EHS Professional – March 9, 2023

Thursday, March 9, 2023

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]

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Benefits of a CSHM® Credential

The CSHM is the ultimate recognition for EHS professionals with knowledge and experience in safety management and general business principles. The CSHM is ideal for those who seek Executive positions within their organizations. Possessing the CSHM® helps employers demonstrate to suppliers, customers, and enforcement agencies that they excel at regulatory compliance and the management of workplace safety.

See the CSHM

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.

IHMM UPDATES

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.

Ohio Safety Congress and Expo

This week IHMM is attending the Ohio Safety Congress and Expo at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus Ohio. IHMM is at booth 330 – so stop by and say hello!  There are 4,100 people pre-registered for this event so we are looking forward to networking with many people in workplace safety and hazardous materials management.

March 8-10, 2023

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

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 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Beltway Buzz – Ogletree Deakins

POTUS Nominates Su to Lead DOL. This week, President Biden nominated Julie Su to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) (the current secretary, Marty Walsh, is scheduled to leave his position later this month). In 2021, Su was confirmed as deputy secretary of labor by a party-line vote of 50-47 in the U.S. Senate. Su previously served as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. For the administration, not only is Su familiar with the current policy issues swirling around the Frances Perkins Building, but because she has already been confirmed by the Senate, her nomination also avoids a lengthy vetting and background check process that would have applied to any new, external candidate. Accordingly, the Buzz expects the current regulatory and enforcement agenda at the DOL to continue apace (and perhaps increase), despite the transition at the top.

Congress: ESG Not A-OK, We’ll Use CRA. This week, both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal the Employee Benefits Security Administration regulation entitled, “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights,” which was finalized on December 1, 2022. This regulation rescinds changes made in a 2020 rule that required fiduciaries of private-sector retirement plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to “focus solely on the plan’s financial risks and returns and keep the interests of plan participants and beneficiaries in their plan benefits paramount.” In its place, the 2022 rule allows fiduciaries to weigh “the economic effects of climate change and other environmental, social, or governance [ESG] factors on the particular investment or investment course of action.” Of course, President Biden is not going to sign a resolution to scuttle a regulation promulgated by his own DOL. However, this week’s action is a likely harbinger of continued Republican scrutiny of ESG investing practices.

Child Labor in Focus. In the wake of recent high profile child labor violations, regulators and legislators in Washington, D.C., are stepping up efforts to address the issue. This week, DOL and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the formation of an interagency taskforce that will focus on vulnerable migrant children, and will, in part “jointly conduct education and training initiatives in relevant communities.” Additionally, DOL’s Wage and Hour Division will launch a strategic enforcement initiative on child labor which “will use data-driven, worker-focused strategies to initiate investigations where child-labor violations are most likely to occur.” Finally, it was reported this week that Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) will soon introduce a bill to increase penalties for child labor violations. Substance of the bill aside, the political optics will definitely favor Senator Schatz and other proponents of the bill.

OFCCP Update. Federal contractors and subcontractors should be aware of the following actions from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP):

  • FOIA deadline. After several postponements, today (March 3, 2023) is the deadline for federal contractors to submit to the agency their objections to the agency’s release of their EEO-1 data pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
  • Religious clarification rule nixed. On March 1, 2023, OFCCP published a rule rescinding the 2020 rule entitled “Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption.” That rule was “intended to correct any misperception that religious organizations are disfavored in government contracting by setting forth appropriate protections for their autonomy to hire employees who will further their religious missions, thereby providing clarity that may expand the eligible pool of federal contractors and subcontractors.” Now, the OFCCP argues that rescission of the 2020 rule is appropriate because it “increased confusion and uncertainty about the religious exemption, largely because it departed from and questioned longstanding Title VII precedents.” The rescission becomes effective on March 31, 2023.

PRO Act Reintroduced. This week, legislators in both the House and Senate introduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023. The bill won’t get much traction in the Republican-controlled House. However, Democrats in the Senate will likely attempt to attract enough cosponsors to perhaps get a vote on the bill on the Senate floor. At the very least, Senate Democrats are likely to make the PRO Act the subject of hearings and debate, perhaps as early as next week.

H-1B Registration Opens. The initial registration period for the fiscal year 2024 H-1B cap opened on March 1, 2023, and will run through noon on March 17, 2023. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will notify account holders by March 31, 2023, if their registration has been selected.

OSHA Reporting Deadline. Covered employers were required to submit their Form 300A summary data for calendar year 2022 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) by March 2, 2023. In the meantime, OSHA has indicated that it will issue its final changes to expand this reporting requirement later this month.

Commerce Outlines CHIPS Funding Requirements. This week, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology released its workforce requirements for semiconductor manufacturers looking to apply for a share of $39 billion in incentives provided by the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022 (CHIPS Act). According to the release, “[a]pplicants are strongly encouraged to use PLAs [project labor agreements] in connection with their construction projects,” and Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wages will apply. Additionally, “applicants requesting Direct Funding over $150 million must submit a plan to

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.

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
CSMP® Prep Courses
  1. Certified Safety Management Practitioner® [CSMP®] Exam Preparation Course – VUBIZ – Available on Demand

CHEMTREC, HMS Training Partner, Adds Courses for IHMM Certificants

CHEMTREC, an HMS training partner, has had 6 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 CHEMTREC, and thank to HMS’ Education and Training Committee.

DailyGround Transportation for CarriersChemtrecOnline
DailyOSHA Hazard Communications StandardChemtrecOnline
DailyShipping Lithium Batteries and Cells TrainingChemtrecOnline
DailyHazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness Online Training CourseChemtrecOnline
DailyIATA Dangerous Goods Online Training for OperationsChemtrecOnline
Daily49 CFR TrainingChemtrecOnline
DailyIATA Dangerous Goods Online Training for Operations PersonnelChemtrecOnline

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.

DailyEPCRA Tier II ReportingBowen EHSOnline
DailyCHMM Online ReviewBowen EHSOnline
DailyEmergency Management Self-Paced PDCBowen EHSOnline
DailyAcute Toluene Exposure WebinarBowen EHSOnline

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.

HMS Launches New Certified Safety Management Practitioner® [CSMP®] Exam Prep Course

The Hazardous Materials Society is pleased to announce that it is launching a new CSMP examination prep course. The CSMP prep course follows the launch in 2021 of the successful CSHM prep course in an agreement with VUBIZ.

The CSMP exam prep course is available on demand online, and is linked in the schedule below as well as on the IHMM CSMP website and under the CSMP hotbutton CSMP PREP on the HMS Education and Training webpage.

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.

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/

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]

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.

COSTHA Annual Forum and Expo

Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Convention Center

April 30-May 24, 2023

AIHce EXP 2023

Phoenix Convention Center

May 22-24, 2023

ASSP Safety Conference and Exposition

San Antonio, TX

June 5-7, 2023

AHMP 36th Annual Conference

Omaha, NE

August 27-30, 2023

National Safety Council Congress & Expo

New Orleans, LA

October 23-25, 2023

FET Annual Conference

Milwaukee Marriott West

October 31-Nov 2, 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

2023-03-09T19:16:31+00:00

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