EHS Professional – May 4, 2023

IHMM Board of Directors Nominations

IHMM Directors and Officers are volunteers who serve without pay. They may serve up to two, four-year terms. Directors are responsible for the governance of IHMM, including establishing the overall direction of IHMM, the appointment of Executive Director, policy-making, and financial management.

IHMM has two Board seats expiring at the end of 2023. IHMM is soliciting candidates for these two seats; one At-Large Director seat that may be held by a CHMM, CHMP, CDGP, CSHM or CSMP. One CSMP Director seat must be held by a CSMP.

The composition of the present Board is here > https://ihmm.org/board-of-directors/

Qualified candidates may submit nomination papers [self-nomination is acceptable] on or before June 30, 2023. The documents for this announcement, procedures, and nomination form are here:

• 2024 IHMM Nominations and Elections Process

• 2024 IHMM Call for Nominations

• 2024 IHMM Fillable Nominations Form

Verifying Your IHMM Credential

Several of you have mentioned that having a printed wallet card that verifies your IHMM credential would be of value. We are working with a company named Credivera [https://get.credivera.com/] that produces a digital wallet card you can have on your smartphone that does the same thing.

Before we start a potential pilot program with Credivera for the CSHM, CSMP, and ASHM credential holders, we need to know how important this is to you.

Take the survey’s one question here > https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/verify

IHMM Certifications in Development Update

• The Certified School Safety Manager [CSSM] credential has now had its examination questions loaded into the Kryterion system and we will be ready to deliver exams for this important credential. The draft website is here > https://ihmm.org/cssm/  and the only element left to complete is a 60-second video.
• The Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist [CPPS] credential had a review by the IHMM Board on April 21st and IHMM will be able to start to build the website. The examination questions for the CPPS exam are being loaded into the Kryterion system at this writing. Dan Blankfeld and Gene Guilford have met with the Maryland Congressional delegation on this credential and look forward to more meetings.

There are 956 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 Excellence in EHS Management Award

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/

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 Needs Volunteers

“There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” — Jimmy Doolittle. We all benefit from the expertise, knowledge sharing, content creation and mentoring that our volunteer leaders share with our communities of practice.

IHMM has a wide variety of ways that our certificants and members can volunteer their time, make a substantial contribution to their communities of practice, and earn valuable Continuing Maintenance Points [CMPs].

Volunteering with IHMM is a deeply rewarding and giving endeavor, ranging from being a subject matter expert on a scheme committee to leading discussions in our COLLABORATION engagement platform to becoming a mentor for a college student.

Take a few minutes and review How to Become An IHMM Volunteer, and then scroll down and take the volunteer self-assessment.

Government Affairs Committee

• Open to all certificants > https://ihmm.org/government-affairs-committee/
• We need volunteers in these states:  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.
• IHMM engages in credential recognition from government for all of its credentials – so volunteering for govt affairs matters to every credential holder.

Women More Likely to Get Hurt on the Job

Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council discusses this issue and what companies can do to improve.

Despite making up more than 40% of the global workforce, the average work environment is still designed for men, which puts women at greater risk of injury on the job.

In fact, compared to men, women are more likely to develop at least one musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) – a painful, life-altering injury such as tendonitis, back strains and sprains, and carpal tunnel syndrome – while performing job-related duties.

EHS talked with Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the National Safety Council to discuss this matter and what employers can do to address it.

Read more by clicking here.

OSHA to Host Maritime Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Meeting in May

This meeting will take place on May 24, and the MACOSH Shipyard and Longshoring Workgroups will meet on May 23.

According to a news release, OSHA will host the meeting, which will take place in person, on May 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., ET. New members will be introduced at the meeting, and attendees will hear “updates from OSHA’s Office of the Assistant Secretary, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs and Office of Maritime and Agriculture, and the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs,” the agency said.

In addition, reports from MACOSH Longshoring Workgroup and the MACOSH Shipyard Workgroup—which will be meeting the day before from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.—will be shared.

Members of the public are welcome to attend both the MACOSH and MACOSH Shipyard and Longshoring Workgroups meetings in person or online.

Although those attending the May 23 MACOSH Shipyard and Longshoring Workgroups meeting will only be able to listen, MACOSH meeting attendees will have the opportunity to speak and can request to do so on the Federal eRulemaking Portal, Docket Number OSHA-2022-0011. Requests, along with comments, are due by May 16.

Register for the MACOSH meeting, the MACOSH Longshoring Workgroup meeting and the MACOSH Shipyard Workgroup meeting online.

Read the original article by clicking here.

Three McDonald’s Franchisees in Kentucky Pay $212K in Fines After Federal Investigations Find 305 Minors – Including 10-Year-Olds – Working Illegally

Louisville-area franchisees employed minors to work later, longer than law permits

Working in a kitchen late at night near dangerous cooking equipment is a reality for many adults in the food service industry. But finding 10-year-old kids in such a work environment is a cause for concern and action by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Investigators from the department’s Wage and Hour Division found two 10-year-old workers at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant among many violations of federal labor laws committed by three Kentucky McDonald’s franchise operators. The investigations are part of the division’s ongoing effort to stop child labor abuses in the Southeast region.

The division investigated Bauer Food LLC, Archways Richwood LLC and Bell Restaurant Group I LLC – three separate franchisees that operate a total of 62 McDonald’s locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio – and found they employed 305 children to work more than the legally permitted hours and perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers. In all, the investigations led to assessments of $212,544 in civil money penalties against the employers.

Read more by clicking here.

In the Event of a Workplace Fatality

The value of a human life is priceless and must be protected at all costs. Notwithstanding, there are financial repercussions to consider if a tragic incident results in a fatality on your premises. Every year, workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities bring heartache and cost the nation billions of dollars. In 2021, it was estimated by The National Safety Council that workplace injuries and deaths cost the workers and employers $171 billion. This is especially applicable if any negligence has been established as a causation to the incident. Sanctions arising from health and safety violations, lapsed or absence of documentation or any general negligence on the part of employees or management can cost an enterprise millions of dollars.

However, the financial ramification is just a small portion of the negative effects that may follow. Workplace incidents have the potential to cause severe damage to an organizationʼs reputation. In addition, organizations may experience decreased employee morale, productivity, and loyalty. It’s crucial for organizations and subcontractors to keep themselves aware and updated on the appropriate process, procedures and guidelines in the case of any workplace incident.

In this white paper you will learn how to react post-fatality in regard to:

• immediate next steps for the employee
• the deceased employee’s family
• your workplace
• insurance
• OSHA

Download the White Paper by clicking here.

Amazon Did Not Give ‘Proper Medical Treatment’ to Injured Workers, OSHA Says

Amazon’s fourth citation this year carries a proposed penalty of $15,625.

Over about a ninth-month period, workers at an Amazon fulfillment facility “did not receive timely, necessary medical care” after sustaining injuries, OSHA alleged in a recent news release.

According to the news release, “at least” six workers sustained injuries to their heads and four sustained injuries to their backs—all in different incidents from August 2022 to mid-April 2023—while working at a Castleton, New York fulfillment center and were sent back to work, an action that exacerbated many workers’ injuries. OSHA’s proposed penalties for this citation—the fourth in 2023—total $15,625.

This is not the first time OSHA has taken action against the e-commerce company for its medical-related practices. A 2015 investigation at a New Jersey fulfillment center resulted in a Hazard Alert Letter for Amazon; and in 2023, OSHA also issued “a similar warning” following a Florida warehouse facility inspection, per the agency.

“The work at these fulfillment facilities is physically demanding. Returning a worker with a back injury or possible concussion to their job without proper medical evaluation and care can lead to prolonged injuries and lifelong suffering,” Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker said in the news release. “The examples uncovered by our investigation demonstrate a callous disregard for the well-being of Amazon’s Castleton employees that is completely unacceptable.”

Read the original article by clicking here.

White House asks for public input on worker tracking technologies

Does your employer monitor you on the job, or are you an employer who tracks your workers? If so, the White House wants to hear from you.

To expand its knowledge about the design, deployment, prevalence and impacts of workplace tracking technologies, and to better understand the potential risks to workers, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy plans to publish a public Request for Information to learn about how employers surveil, monitor, evaluate and monitor workers.

Nurses often wear radio-frequency identification badges that track their location and proximity to other workers and patients; ride-share and delivery drivers have their speed, location and acceleration monitored; long-haul truck drivers’ eye movements are monitored and locations are tracked; and warehouse packers and stockers use scanners that track their pace of work.

Read more by clicking here.

US Department of Labor Recovers $333K in Back Wages, Damages For 51 Workers Denied Overtime By Long Island Maintenance Company

Professional Building Maintenance Corp. issued separate checks to disguise violations

The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $333,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 51 employees of a Long Island maintenance company that issued separate checks to workers to mask the company’s failure to pay overtime wages when required by law.

Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that employees worked as many as 80 hours per week or more but, typically, Professional Building Maintenance Corp. and owner Brady Patruno paid them straight-time hourly rates instead of paying overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek.

Specifically, the company and Patruno paid employees working overtime hours in a pay period by issuing more than one check, one from the company’s payroll account for the first 40 or fewer hours of work and a second check from another account for overtime hours. However, the employer, did not pay the required overtime rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The company issued checks for overtime hours at straight-time hourly rates either from a second company bank account and/or from straw corporations that Professional Building Maintenance Corp. passed off as subcontractors.

Read more by clicking here.

Using VR in Confined Spaces Training

Immersive field simulation takes a whole new approach to help plant workers conduct safety training for working in confined spaces.

Virtually reality has been around for some time, but in terms of safety training, VR has only recently entered the industrial world. To that end, in 2019 Honeywell (honeywell.com) unveiled a virtual reality training tool it calls the Immersive Field Simulator, which aims to optimize the results of safety training while making it more accessible.

The IFS creates a virtual reality replica of a real plant that Manas Dutta, the general manager for Honeywell Workforce 360 at Honeywell Process Solutions, refers to as a “digital twin” for the work environment. That twin includes all the equipment, such as pumps, compressors, and valves, found in a plant.

“Then we make it interactive,” he says. “So, the worker who is operating the plant in the real physical world can get the same look and feel in the virtual world. They can interact with it and see what happens if they make any mistakes. They can see the consequences of doing something or how to fix something that isn’t working.”

Read more by clicking here.

The “Dirty Dozen” Most Dangerous Companies of 2023

National COSH singles out 12 companies whose workplace conditions have earned them a spot on the “Dirty Dozen” list.

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) has announced what it considers to be the “Dirty Dozen” employers for 2023.

“The rate of U.S. workplace fatalities from sudden trauma is on the rise, and so is the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses,” said Jessica E. Martinez, MPH, co-executive director of National COSH, in a statement.

Nationwide data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, said Martinez, shows that Latino/a and Black workers are dying on the job at a higher rate than other workers.

In addition to focusing on alarming national trends, said Martinez, it’s important to look at the safety practices – and failures – of specific employers. “We are highlighting companies where it’s clear that more can be done to prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities,” she said. “The path forward is to empower workers as real partners in workplace safety, because workers know where the hazards are and how to eliminate them.”

Read more by clicking here.

If your feet hurt from work, you’re not alone: survey

A recent survey of workers who spend the majority of the day on their feet shows that nearly 2 out of 5 experience recurring pain.

Conducted on behalf of technology manufacturer Arris Composites, the survey involved more than 1,000 U.S. workers in industries in which they’re required to spend most of their workday on their feet. Findings show that, on average, the workers spend 56% of their time at work either standing or walking.

Consequently, 39% of respondents said they have recurring pain, mostly in their feet, spine/back, legs, neck and shoulders. Around 20% said their feet always hurt after leaving work. Additionally, 26% regret choosing a job for which they have to stand or walk frequently, and 27% are considering a career switch because of the physical toll.

Four types of food service workers reported the highest average percentage of time on their feet: dishwashers (98.9), restaurant cooks (98.1), waiters and waitresses (97.4), and food preparation and serving-related occupations (97.2). Cashier was the only other job category with a percentage above 90, at 94.9. Retail workers reported spending an average of 86.9% of their time on their feet, while industrial machinery mechanics followed at 84.4%.

Around 7 out of 10 of the workers said they’ve skipped exercising because of sore feet, and 58% said they’ve canceled social plans.

Read the original article by clicking here.

Steps to Protect Occupational Health and Safety and Operations

Workers face a wide variety of occupational hazards. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate them.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a facility is “something (such as a hospital) that is built, installed, or established to serve a particular purpose.” This is a broad definition, and to narrow it down, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified facilities into eight primary categories:

• Commercial and Institutional Sector
• Office Buildings
• Hospitals
• Laboratories
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Educational Facilities
• Industrial

Read more by clicking here.

US Department of Labor Offers Webinar on Employers’ Obligations, Workers’ Rights to Help Reduce High Rate of Violations in Home Care Industry

The U.S. Department of Labor will host a webinar for home care workers, industry employers and other stakeholders about workers’ rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Presented by the department’s Wage and Hour Division offices in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, the webinar will provide information on areas often associated with violations — including overtime, travel time, bonus pay, the misclassification of independent contractors, timekeeping — and other important topics, such as how to file a complaint.

Attendance is free, but registration is required.

Who: U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division
What: Home care industry webinar
When: May 4, 2023, From 3 to 4:30 p.m. EDT

Read more by clicking here.

Managers need to disconnect from work at night, researchers say

Knowing when to log off and unplug from work can make managers better leaders, results of a recent study show.

Researchers surveyed U.S.-based managers and their employees to gauge the managers’ ability to disconnect from their jobs in the evening, their level of energy and how strongly they identified as a leader in the morning at work. Meanwhile, the employees rated their managers on their leadership abilities.

“What we found is that on nights when leaders were able to completely turn off and not think about work, they were more energized the next day and they felt better connected to their leadership role at work,” lead study author Klodiana Lanaj, a professor at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, said in a press release. “On those same days, their followers reported that these leaders were more effective in motivating them and guiding their work.

Read more by clicking here.

Talking EHS, Episode 3: How to Become One of America’s Safest Companies

EHS Today’s editors explain how to enter the America’s Safest Companies competition, and offer tips and suggestions based on feedback from the judges on what makes a winning entry.

The competition is underway for the America’s Safest Companies awards, which are presented every year by EHS Today. To be considered one of America’s Safest Companies, organizations must be headquartered in the United States and demonstrate: support from leadership and management for EHS efforts; employee involvement in the EHS process; innovative solutions to safety challenges; injury and illness rates lower than the average for their industries; comprehensive training programs; evidence that prevention of incidents is the cornerstone of the safety process; good communication about the value of safety; and a way to substantiate the benefits of the safety process.

In this podcast, EHS Today’s editor-in-chief Dave Blanchard and managing editor Nicole Stempak explain how to access and fill out the application form, and point out some of the nuances that make the difference to the judges when considering which companies have that “something extra” that defines one of America’s Safest Companies.

The application process is open until May 19, 2023. There is no cost to apply. You can find the online application by clicking on this link.

Read or listen to more by clicking 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.

HMS  Jobs Listings

• Environmental Compliance Program Specialist Sr. – St. Louis, MO in GAC St. Louis, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

• Safety/Environmental Coordinator in GAC Savannah, GA., Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

• Environmental Compliance Program Specialist II in GAC Savannah, GA., Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

• Corporate Environmental Compliance Program Manager, Savannah, GA., Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

• Sr. Environmental Compliance Program Specialist, Dallas, TX., Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

• Regional Environmental Affairs Director- Midwest, Chicago, IL., Covanta

• Hazardous Materials Inspector II- San José Fire Department

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

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/