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Thursday, July 13, 2023
EHS Professional is an online publication of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
are compiled from independent sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IHMM.
Certified Safety and Health Manager® [CSHM®]
IHMM’s Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM®) credential recognizes environmental, health and safety managers who have a mastery of OSHA regulations and industry standards as well as exceptional management skills. The holder of this credential manages for worker and workplace safety. As a health and safety manager, you are focused on the safety of your employees and workplace. Now you can be recognized for your commitment with a CSHM® credential.
Learn more about the CSHM here
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IHMM Credential Recognition
Below you will see the 4 EHS credential badges that are now in each CSHM, CSMP, ASHM, CSSM, 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 Credentials Accredited By
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IHMM UPDATES
Hospital Understaffing and Poor Work Conditions Associated With Physician and Nurse Burnout and Intent to Leave
Investigators find Cheney contractor exposed employees to potentially fatal hazards as two workers avoid tragedy in Salina trench collapse
OSHA Cites Florida Construction Company After One Worker Died, Another Injured
How Can Electrical Contractors Plan for Workplace Emergencies?
5 Solutions to Mitigate Risks Associated with Prolonged Standing
Looking Back at National Safety Month: Strategies for Reducing Workplace Accidents and Ensuring Employee Well-Being
OSHA enforcement roundup: Spotlight on recent cases
Former OSHA chief: Agency should prepare for next pandemic
Maine roofer responsible for $1.6 million OSHA fine
Podcast | The ethics of employee surveillance in the name of safety and productivity
The importance of workplace safety alongside financial concerns
How to make the most out of your PPE program
A safety refresher: Quick discussion points for risk awareness
Construction data de-mystified: Leveraging data for better business
The Dotted Line: What contractors need to know about E-Verify requirements
ASHRAE unveils new standard to reduce disease transmission risk
$6.6B Mountain Valley Pipeline gets green light to finish construction
9 of the biggest OSHA fines of Q1 2023
Amazon to invest $7.8B in Ohio data centers
Nonresidential construction spending shrinks for first time in 11 months
‘No reason not to have it’: Why contractors equip jobsites with Narcan
Solving Today’s Procurement Challenges for Specialty Contractors
How To Reduce Rework and Optimize Jobsite Productivity
New OSHA alliance targets hazards in trenching and excavation
AI Gun Detection May Be Future of New Orleans Area School Safety
Why healthcare should follow aviation’s culture of safety
The labyrinth of 340B litigation — what covered health care entities
AHLA Takeaway: Healthcare Executives, Is Your House In Order?
OSHA Inspecting Downtown Omaha Sewer Rescue
OSHA Issues Citations to FL and WI Hospitals and Health and Safety Failures
Dollar General has Racked up $21M in OSHA Penalties Since 2017, They’ve Paid $4M
New School Safety Training Approved by Des Moines School Board
Cal/OSHA Definition Changes Make Outbreaks Less Likely
25 Years and Counting: CO Company Again Recognized Under OSHA’s VPP
Fireworks Company Contests OSHA Citations
Limited Regulations Make TX Workers Responsible for Preventing On-The-Job Heat Injuries
TJ Maxx ‘Took Immediate Steps’ After OSHA Inspection
5 Factors That Can Make Your Construction Risk Register Obsolete
University of Minnesota Takes Steps to Boost Campus Safety
Northwestern Mutual Names Project Team for $500M Office Building Overhaul
Former Ferndale Construction Manager Accused of Embezzlement
Balancing Worker Safety and Productivity on a Construction Site
Working for Scraps – Columbia Waffle House Workers Strike over Low Pay, Workplace Safety
Research Project Sheds Light on Patient Safety for Frontline Workers
INSIDE IHMM
IHMM Excellence in EHS Management Award – Nominate Your Candidate This Week
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/
There are 1,031 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 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
US Department of Labor Invites Small Business Owners, Local Governments to Share Input on Potential Heat Standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) invites small business owners and representatives from local government entities to join a series of upcoming discussions on the potential impacts of a workplace heat standard on small businesses.
Currently, OSHA is developing a potential standard for workplaces — in which the agency has jurisdiction — to prevent heat illness and injury in outdoor and indoor environments in general industry and in the construction, maritime and agriculture industries. As part of its process, OSHA is holding Small Business Advocacy Review Panel meetings to gather views on the potential effects of a heat standard on small businesses. The meetings will be held in teleconferences where small businesses can share concerns and discuss current practices for protecting their employees from heat-related illnesses and injuries. The discussions will be open to the public.
In October 2021, OSHA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings in the Federal Register, initiating the rulemaking for OSHA to consider a heat-specific workplace standard. OSHA has also taken several actions to protect workers from the dangers of excess heat in the workplace, including:
- Developing an enforcement initiative on heat-related hazards.
- Launching a National Emphasis Program on heat inspections.
- Creating a National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group.
- Launching a Heat Illness Prevention campaign to educate employers and workers on the dangers of working in the heat.
For more information, please see the OSHA Trade Release.
OSHA Seeks Feedback on Effectiveness of Leading Indicators to Improve, Develop Resource Tool
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is asking for stakeholder input on their current use of leading indicators and their impact on managing their safety and health management systems. Leading indicators are proactive and preventive measures that can provide insight on the effectiveness of safety and health activities and reveal potential problems. They are vital in reducing worker fatalities, injuries, illnesses, and financial impacts.
As OSHA considers developing a Leading Indicators Resource, the agency welcomes stakeholders to share their experience and expertise and provide detailed feedback on how/where they are used at their workplace. OSHA is interested in various perspectives on stakeholders’ answers to questions, such as the following:
- What leading indicators do you use?
- What lagging indicators do you use (OSHA incident rates, for example)?
- What leading indicators are, or could be, commonly used in your industry?
- What metrics do you share with top management?
- How do you determine the effectiveness of your leading indicators?
- Do you link your leading indicators to outcome data, such as OSHA incident rates to evaluate results?
- How could employers be encouraged to use leading indicators in addition to lagging indicators to improve safety management systems?
- What barriers and challenges, if any, have you encountered to using leading indicators?
Individuals may submit comments at regulations.gov by July 17, 2023, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal, identified by docket number OSHA-2023-0006. For more information, see the OSHA Trade Release.
Beltway Buzz – Ogletree Deakins
SCOTUS Recap. Because the Buzz was away last week, we want to make sure that our readers have seen the thoughtful insights prepared by our colleagues on the impacts to employers stemming from the Supreme Court of the United States’ recent groundbreaking decisions related to affirmative action in college admissions and the standard for religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Further, on July 12, 2023, Shafeeqa W. Giarratani and T. Scott Kelly will host a webinar titled “The Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Admissions Ruling—Ramifications for All Employers.” Register here.
EEO-1 Filing Delayed … But Why? James A. Patton, Jr. and Kiosha H. Dickey have the scoop on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) postponement of the 2022 EEO-1 data collection. According to the EEOC, the agency is “currently completing a mandatory, three-year renewal of the EEO-1 Component 1 data collection” and “has updated the tentative opening of the 2022 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection to the Fall of 2023.” What isn’t clear—and what the EEOC does not provide—is the reason for the delay. As Jay and Kiosha posit, the delay could be due to technical changes to the form that the Commission proposed in November 2022. Could the delay simply be to realign the filing period with the traditional September 30 date that had been the filing deadline for years? Could the delay even be to buy some time for the confirmation of Democratic commissioner nominee, Kalpana Kotagal, who could provide a third vote to reinstate the short-lived EEO-1 Component 2 wage and hour data collection?
Mine Safety Agency Issues Silica Proposal. On June 30, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced a proposed rule titled “Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection.” The proposal would lower the current permissible exposure limit of respirable crystalline silica from 100 to “50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) for a full shift exposure, calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average, for all miners.” The proposal also would update existing respiratory protection requirements and include “exposure sampling, corrective actions to be taken when miner exposure exceeds the permissible exposure limit, and medical surveillance for metal and nonmetal miners.” Comments will be due forty-five days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)—whose vote the administration will need to confirm secretary of labor nominee Julie Su—joined other Democratic senators in praising the proposal.
Nomination News. Late last week, President Biden announced several important nominations to federal agencies.
- First, the president renominated Amanda Wood Laihow to serve as a member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC). Laihow previously served on the Commission, beginning in January 2020. As the Buzz has discussed, the expiration of Laihow’s term in late April 2023 left OSHRC with only member—Commission Chair Cynthia Attwood—and without a functioning quorum. If Laihow is confirmed and sworn in, a quorum will have been restored and OSHRC will then be permitted to issue decisions.
- Second, the president nominated Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson and Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak to the two vacant Republican seats on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While Democrats will still maintain a majority at the FTC with the confirmation of either or both nominees, the new commissioners will likely push back on current FTC initiatives, including the proposal to ban noncompete agreements.
PWFA Regs on the Way. As the Buzz recently noted, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect on June 27, 2023, without implementing regulations in place. The U.S. Congress has tasked the EEOC with getting such regulations finalized by December 29, 2023. Late last week, the Commission sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs the proposed rule. While the rule is not publicly available at this time, the lengthy regulatory process means that if the Commission is to meet its year-end deadline for finalization, the proposal will likely be issued soon.
Professional Certification Coalition
IHMM is a member of the PCC. The PCC monitors state and federal legislative and regulatory activity affecting professional certification on an ongoing basis. The PCC has compiled several “Watchlists” identifying and analyzing provisions in pending legislation at both the state and federal level that, under applicable rules, may still be enacted in the current legislative session. Depending on the carry-over rules in the relevant legislature, the charts listing current legislation may include bills introduced in a prior year. In addition, the PCC compiles each year a chart of enacted legislation that affects certification. The charts include hyperlinks to every bill or executive order. Note that the Watchlist and the Enacted Legislation document do not include profession-specific legislation and do not include regulatory initiatives. The charts will be updated as needed based on new developments.
Other State and Federal Activities
In this section we will highlight other state and federal government affairs activities undertaken by the committee.
Current Priorities June-August 2023
PHMSA – Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With International Standards – IHMM Will File Comments – Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0092 (HM-215Q)
NY Department of Labor rulemaking concerning the recognition of the CSHM and CSMP. IHMM’s comments concerning initiating this rulemaking are here
Work with Eric Vega in Puerto Rico concerning credential recognition
Review of the Governor of Nevada’s Executive Order concerning licensing boards and potential for recognition of the CHMM. IHMM’s comments on the Governor’s Executive Order are here
Scheduling meetings with the Maryland Congressional delegation concerning the Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist [CPPS] credential
IHMM Credential Recognition
The highest priority of IHMM’s Government Affairs Committee is the recognition of IHMM’s credentials by government. We have made substantial progress in the two years we have undertaken this endeavor, as outlined in detail here > https://ihmm.org/credential-recognition/
In this project we have 45-in-5, increasing the number of states that recognize IHMM credentials.
- 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 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
K-12 School Security: 12 Findings from the Field
Historically, school safety initiatives have addressed issues related to bullying, vandalism, student fights, and weather-related emergencies. However, with the rise in number of school shootings, administrators are compelled to redefine school safety to include an increased focus on school security.
Given the urgency for this type of research, policymakers, education researchers, and practitioners must study school security challenges and interventions.
Our guide, K-12 School Security: 12 Findings from the Field, shares key takeaways from our interviews with district leaders about how districts of all sizes across the country are addressing school safety concerns.
Download the guide to learn how districts are promoting:
- Emergency preparedness, including adaptive protocols and threat prevention and detection
- Building security through vulnerability assessments, emergency communication tools, and police partnerships
- Community engagement strategies to reduce stakeholder anxiety
Download the Guide here
Safe and Sound Schools – New Research
The 2022 State of School Safety Report is now available. Download our latest report to see where our school communities lie on the spectrum of safety awareness and preparedness. This fifth annual report highlights safety issues important to all stakeholders and identifies areas where further exploration, education, and conversations are needed. Schools and local communities are encouraged to use these findings to drive the important – and sometimes difficult – conversations necessary to address the myriad issues impacting the safety and security of our school communities.
Topic Covered Include:
Safety preparedness, threat concerns, mental health, social and emotional learning, behavior threat assessment and management, physical security concerns, communication gaps between stakeholders, school safety shortcomings, and recommendations for moving forward.
OSHA Announces National Emphasis Program for Warehousing and Distribution
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced a new national emphasis program to prevent workplace hazards in warehousing and distribution center operations, mail/postal processing and distribution centers, parcel delivery/courier services, and certain high injury rate retail establishments. In the past 10 years, these industries have experienced tremendous growth, and employ more than 1.9 million people. At the same time, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show injury and illness rates for these establishments are higher than in private industry overall and, in some sectors, more than twice the rate of private industry.
Under this three-year emphasis program, OSHA will conduct comprehensive safety inspections focused on hazards related to powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress and fire protection. The program will also include inspections of retail establishments with high injury rates with a focus on storage and loading areas; however, OSHA may expand an inspection’s scope when evidence shows that violations may exist in other areas of the establishment. In addition, OSHA will assess heat and ergonomic hazards under the emphasis program, and health inspections may be conducted if OSHA determines these hazards are present.
For more information, see the news release. See also osha.gov/warehousing for information about industry workplace hazards and solutions.
Department of Labor Publishes 2023 Round 2 Frequently Asked Questions on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) Final Rule
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification has issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the final rule, Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States (“2023 AEWR Final Rule”), which published on February 28, 2023. These Round 2 FAQs provide guidance on AEWR determinations, including how a State Workforce Agency (SWA) and the Certifying Officer (CO) determine which AEWR applies to a job opportunity, how SWAs and COs determine the AEWR for job duties with multiple Standard Occupational Classification codes, and the impact of certain job duties on AEWRs.
Construction Companies Invested $1.5 Billion in Workforce Education
Companies invested 8% of payroll on workforce development in 2022, in response to the need for more than half a million additional construction workers in 2023.
In 2022, Associated Builders and Contractors member contractors invested more than $1.5 billion to provide nearly 1.3 million course attendees with craft, leadership and safety education according to its 2023 Workforce Development Survey
This number was down from $1.6 billion in 2021.
The annual assessment quantifies the scope of ABC members’ workforce development initiatives to advance their employees’ careers in commercial and industrial construction to build the places where Americans live, work, learn, heal and play.
Key findings include:
- ABC contractors invested an average of 8.0% of payroll on workforce development in 2022, up from 7.4% in 2021, responding to the need for more than half a million additional construction workers in 2023.
- Safety education for more than 700,000 course attendees accounted for the greatest share of spending, at 59%, up from 56% in 2021.
- Trade and specialty contractors boosted their share of the total workforce development investment, growing to 42% in 2022 from 33% in 2021.
Read more by clicking here.
Heat Stroke: Teach the TACO Method
If cold water immersion is not an option, the Tarp-Assisted Cooling Oscillation method for treating heat stroke sufferers can save lives on remote jobsites.
The summer heat that’s welcome to sun lovers and vacationers can be dangerous and even deadly to workers. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that extreme heat is responsible for over 1,300 deaths every year in the United States. With global temperatures expected to continue rising, more and more workers will soon be at risk of heat stroke and other debilitating conditions caused by overheating and the loss of body fluids and salts.
Treatment for heat stroke is clear for facilities and jobsites with the right equipment like full-body immersion tubs, but it can be difficult or even impossible to lug a large tub along to every job location. So, what do remote teams need to know if someone on the jobsite falls victim to heat stroke? Teaching everyone the facts about heat stroke and equipping them with the right gear and knowledge to treat sufferers in any location can save a life.
Read more by clicking here.
Department of Labor Launches Initiative To Promote Worker-Owned Businesses, Increase Workplace Democracy, Improve Bottom Line For Many Americans
To help create and promote business ownership by America’s workers, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a new Employee Ownership Initiative within its Employee Benefits Security Administration.
As part of the Worker Ownership, Readiness, and Knowledge Act in the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 and aligned with President Biden’s promise to lead the most pro-worker administration in history, EBSA will implement a new program to empower workers through ownership arrangements and educate those workers on possible pathways to greater rewards in return for their labor.
“Worker ownership arrangements help create pathways for employees to earn a fair share of the profits that their labor makes possible and will play a critical role in the Biden-Harris administration’s fight to give workers a voice on the job and a seat at the table,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su. “This new Department of Labor initiative is an important step in implementing President Biden’s economic plan to empower workers and grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up — not the top down.”
Read more by clicking here.
OSHA Proposes Over $1M in Penalties for American Samoa Contractor
The contractor, which has a history of violations, was cited for 21 violations following January 2023 inspections.
OSHA inspections earlier this year have led to over $1 million in proposed penalties for an American Samoa construction contractor.
According to a news release, following January 2023 inspections at two American Samoa worksites, OSHA cited Paramount Builders Ltd. for not:
- “Us[ing] guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems, as required.
- Equip[ing] stairways with one stair rail system along each unprotected side or edge.
- Ensur[ing] workers used appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially hazardous light radiation.
- Install[ing] equipment safely as instructed by the manufacturer.”
Read more by clicking here.
New video lays out the ‘business case’ for healthy work
A recently released video from the Healthy Work Campaign explains to business leaders how work stress harms their organization and employees – and what can be done about it.
The Business Case for Healthy Work focuses on issues such as chronic stress caused by greater work demands, time pressures, unreasonable workloads and low job control. That stress can lead to higher blood pressure and greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
The campaign is a public health project sponsored by the Center for Social Epidemiology, a nonprofit foundation.
“Overwork, especially working more than 55 hours per week, is also associated with burnout and depression,” Peter Schnall, CSE director and a professor emeritus of medicine at the University of California, Irvine, says in the video.
The video notes that businesses can lose billions of dollars because of problems such as employee disengagement and burnout, sickness and lost productivity, and increased health care costs.
Read more by clicking here.
Nationwide Food Manufacturer Agrees To Companywide Compliance With Child Labor Laws After Investigation Find 2 Teens Employed Illegally In Minnesota
Court enters judgment requiring future compliance by Monogram Food Solutions LLC
A federal court in Minnesota has entered a consent judgment that requires a national food manufacturing company to comply with the federal child labor laws at all of its production facilities and warehouses nationwide, and to take significant steps to comply with these laws in the future.
The court’s action follows a U.S. Department of Labor investigation opened on March 28, 2023, at Monogram Meat Snacks LLC in Chandler, Minnesota, that found the company employed at least two 16- and 17-year-old children to operate meat-processing equipment in violation of federal child labor hazardous orders.
The company is a subsidiary of Monogram Food Solutions LLC in Memphis, Tennessee, manufacturer of meat snacks, appetizers, assembled sandwiches, baked goods and other convenience products for private label sale.
Shortly after investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division began, the department notified the employer that it objected to the shipment of goods from its Chandler facility and issued an “Objection to Shipment letter” that cited the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “hot goods” provision. The provision prevents employers from shipping goods produced illegally by child labor. On April 24, 2023, the company agreed to the department’s request and withheld shipment of the goods as discussions about compliance with the department continued.
Read more by clicking here.
ASSP Announces Safety 2023 Attendance Hit Record-High
The event saw a turnout of over 6,000 professionals.
The attendance at the American Society of Safety Professionals’ (ASSP) Safety 2023 Professional Development Conference and Exposition set a new record, the organization announced yesterday.
Taking place this year in San Antonio, Texas, from June 5 to 7, Safety 2023 saw almost 6,000 people attend the event in person, surpassing the Safety 2019 record of 5,905 attendees, according to a press release.
“We saw a big desire from safety professionals to network with colleagues and stay current on best practices, industry trends and the latest product innovations,” said ASSP President Jim Thornton, CSP, CIH, FASSP, FAIHA, in the news release. “It was incredible to see a record turnout so soon after the pandemic. Safety 2023 was a true success.”
Read more by clicking here.
At Work — Let’s Agree to Disagree
Don’t ignore the elephant in the room.
As younger workers are more inclined to express their opinions at work, there might be some friction as to how this process should work.
So Korn Ferry offers advice on how to disagree respectfully.
- Establish common ground.
- Listen with an open mind.
- Don’t ignore the elephant in the room.
Read more by clicking here.
Film crew safety bill awaits California governor’s signature
Legislation recently passed by the California Senate and Assembly would provide stronger protections for workers on film sets where firearms and ammunition are used.
S.B. 132, which at press time was on the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), includes language from a previous bill (S.B. 735) introduced by Sens. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) and Anthony Portantino (D-Glendale). S.B. 132 would prohibit the use of live ammunition on sets – except in limited situations and subject to safety laws and rules – and establish safety standards and training requirements for prop masters and armorers on the job.
The bill was spurred by the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the movie “Rust” in October 2021. It passed in the Senate with a 33-4 vote on May 24 and in the Assembly, 70-5, on June 27.
Read more by clicking here.
5 Solutions to Mitigate Risks Associated with Prolonged Standing
Workers who stand can run into many health issues, but options like seats, floor mats, footrests and more may help make a difference.
When you go into a grocery store in the U.S., you’ll likely see a cashier behind a register, scanning items in repetitive motions during their multi-hour shift. But what you might not see is the health issues they deal with from the prolonged standing.
Many workers across the world are expected to stand on their feet for extended periods of time. According to Georgetown University, more than four hours of prolonged standing is enough to put workers at risk for health concerns.
While it depends on the person and the tasks being performed, these workers may face issues like varicose veins, pain in the lower back pain, feet and legs and neck and shoulder stiffness. Luckily, with the right solutions, this doesn’t have to be a reality for every standing worker.
Read more by clicking here.
US Department of Labor Finds Shipping Company Endangered Warehouse Employees Working Under Suspended Cars, Motorcycles
Global transporter, W8 Shipping LLC cited for 24 violations, faces $379K in penalties
An international freight handling company exposed dozens of employees at a Port of Savannah warehouse to potentially deadly hazards by allowing them to work with automobiles and motorcycles suspended overhead, the U.S. Department of Labor has found.
Inspectors with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that W8 Shipping LLC willfully exposed workers to the risk of being struck or crushed by falling vehicles elevated by forklifts during loading and unloading. The company also failed to provide eye protection to workers changing liquid propane tanks and using nail guns. OSHA inspectors also cited the company for allowing flammable wood dust to build up on electrical outlets and equipment, floors and other machinery.
“For decades, established safety standards have been in place to protect workers from dangers that W8 Shipping’s employees face and yet the company chose to ignore federal regulations,” explained OSHA Acting Area Director Heather Sanders in Savannah, Georgia. “When it comes to workplace safety, shortcuts are the quickest route to serious injuries or worse.”
Read more by clicking here.
New video spotlights harness inspection safety
A damaged harness can be the difference between a near-miss incident and a catastrophic fall when working at height, the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association says.
The association has published a video tutorial to help guide workers through properly inspecting their fall protection harness. It walks viewers through the inspection process, from reviewing the manufacturer’s instructions to inspecting the straps and stitching, checking the deployment indicators, and examining buckles and grommets.
“With the number of incidents occurring on jobsites that require working at height, it’s crucial for every worker to have a thorough understanding of how to inspect their safety harnesses,” IHSA says. “Follow these steps every time you don a harness to improve your ability to work safe for life.”
Read more by clicking here.
Regulatory Update: Keep Rude Music Out of the Workplace
Profane rap lyrics blasted in warehouse provoke sexual harassment claim.
A federal appeals court decision recently found an employer can be found liable for condoning sexual harassment by allowing the playing sexually explicit rap music in the workplace, even when it offends both men and women.
The employees who brought the suit – seven women and one man – said that the employer, S&S Activewear, had created a sexually hostile work environment by allowing supervisors to routinely play “sexually graphic, violently misogynistic music” at the company’s 700,000 square foot warehouse in Reno, NV. The songs contained lyrics glorifying prostitution, using expletives crudely describing sexual acts, and advocating violence against women.
They claimed that these songs were continuously blasted from commercial-strength speakers throughout the warehouse. Some employees complained “almost daily” for nearly two years before they brought suit. Despite these repeated complaints about the music, management defended it as a “motivational tool,” according to attorney Frank Shuster of the law firm of Constangy Brooks Smith & Prophete.
Read more by clicking here.
Spring 2023 OSHA Regulatory Agenda
As part of our efforts to keep you informed of OSHA’s activities, we wanted to let you know that the Department of Labor, including OSHA, has issued its Spring 2023 Regulatory Agenda. Federal agencies post their regulatory agendas on the Reginfo.gov website and Mobile.Reginfo.gov twice a year to provide a snapshot of their rulemaking priorities.
A listing of Department of Labor (including OSHA) rulemaking in the pre-rule, proposed rule, and final rule stages is available here. Rules that are classified as long-term actions are listed here.
OSHA’s Safe + Sound Campaign is a nationwide opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of the value of proactive occupational safety and health (OSH) programs in all workplaces. Mark your calendars! Safe + Sound Week will take place from August 7-13, 2023. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Registration for Safe + Sound Week opens in early July. We look forward to your participation!
Safe + Sound emphasizes the need for safety programs at small- and mid-sized businesses, which are more likely to have limited resources dedicated to safety. As you know, effective OSH programs can help organizations identify and manage workplace risk before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. Safety and health management systems are a critical best practice to ensure that OSH programs achieve significant results and lower risk exposure.
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.
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.
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 Jimmy Nguyen at [email protected] and he’ll be happy to help you.
National Safety Council
IHMM is a member of the National Safety Council and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.
NSC News
2023 Training Survey
The power of influence
What’s being done to protect workers from heat illness?
Keep peer influence teams firing on all cylinders
Change can be a good thing
Opportunity awaits the safety pros of tomorrow
Ergo group calls for OSHA standard on MSDs in health care
NSC Webinars
July 20 – Forklift Safety & Compliance: Your Toughest Questions Answered!
July 27 – Turning Standards into Digital Inspections and Processes: A Practical Guide
Aug 8 – A Blueprint for Prevention: How to Mitigate Safety Risks Through Human-Centered Design
Aug 17 – OSHA Training for General Industry: Reviewing the Elements for Select Topics
IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.
New Free Training Programs Offered by ASSP
Starting next week, ASSP is offering six new free, instructor-led courses developed under a Susan Harwood Grant from OSHA. These courses provide guidance on planning and managing pandemics; review regulations and a legal framework for infectious diseases; discuss industry best practices and more. The first course starts July 27, register today!
Also, we are very interested in having end users register and take the course. We are hoping that our OSH colleagues who work for labor organizations will get the word out to teams so they will have the opportunity to participate.
Susan Harwood link: https://www.assp.org/resources/osha-susan-harwood-grant
Courses:
- Pandemic Challenges: How to Return to Work Safely [August 17th]
- Legal Framework and Workplace Best Practices for Infectious Disease Including COVID-19 [July 20th]
- Planning and Management of Pandemics and Other Infectious Diseases [July 27th]
- Managing Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace During Pandemics and Other Crises [August 10th]
- General Considerations for Organizations on Managing Infectious Diseases [August 3rd]
- Managing Infectious Diseases and Health Hazards in the Construction Industry [August 24th]
IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.
ASSP News
Episode 111: Creating a More Sustainable Future and Improving Safety and Health
Safety 2023 Attendance Ranks Best in Event’s History
Giving Back Moves Us Forward
Hand Safety When Exposed to Energized Equipment
ASSP Webinars
July 19 – The Quest for a Better Framework in Contractor Safety Management: Challenges & Opportunities from Safety Data, Safety Controls and Continual Improvement
July 20 – Legal Framework and Workplace Best Practices for Infectious Disease Including COVID-19
July 20 – Aug 17 – ONLINE COURSE: Managed Fall Protection Course
July 26 – From Paper to Pixels: Physical Security Technology for a Safer Facility
July 27 – Planning and Management of Pandemics and Other Infectious Diseases
July 27 – Aug 31 – ONLINE COURSE: Safety Management II
Aug 3 – Aug 31 – ONLINE COURSE: Corporate Safety Management
ASSP Standards News
The U.S. TAG to ANSI for ISO TC283 approved ISO 45002 and ISO 45006 as ANSI registered technical reports.
- ISO/ASSP TR 45002-2023: Occupational health and safety management systems – General guidelines for the implementation of ISO 45001:2018
- ISO/ASSP TR 45006-2023: Occupational health and safety management – Guidelines for organizations on preventing and managing infectious diseases
At this point, the adoption process is complete. We will conclude limited public review and then move forward with publication of ISO 45002 and ISO 45006 as an ANSI Registered Technical Report[s].
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.
CHEMTREC, HMS Training Partner, Adds Courses for IHMM Certificants
This week CHEMTREC has added its HAZWOPER 8-hour Refresher Training to the HMS Daily Training schedule. This HAZWOPER 8-hour Refresher Training is designed for individuals who need to refresh their existing 24-hour or 40-hour HAZWOPER certification. This course meets the requirements outlined in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 for 8 (eight) hours of annual refresher training for workers involved in the transport, storage, or handling of hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
See the CHEMTREC HAZWOPER 8-hour Refresher Training here!
CHEMTREC, an HMS training partner, has had 7 courses approved in advance for earning IHMM recertification certification maintenance points. We are pleased to promote these programs as reviewed and approved by the HMS Education and Training Committee. Thank you CHEMTREC, and thank to HMS’ Education and Training Committee.
AIHA, HMS Training Partner, Adds Courses for IHMM Certificants
American Industrial Hygiene Association [AIHA] an HMS training partner, has added its first of many courses approved in advance for earning IHMM recertification certification maintenance points. We are pleased to promote these programs in support of IHMM certificants holding the CHMM, CHMP, CSHM, and CSMP credentials. Thank you, AIHA.
Bowen EHS, HMS Training Partner, Adds Courses for IHMM Certificants
Bowen EHS, an HMS training partner, has had 4 courses approved in advance for earning IHMM recertification certification maintenance points. We are pleased to promote these programs as reviewed and approved by the HMS Education and Training Committee, chaired by Diana Lundelius. Thank you Bowen EHS and thank to HMS’ Education and Training Committee.
Thank you Bowen EHS for contributing programs enabling IHMM certificants to engage in professional development and earn important CMPs! All three of the new Bowen EHS programs are available online and on demand.
| Daily | EPCRA Tier II Reporting | Bowen EHS | Online |
| Daily | CHMM Online Review | Bowen EHS | Online |
| Daily | Emergency Management Self-Paced PDC | Bowen EHS | Online |
| Daily | Acute Toluene Exposure Webinar | Bowen EHS | Online |
Thank you Bowen EHS for contributing programs enabling IHMM certificants to engage in professional development and earn important CMPs! All three of the new Bowen EHS programs are available online and on demand.
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
Easily Find Courses to Help You Pass IHMM Credential Exams
CDGP® Prep Course
CE-1112: CDGP® Exam Prep – Columbia Southern University – Available On Demand
CHMM® Prep Courses
Daily – CHMM® Online Review – Bowen
Daily – CHMM® Prep Course – Institute of Safety & Systems Management
Daily –Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (CHMM®) Exam Prep – SPAN Exam Prep, Division of ClickSafety
CSHM® Prep Courses
CSMP® Prep Courses
HMS Makes Finding Courses to Earn CMPs Easy
Every year more than 1,600 IHMM certificants have to recertify their credentials, evidenced their continuing commitment to improvement and learning to elevate their professional credential.
Earning Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs] is illustrated under Recertification of Your Credential, that includes the Recertification Claims Manual – Appendix A, that details all of the ways a certificant may earn CMPs > https://ihmm.org/recertification-claims/
Having mastered that manual, how does an IHMM certificant find courses to earn CMPs?
HMS has made that simple and easy.
- Go to https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
- Scroll down until you see a row of buttons…click on the CMPs button
The system will then generate all of the courses on the HMS E&T platform with IHMM CMPs already attached.
The next developments by the HMS E&T committee will refine available courses’ CMPs by individual credential!
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 CSHM 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 CSHM prep courses may be found and chosen.
If you want your prep courses on the HMS platform so it can be found by IHMM credential applicants, contact Gene Guilford at [email protected]
Applications for the 2023 HMS Scholarship Awards Now Open
The HMS scholarship award is given annually to undergraduate and graduate students whose academic program and research studies have the potential to address the most serious issues in handling hazardous materials, dangerous goods, environmental issues, health & safety challenges. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in accredited U.S. academic institutions.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD APPLICATIONS IS December 1, 2023. All submissions and associated materials must be submitted using the online form.
Scholarship Winners Will Be Announced at the HMS Annual Meeting.
For More Information, Visit > https://hazmatsociety.org/scholarship/
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.
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.
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.
41st Annual College & University Hazardous Material Management Conference
Corvallis, OR
August 6-9, 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.
9210 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 470
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
www.ihmm.org | [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 | Fax: 301-984-1516