EHS Professional – March 9, 2023

AIHA and IHMM Collaborate on Education and Training

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

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

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

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

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

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

IHMM Government Affairs Volunteers

IHMM Board Chair Bill Diesslin has issued a call for volunteers for the IHMM Government Affairs Committee. Everyone can learn more about the charter of this committee here > https://ihmm.org/government-affairs-committee/

In joining this committee we request a cross-section of all of IHMM’s credential holders, as IHMM is involved in a wide variety of government affairs activities that are described in detail here > https://ihmm.org/ihmm-government-affairs/

Top 4 Projects in February-March, 2023

• NY Department of Labor rulemaking concerning the recognition of the CSHM and CSMP – IHMM Amendment sent to Anthony Dell-Isola to work with his State Senator

• 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 Sent on Friday, March 3, 2023

• Scheduling meetings with the Maryland Congressional delegation concerning the Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist [CPPS] credential – IHMM had meetings with Senator Cardin and Representative Trone on March 2, 2023, scheduling Senator Van Hollen next.

The Art of Selling Safety

To be an effective safety professional, you need to know how to craft a message—and convince employees that safety is in everyone’s best interest.

In 1992, I was content to be a frontline supervisor in the airline industry. I enjoyed the job and liked working in an exciting industry. I certainly did not have any ambitions to pursue a career in safety and health. That is, until safety chose me.

Like many others in the safety and health profession, I joined the ranks after a serious incident. I entered the field knowing very little about safety. Twenty-eight years later, I still can’t say I’m an expert, but I have learned a great deal.

As I reflect on my career, I recognize the importance of establishing a knowledge base. That base of knowledge comes mainly from knowing your stuff, the technical stuff. Adding certifications shows the world that you have attained a level of technical expertise. Such expertise establishes credibility that, in turn, opens doors to conversations and opportunities.

Read more by clicking here.

8 Reasons Why Fitness in The Workplace is Important

Here are just some ways employers can promote a healthy and active work environment.

In today’s fast-paced and demanding work environment, it is more important than ever to prioritize the health and well-being of employees.

Fitness in the workplace can play a vital role in improving worker health and safety, resulting in a safer, healthier and more productive work environment. From reducing stress and absenteeism to improving mental health and job satisfaction, the benefits of promoting fitness in the workplace are numerous.

Read more > https://ohsonline.com/articles/2023/02/08/fitness-in-the-workplace.aspx

US Department of Labor Recovers $166K In Back Wages For 53 Roofing Workers Denied Overtime By Mohawk Valley Contractor

Lakeside Roofing & Contracting LLC, also failed to record work hours for some workers

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $166,832 for 53 employees of a Little Falls roofing contractor to resolve overtime and recordkeeping violations found by investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division.

Division investigators determined Lakeside Roofing & Contracting LLC – operating as Lakeside Kanga Roof – paid straight time for travel time and all hours over 40 in a workweek, did not record work hours accurately and failed to include commissions and bonuses when calculating hourly rates of pay for overtime, all violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company also did not display a poster summarizing workers’ FLSA protections, as the law requires.

Kanga Roof’s owner told investigators that they didn’t consider the workers to be independent contractors or employees because each worker “buys into” the company when hired and becomes a “member” of the corporation and, thus, weren’t entitled to overtime. However, the investigation determined the workers to be company employees per the FLSA and entitled to the law’s protections.

Read more > https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20230307

The 8 Habits of a Highly Effective Safety Culture

Developing these habits will help create a safety culture in which it is safe for employees to fail.

Rod Courtney will be speaking at EHS Today’s 2023 Safety Leadership Conference, to be held Sept. 18-20 in Orlando, Fla.

I began writing my new book, The 8 Habits of a Highly Effective Safety Culture, in 2004 while working as a civilian contractor for Kellogg Brown & Root in Iraq. I was the area HSE manager for a large portion of the Logistical Civilian Augmentation Program #3 Project. Our contract required us to hire a certain percentage of local national employees (Iraqis) to help build bases for the U.S. military and coalition forces. This was to help the local economy and to teach the Iraqi people new skills that they could use once we were gone. In theory, this was a great idea; in reality, however, it was a safety nightmare.

Being a U.S.-based company, we were required to follow OSHA 29 CFR 1926 (Construction) and OSHA 1910 (General Industry), and in some cases U.S. Army Corps of Engineers EM 385. But none of this translated to the way of life in that part of the world. Without turning this into a discussion of religion, I just need you to understand that many people in Iraq believe they have zero control over the things that happen to them. So, bring this culture to an American construction site and I’m sure you can see the difficulties.

Read more by clicking here.

Amazon Cited After OSHA Finds Ergonomic Hazards at Colorado Facility

The e-commerce company is facing proposed penalties of about $15,000.

Amazon is being cited for the third time this year after OSHA found ergonomic hazards at a Colorado facility.

The agency received a complaint about an Amazon—a company well known for getting orders filled and packages delivered quickly—delivery station in Colorado Springs, Colorado, regarding musculoskeletal disorders and speed, according to a news release.

The agency inspected the facility in August 2022 and found employees exposed to ergonomic hazards. In total, OSHA cited Amazon for one serious violation and proposed penalties of $15,625.

“We continue to find that Amazon’s work processes are designed for speed, not safety, and that these processes cause serious injuries to workers,” explained Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker in the news release. “Amazon needs to focus more of its passion for innovation and performance on eliminating the hazards that injure workers.”

OSHA said that about 5,000 to 10,000 packages are processed per hour at the Colorado Springs delivery station per day and 50,000 packages are delivered there daily.

Read more > https://ohsonline.com/articles/2023/02/28/amazon-cited-after-osha-finds.aspx

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month

No matter where work gets done, “protecting vision should always be a priority,” advocacy group Prevent Blindness is reminding employers.

Workplace Eye Wellness Month is observed every March. Citing data from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Prevent Blindness claims 90% of the thousands of work-related eye injuries sustained each year could be prevented if workers wore proper eye protection.

The group offers resources – including fact sheets, infographics and a PowerPoint presentation – for employers.

Common causes of eye injuries include flying objects (including bits of metal and glass), tools, particles and chemicals. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) ranked ninth on OSHA’s list of the most frequently cited worker safety and health standards in fiscal year 2022. The top section cited within the standard, 1926.102(a)(1), states: “The employer shall ensure each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards.”

Prevent Blindness America also cautions workers who routinely use computers, tablets and smartphones about the risks of eyestrain.

“Maintaining healthy vision is a critical part of maintaining overall good health for working adults,” Prevent Blindness President and CEO Jeff Todd said in a press release. “We strongly urge everyone to talk to their eye doctor about the best ways to keep eyes healthy at their jobs today and for years to come.”

Read the original article by clicking here.

Next Generation: US Department of Labor Promotes Safety To Newest Generation of Construction Workforce During Atlanta Career Expo In March

OSHA focuses on preventing worker injuries at Southeast’s largest construction career event

Professionals from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration are participating in the 2023 Atlanta Construction Ready Career Expo – geared toward students from Georgia’s middle, high and tech schools – to highlight the importance of on-the-job safety to the industry’s next generation of workers.

The event will be held March 9-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center and will focus on careers in construction and related fields and disciplines, such as safety, highway construction, electrical contracting, energy, drywall, tile, and roofing. Exhibits will feature machinery and tools, and participants will be available to answer questions about career options and skills needed in various industry fields.

“The 2023 Construction Ready Career Expo is arguably the nation’s largest hands-on career day event,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer in Atlanta. “It is a useful way for students to explore careers in skilled trades and gives OSHA an excellent opportunity to partner with industry leaders and educators of prospective construction industry workers.”

OSHA’s youth safety campaign is part of the agency’s Young Worker Initiative, which provides information and resources to teenagers, parents, educators and employers to ensure safe and rewarding work experiences for summer employees. For more information on workplace safety for teens, visit OSHA’s website, Young Workers – You have rights!

Read more > https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20230307

Hearing Protection: The Dangers of Non-Compliance

Hearing health is more important than you might think.

Many dangers in the workplace are hazards that cannot be seen. For instance, viruses, extreme hot or cold temperatures, toxic vapors and even noise can present issues in the workplace that could lead to minor or severe illness or injury. In this article, we are going to take a look into the widespread impact of noise: how hearing loss can impact an employee and how you can help workers find value in their hearing protection.

In the U.S., hearing loss is the third-most common chronic physical condition among adults after hypertension and arthritis, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). About 12 percent of the working population has difficulty hearing, and of those, about 24 percent lost partial or all hearing as a result of occupational exposures. Even worse, about 8 percent of the working population suffers tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears.

NIOSH estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise, which they consider as any noise that reaches 85 decibels or higher—or in simpler terms, if a person has to raise his or her voice to speak with someone three feet, or arm’s length, away.

Read more > https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2023/03/01/Dangers-of-Non-Compliance.aspx

Half of the World Will be Obese by 2035. What Does that Mean for Employers?

In addition to costs associated with chronic diseases due to obesity, productivity rates are lower and absenteeism is higher.

A report released on March 3, 2023, from the World Obesity Federation predicts that the majority of the global population (51%, or over 4 billion people) will be either overweight or obese by 2035 if current trends prevail.

1 in 4 people (nearly 2 billion) will have obesity.

Childhood obesity could more than double by 2035 (from 2020 levels). Rates are predicted to double among boys to 208 million (100% increase) and more than double among girls to 175 million (125% increase) and are rising more rapidly among children than adults.

And the global impact will reach $4.32 trillion annually by 2035 if prevention and treatment measures do not improve. To provide a comparison the group noted that this figure is almost 3% of the global GDP, which would make it similar to the impact of COVID-19 in 2020.

And this will have a huge impact on employers as obesity has been associated with a number of health concerns including, prediabetes, diabetes, coronary heart disease, depression, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and some types of cancer.

Read more by clicking here.

North Carolina video warns employers about labor-related scams

Government officials in North Carolina are warning employers and the public about recent labor-related scams involving deceptive language in mailings.

In a video posted to the N.C. Department of Labor’s Facebook page, Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson and Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall explain that employers are being sent misleading mailings that ask them to buy workplace posters or pay high fees for an online filing.

“Some of you have recently received mailings seeking huge fees for required labor law posters that you can get for free from the North Carolina Department of Labor’s website,” Dobson says.

Marshall adds that some employers may have “received mailings seeking hefty fees for a filing that you may not even need, but you can get at no charge or for a small fee from the secretary of state’s website.”

The pair explain that scammers are using a publicly available database to target the business community and the general public. The mailings look similar to government mailings, Dobson notes, but usually include fine print mentioning these individuals aren’t endorsed by any state agency.

Read more by clicking here.

Ensuring Safety with Quality Footwear

There are four key factors to keep in mind when choosing the right safety footwear for workers.

Safety footwear provides the foundation for workers on the job: their feet keep them moving, keep them working and allow for responsibilities like lifting, standing and building to take place without a hitch. So, when building a safety program, you may ask yourself: How do I use footwear to best ensure the safety and productivity of my employees?

There are so many best practices to keep in mind when it comes to safety that it can be challenging to decide where to start. I’ve identified a handful of focus areas that lay a strong foundation for any program.

Let’s explore the four key factors you should think about when developing or updating your safety and PPE programs this year.

Read more > https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2023/03/01/Ensuring-Safety-with-Quality-Footwear.aspx

Federal Court Sentences Medical Clinics’ Co-Founder To Time Served of 14 Months In Prison, Orders $258K In Restitution After Department of Labor Fraud Investigation

Yesdel Acosta Perez opened bank accounts, rented office space under the guise of medical clinics to bill insurers for $4.7M in phony services

A federal court in Kentucky has sentenced the co-founder of several phony medical clinics in Louisville and Atlanta, who pleaded guilty to one felony count, after the U.S. Department of Labor found the operators collected $258,000 from 15 self-funded healthcare benefit programs for services they never provided.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky ordered that Yesdel Acosta Perez – co-founder of Romero Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Inc. and Empire USA Inc. in Louisville as well as Imaging Group Center Inc. in Atlanta – to time served of 14 months in prison and pay $258,507 in restitution.

In February 2023, Acosta Perez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

The prosecution follows an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration that found that, between May 2015 and January 2016, Acosta Perez and Eduardo Chinea-Martinez co-founded three companies to intentionally defraud various healthcare benefit programs. Investigators also determined Acosta Perez opened bank accounts for the fictitious businesses at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of America. Before his indictment in June 2018, Acosta Perez fled the U.S. On July 22, 2022, the Italian government granted the request of the U.S. for the extradition of Acosta Perez and surrendered him to U.S. authorities.

Read more > https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ebsa/ebsa20230303

NIOSH center offers free online course on Total Worker Health

A new online training course is designed to introduce Total Worker Health concepts to occupational safety and health professionals.

The Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace offers the self-paced course, which has three modules. One module outlines work and non-work factors that can influence employee safety, health and well-being, and impact organizations. Another introduces the vital elements of TWH and “explains the importance of leadership commitment to TWH.”

CPH-NEW, one of NIOSH’s Centers of Excellence based out of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, states, “Participants will learn how and when to engage employees when using a TWH approach, as well as provide evidence for the rationale for integrating program elements.” In addition, they’ll learn “simple ways to implement TWH practices within an organization, and also identify tools and resources available for implementing the TWH program.”

Anyone who completes the course can receive a certificate, which can be used for continuing education credits with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals or the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

Read the original article by clicking here.

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.

Top 4 Projects in February, 2023

• NY Department of Labor rulemaking concerning the recognition of the CSHM and CSMP

• 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

• Scheduling meetings with the Maryland Congressional delegation concerning the Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist [CPPS] credential

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

IHMM  – 26 Fellows Are Mentors 

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

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

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

Recert Video #1

Recert Video #2

IHMM Recertification Videos

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

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

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

IHMM Scholarship Program

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

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

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

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

Registration Open – June 5-7, San Antonio

ASSP News

• Episode 100: Assessing and Reducing the Amount of Waste Coming from Your Work Site

• A WISE Mentoring Success Story: Michelle Arias

• Disproportionate Impacts of Work

• Q&A: What OSH Professionals Need to Know About DEI and Workplace Safety

• SafetyFOCUS Can Fulfill a New Year’s Resolution

• NIOSH Challenge Aims to Improve Respirator Fit Testing

• Episode 98: OSHA Recordkeeping: What Safety Professionals and Employers Need to Know

ASSP Webinars

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/

There are 875 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]