful and 11 serious safety violations, and proposed $250,696 in penalties. Kewaunee Fabrications manufactures aerial ladders and mounting plates primarily used for fire trucks.

Read more > https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20221212

OSHA opens investigation at Fraser Shipyards after worker death

OSHA has opened an investigation into the death of a worker who fell off a ship at a drydock Monday, at Fraser Shipyards in Superior. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA has begun an investigation into C & L Contracting, the company the shipworker was operating for.

The statement also said the employee was “standing on a railing in order to pull a tarp and he slipped and fell, landing in the dry dock area.”

OSHA has six months to complete an investigation into the accident. OSHA has no further information on the incident, until the investigation in complete, the statement read.

Read the original article > https://www.nbc15.com/2022/12/06/osha-opens-investigation-fraser-shipyards-after-worker-death/

OSHA issues six-figure fines to Dollar Tree, Family Dollar

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., issuing a pair of six-figure fines, for violations at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar locations.

On December 1, the agency announced that federal workplace safety inspectors discovered a Matteson, Illinois, Dollar Tree store exposed workers to the risks of unsafely stored and stacked boxes of merchandise and blocked electrical panels. OSHA cited Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., with three repeat, serious violations and is seeking proposed penalties totaling $364,661.

Repeat violations found during the agency’s inspection included the following:

  • Wheeled carts, large boxes, and merchandise in the storeroom blocking walkways and work areas, creating slip, trip, fall, and fire hazards;
  • Unsecured and unstable freight stacked at heights exceeding 6 feet, putting workers at risk of being struck by falling boxes; and
  • Electrical panels obstructed by stacked merchandise, creating electrical and fire hazards.

Read more > https://safety.blr.com/workplace-safety-news/safety-administration/OSHA-and-state-safety-compliance-enforcement/OSHA-issues-six-figure-fines-to-Dollar-Tree-Family/

The Injuries of Christmas

Regardless of whether you've been naughty or nice, some people can't seem to avoid Christmas-related injuries - from hanging lights and defective decorations, to cuts from wrapping gifts and falls from ladders. Who knew Christmas could be so painful?

The holidays are a time for celebration, when we sit down with the family and relax around a roaring fire… but unfortunately, this isn’t the case for everyone during the festive break.

The experts at Accident Claims Advice (ACA) thought it would be interesting to see which injuries cause the most upset over Christmas. Using data provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they analyzed an entire years’ worth of accidents and discovered 337 that occurred over the holidays in 2016. A few of the most interesting findings are:

  • 101 of 337 injuries somehow involved Christmas lights.
  • 20 of 337 injuries where from swallowing objects.
  • 20-29-year olds actually turn out to be the least accident prone.
  • 9 injuries where due to dancing too much at Christmas parties.
  • 60 injuries were sustained by falling from a ladder.

From cuts while wrapping and opening presents, shoulder sprains and slips, to swallowing Christmas decorations whole – this list has it all! Some memorable examples include:

  • 36-year-old male was putting up Christmas decorations, looked up, sneezed and swallowed a thumb tack.
  • 44-year-old female was on a ladder taking down Christmas lights when she slipped and fell off her porch.
  • 10-year-old male was riding a hoverboard he got as a Christmas present and fell off.
  • 34-year-old female was drinking alcohol at a Christmas party and fell over, hitting her head on a table.
  • 65-year-old female was carrying a Christmas tree down steps to basement at home and fell.
  • 32-year-old male was dancing at a Christmas party when he twisted and sprained his left knee.
  • 14-year-old male stapled his finger while using a staple gun to hang Christmas lights.
  • 39-year-old male was hanging Christmas lights on an outdoor tree when he burned his wrist, causing him to startle and fall 16 feet from ladder.

After reviewing all 337 accidents, ACA found that there was a fairly even split between males (157 injuries) and females (180 injuries). They then looked at what parts of the body get injured the most over the festive period. Out of all the accidents they examined, 52 (15 percent) were lower back injuries due to lifting heavy objects (likely Christmas decoration boxes from the attic), while 43 (13 percent) were cuts to the hand and another 41 (12 percent) were bumps to the head.

View the slideshow image here.

How to Deal with Harassment in the Workplace

Learn to recognize, understand and mitigate risks of workplace threats and violence.

Increasingly, employees are looking to their employers to handle workplace violence situations that can be considered safety risks, such as threats, altercations, sexual harassment, and others. And the legal system is willing to address these issues even if employers are not.

For example, in October 2022, a jury awarded $250,000 to a former Sam’s Club employee who alleged that the company fired her in retaliation for complaining about sexual harassment. The jury found that the employee had made the complaint to someone she believed had the authority to investigate her complaint, but she was fired for doing just that.

Incidents of this type are growing. Between 2018 and 2021, 98,411 charges were made alleging harassment under any basis, and 27,291 charges alleged sexual harassment, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Over the same period of time, the EEOC recovered almost $300 million for individuals making sexual harassment claims. In short, it’s more important than ever that companies learn to recognize, understand and mitigate risks of workplace threats and violence.

EHS Today talked with attorney Abby Warren, a partner with Robinson+Cole’s Labor, Employment Benefits and Immigration Group, about specific action-steps safety professionals can take to address these issues.

Read the full article here.

5 Ways Automated Maintenance Can Improve Workplace Safety

Computerized maintenance management systems can enhance safety in the maintenance field, offering EHS professionals another tool to help create a safer workplace.

Establishing a robust maintenance strategy is critical for optimizing facility safety.

Companies invest in advanced technologies to simplify, standardize and improve the quality of maintenance work using digital solutions, such as Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS). The technology provides multiple features for managing maintenance workflows, personnel, facility layouts, inventory and critical maintenance data — all resulting in improving safety features for employees.

CMMS solutions collaboratively work with other enterprise solutions and are applicable across industries and facilities. The market for this technology is expected to reach $1.72 billion by 2028, indicating the technology’s significance in enhancing asset productivity and safety standards in facilities.

Modern maintenance operations are anchored in data. Technicians require equipment operating metrics to create maintenance schedules, allocate budgets and quantify asset effectiveness.

Read more by clicking here.

Co-worker encouragement can play a role in a healthy workplace

Workers who engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors and encourage their colleagues to do the same can help create a more healthful workplace, results of recent study show.

Using data for more than 4,300 workers, researchers from the University of Cologne in Germany and Utrecht University in the Netherlands examined to what extent co-workers can influence one another’s eating and exercise behaviors. They focused on two pathways: explicitly encouraging a healthy lifestyle among others and acting as a role model. The participants worked on 402 teams within 113 organizations.

The researchers found that the participants were more likely to eat fruits and vegetables, as well as engage in physical activity, when their co-workers encouraged these healthy lifestyle habits. The reason, according to the researchers: Employee groups often eat together and can see what others are doing and will model those healthy behaviors.

Read more > https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/23328-co-worker-encouragement-can-play-a-role-in-a-healthy-workplace

Construction Industry Aligns to Fight Brain Injuries and Fatalities

The American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) today announced the launch of a website dedicated to the construction industry's transformation from hard-hats-to-helmets (H2H). Over the past few years many companies have made the H2H switch, and the new website is aimed at bringing further awareness to this life-saving topic.

ASCC's Safety & Risk Management Council (SRMC) is a group dedicated to addressing safety performance and reducing job-related hazards and making sure ASCC contractors are the safest in the industry. The SRMC focuses on the most relevant topics to provide industry leadership, and the H2H initiative was borne out of the desire to reduce the frequency and severity of head injuries in the construction industry.

ASCC developed this website to provide a one-stop-shop for information related to features, benefits and current and emerging technologies of impact and energy absorbing construction helmets. Structural Technologies, LLC, an ASCC Sustaining Member company, provided support to build the site.

Read more > https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/construction-industry-aligns-to-fight-brain-injuries-and-fatalities-301700654.html

2023 IHMM Certificant Survey

This is our 2023 IHMM certificant survey. Your feedback allows us to gather broad based information about the needs and preferences of our certificants that leads to improving our services and credentials.

Please take a few minutes and answer the 19 questions posed in this survey and help us improve our services.

Take the short survey here >> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IHMM2023

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.

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

OSHA’s FY 2023 Outreach Initiatives

As part of our efforts to keep you informed of OSHA’s activities, we have attached a document that summarizes OSHA’s outreach initiatives for FY 2023.  It includes a summary of key national initiatives, a listing of priority industries/topics, and a calendar of key dates. Please note: As we receive new/updated information about events, we will share it with you.

We hope this document will be a helpful tool as we continue to work together to support OSHA’s outreach initiatives.

See > https://ihmm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/OSHA-FY2023-Outreach-Initiatives.pdf

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 

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/

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.

IHMM RECENT NEWS

IHMM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Beltway Buzz - Ogletree & Deakins

Democrats Claim Senate Majority. This week, Senator Raphael Warnock won a runoff election to serve a full term as U.S. senator for Georgia. The victory gave Senate Democrats a true majority (51–49) in the upper chamber for at least the next two years, beginning in January 2023. As the Buzz previously discussed, this means that Senate committee assignments will no longer be evenly divided between the two parties, and Democrats will instead maintain a slim majority on the committees, making it easier for them to advance legislation and nominations. The security of the Democrats’ newly expanded Senate majority was briefly unsettled today when Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announced that she would leave the Democratic Party and become an independent. However, Senator Sinema reportedly will keep her committee positions through the Democrats, effectively preserving the Democrats’ majority (though unlike independent senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, she will not attend Democratic caucus meetings).

NLRB Joint Employer Comments Due. The initial deadline for stakeholders to submit comments in response to the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) proposed joint-employer regulation closed on December 7, 2022. Commenters will have another bite at the apple and may submit reply comments by December 21, 2022. This puts a final regulation on track to issue sometime within the next six to eight months—perhaps prior to the expiration of Member Gwynne A. Wilcox’s term in August 2023.

Treasury Issues Prevailing Wage, Apprenticeship Guidance. Late last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued guidance purporting to clarify the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements for taxpayers wishing to take advantage of the green energy tax credit provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The guidance addresses the following issues:

  • When do the requirements apply? These requirements will apply to covered construction projects that begin on or after January 30, 2023 (though the announcement by the Treasury Department states that January 29, 2023, is the key date).
  • Apprenticeship. The IRA and the guidance require that a prescribed “percentage of the total labor hours of the construction, alteration, or repair work … is performed by qualified apprentices.” Those work hours are as follows:
    • For work beginning before January 1, 2023: 10 percent
    • For work beginning after December 31, 2022, and before January 1, 2024: 12.5 percent
    • For work beginning after December 31, 2023: 15 percent
  • Good faith effort exception. Pursuant to the guidance, a taxpayer will satisfy the apprenticeship requirements if it “requests qualified apprentices from a registered apprenticeship program,” and that request is denied or the program fails to respond within five business days.
  • Prevailing wage requirements. In order to satisfy the prevailing wage requirements, the guidance instructs taxpayers to use the DOL’s published “prevailing wage determination for the geographic area and type or types of construction.” If such determination is not available, taxpayers are instructed to send an email to [email protected] to request a determination.

The guidance further states, “The Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the IRS anticipate issuing proposed regulations and other guidance with respect to the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.”

Central States Pension Fund to Receive $36 Billion. On December 8, 2022, the White House announced that the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund—which has been in crisis for years and is facing looming benefit reductions—will receive $36 billion in special financial assistance. The Special Financial Assistance Program was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (which the U.S. Congress passed in 2021 pursuant to the arcane reconciliation process) to assist struggling multiemployer pension plans. According to a White House fact sheet, “The Central States Pension Fund estimates that it will now be able to pay full benefits to workers and retirees through 2051.”

Regulatory Agenda on the Way? The Buzz is keeping an eye out for the release of the Fall 2022 Regulatory Agenda. Last fall’s regulatory agenda was released on December 10, 2021, so with history as a guide, this year’s may be released soon. The agenda provides a forecast of federal rulemaking activities for the next six months.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SOCIETY

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.

VOTE

2022 Hazardous Materials Society Board Election - Voting Resumed

The HMS began voting for its 2022 slate of directors on November 9th and halted it when there was a problem with the ballot. Now that problem has been rectified, and the voting has resumed and all eligible voters have be notified by email. HMS is IHMM's Foundation, providing education, training, networking, affinity programs and other support exclusively for IHMM certificants.

There are four [4] candidates presented below. Read about each of the four. Every eligible IHMM certificant may vote in the election and have received, by email, a unique voting key and link to cast their votes for up to three [3] of the four [4] candidates presented.

The election has resumed and runs through December 19th.

Abela, Simon, ASHM - Read more about Simon Abela here.
Bartku, Christopher, CHMM - Read more about Christopher Bartku here
Bennett, Stephen M., CSMPRead more about Stephen here.

Easily Find Courses to Help You Pass IHMM Credential Exams

This week we add the Federation of Environmental Technologists [FET] EHMM course to the CHMM examination preparation schedule. FET is the CHMM chapter in Wisconsin and IHMM is proud to support them and help to promote their EHMM offering to IHMM's CHMM applicants.
CDGP® Prep Course
  1. CE-1112: CDGP® Exam Prep - Columbia Southern University - Available On Demand
CHMM® Prep Courses
  1. Daily - CHMM® Online Review - Bowen
  2. Daily - CHMM® Prep Course - Institute of Safety & Systems Management
  3. Daily -Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (CHMM®) Exam Prep - SPAN Exam Prep, Division of ClickSafety
CSHM® Prep Courses
  1. Certified Safety and Health Manager® (CSHM®) Exam Preparation Course - VUBIZ - Available on Demand

IHMM and HMS Tie Exam Preparation Together for Applicants

Every IHMM certification that requires an examination has a section of its website entitled Examination Preparation.

Connected to the Examination Preparation panel is a companion panel that is Find a Course to Prepare for the Exam.

You see the Find a Course to Prepare for the Exam panel from the CHMM site at left.

When you click on the Find a Course to Prepare for the Exam panel it takes the applicant directly to the HMS site where all CHMM prep courses may be found and chosen.

For the 397 CHMM applicants IHMM had on August 31, 2022, all 397 looking for CHMM prep courses could see and chose their favored CHMM exam prep course. If your course is not on the HMS platform, none of the 397 CHMM applicants could find you.

If you want your CHMM prep course on the HMS platform so it can be found by IHMM CHMM applicants, contact Gene Guilford at [email protected]

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.

  1. Go to https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
  2. 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!

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.

Donate to HMS

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

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

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

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

There are 820 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]

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 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.

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.

Ohio Safety Congress and Expo

Greater Columbus Convention Center

March 8-10, 2023

COSTHA Annual Forum and Expo

Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Convention Center

April 30-March 24, 2023

ASSP Greater San Jose and San Francisco Chapters Safety Symposium

San Ramon Marriott - Thank you Bart Miller for leading this effort

March 9, 2023

ASSP Safety Conference and Exposition

San Antonio, TX

June 5-7, 2023

National Safety Council Congress & Expo

New Orleans, LA

October 23-25, 2023

IHMM-HMS EVENTS CALENDAR

IHMM has a companion organization for which education and training programs are presented and delivered.  The Hazardous Materials Society education and training website can be found here.

DateEventEvent ProducerLocation
DailyCHMM Exam Prep CourseInstitute of Safety & Systems Management

Online

DailyCE 1112- IHMM CDGP Exam Prep (online) Columbia Southern University

Online

DailyCE 1102- Industrial Hygiene for Safety Professionals (online) Columbia Southern University

Online

DailyCE 1105: Maritime Hazardous Materials Inventory Columbia Southern University

Online

DailyDOT NON-Bulk Training Compliance Associates

Online

DailyOSHA 30 Construction (Online) ClickSafety

Online

DailyHAZWOPER Refresher (Online) ClickSafety

Online

DailyHAZWOPER 40-Hour All Industries (Online) ClickSafety

Online

DailyHAZWOPER 24-Hour All Industries (Online) ClickSafety

Online

Daily8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher Course Hazmat School

Online

DailyDOT Hazmat Employee with Packaging Course Hazmat School

Online

DailyRCRA Hazardous Waste Generator Online Training Course Hazmat School

Online

DailyOSHA Asbestos Awareness TrainingHazmat School

Online

DailyCHMM Online Review Bowen

Online

DailyOnsite Lithium Battery TrainingCompliance Associates

Online

DailyOnsite ADR TrainingCompliance Associates

Online

DailyWebinar ADR TrainingCompliance Associates

Online

DailyOSHA Confined Space Operations TrainingHazmat School

Online

DailyIATA/IMDG Certification TrainingDGI

Online

DailyCSHM Exam Prep CourseVubiz

Online

DailyCSMP Exam Prep CourseVubiz

Online

DailyGround Transportation for CarriersChemtrec

Online

DailyOSHA Hazard Communications StandardChemtrec

Online

DailyShipping Lithium Batteries and Cells TrainingChemtrec

Online

DailyHazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness Online Training Course Chemtrec

Online

DailyIATA Dangerous Goods Online Training for Operations Chemtrec

Online

Daily49 CFR TrainingChemtrec

Online

DailyIATA Dangerous Goods Online Training for Operations PersonnelChemtrec

Online

DailyOnline 2-Hour OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen TrainingHazmat School

Online

DailyOnline Heat Illness Prevention TrainingHazmat School

Online

DailyOnline OSHA 24-Hour HAZWOPER Training CourseHazmat School

Online

DailyEPCRA Tier II ReportingBowen EHS

Online

DailyEHS Training Self-Paced PDCBowen EHS

Online

DailyEmergency Management Self-Paced PDCBowen EHS

Online

DailyBasic Principles of Occupational HygieneAIHA

Online

Daily

Certificate Program: Use of Direct Reading Instruments

AIHA

Online

Daily

How to Develop Creative Narrative for Better Training and Retention (AIHce EXP 2021 OnDemand)

AIHA

Online

Daily

Electrical Safe Work Practices With Application of NFPA 70E PDC Recording

AIHA

Online

Daily

Is Your Safety Training Good Enough? (AIHce EXP 2021 OnDemand)

AIHA

Online

Daily

All About Leading, Lagging, and Predictive Indicators (AIHce EXP 2021 OnDemand)

AIHA

Online

Daily

Elevating EHS Leading Indicators: From Defining to Designing Webinar Recording

AIHA

Online

Daily

Increasing Risk Awareness and Leveraging Risk Management to Catalyze a Culture of Learning and Health (AIHce EXP 2021 OnDemand)

AIHA

Online

Daily

Emergency Preparedness: Is the Workplace Truly Prepared for Emergencies? (AIHce EXP 2022 OnDemand)

AIHA

Online

Daily

Mitigation Through Decontamination PDC Recording

AIHA

Online

Daily

SDS & Label Authoring Course

AIHA

Online

Daily

Empowering Industrial Hygienists With Systems Thinking for ISO 45001 Webinar Recording

AIHA

Online

Daily

ISO 45001 OHSMS Update and Overview Webinar Recording

AIHA

Online

Daily

Fire and Explosion Hazards in the Process Industries PDC Recording

AIHA

Online

Daily

Decision Making in Managing Risk – Expand Context, Strengthen Skills PDC Recording

AIHA

Online

Daily

Risk Assessment Virtual Conference Recordings (2021): Introduction to Risk Assessment

AIHA

Online

Daily

Welding: An Exercise in Applied Industrial Hygiene

AIHA

Online

Daily

Response Considerations During an Outbreak or Pandemic

FEMA           Online
Daily

Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response Awareness Course

FEMA           Online
Daily

RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Online

Lion Tech

Online

Daily

RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Refresher

Lion Tech

Online

Dec 18-19, 2023 [Webinar] Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification (DOT)Lion Tech

Online

Jan 4, 2024Innovative Approaches to Hands-On Fire Extinguisher Training: Unveiling the Digital AdvantageNational Safety Council

Online

Jan 8-Apr 8, 2024Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management [EHMM] CourseFET, Inc

Online

Jan 11, 2024Top 10 OSHA Injury Recordkeeping Challenges: Common Questions about the OSHA 300 LogNational Safety Council

Online

Jan 15-17, 2024Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management [EHMM] CourseAHMP Cyber Chapter

Online

Feb 1, 2024How to Understand & Apply ANSI Hand Safety StandardsNational Safety Council

Online

Mar 4-6, 2024

Lithium Battery Logistics Safety Management (LIVE virtual classroom)

IATA

Online

AFFILIATIONS

9210 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 470
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
www.ihmm.org | [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 | Fax: 301-984-1516

2022-12-15T16:09:05+00:00

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