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.
IHMM Presenting at Environmental Compliance Navigator 2024™
September 9–10 | Nashville, Tennessee
Gene Guilford, Executive Director, will present on Monday, September 9 at 9:30 AM.
Topic: Institute of Hazardous Materials Management Credentials for Environmental Compliance Professionals
Register: https://environmentalnavigator.com/
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IHMM Credential Recognition
Below you will see the EHS credential badges that are now in each CSHM, CSMP, ASHM, CSSM, and Student ASHM certificant’s MYIHMM account. Every IHMM certificant may use these badges, linked as those below are to their IHMM credential page, for their email signatures, business cards, and other social media applications. You’re justifiably proud of the accomplishment of having earned your credential and you can show the rest of the world. Simply right-click on the badge of choice, then save as to your computer, and then load it to wherever you want to use it and please link that back to https://ihmm.org/.
EHS/Workplace Safety Credentials
Microcredentials
Certified Safety & Health Manager
Certified Safety Management Practitioner
Associate Safety and Health Manager
Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist
Certified School Safety Manager
Student Associate Safety and Health Manager
IHMM Certificant Recognition
Throughout our certificant’s MYIHMM accounts are placed 10-year, 20-year, 30-year, and 40-year badges signifying their longevity as an IHMM certified professional.
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, and then load it to whatever medium you choose.
IHMM has Distinguished Diplomates and Fellows of the Institute badges to the appropriate people in the MYIHMM database. These two badges are accompanied by lapel pins 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 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 RECENT NEWS for EHS Professionals
WORKPLACE
- Worker well-being plummets amid stressors: report
- Most U.S. women struggle to prioritize their health: report
- Health care worker mental health: NIOSH offers tips for stigma-free communication
- New Illinois law aimed at protecting workers from retaliation
- Both workers and CEOs face mental health challenges: survey
- OSHRC marks anniversary of language-assistance order
- Optimizing Workplace Safety with Essential Ergonomic Design Standards
- Study finds workplace safety training for older kids is effective
LABOR
- OSHA publishes proposed rule on indoor/outdoor heat
- Pennsylvania ‘green-lights’ new color for construction vehicle flashers
- EPA wants input on occupational exposure assessments for three pesticides
- Suicide prevention in construction: Webinar set for Sept. 5
- When temps rise, so does injury risk, workers’ comp data shows
- Basic first aid kits ‘not adequate’ for tower workers, safety pro says
- MSHA sees spike in Pattern of Violations offenders
- National COSH Town Hall on Sept. 5 to Address Dangers of Workplace Heat Hazards
- Seeing and Hearing Better Workplace Outcomes: Why Vision and Audiometry Health Are Critical for Worksite Safety
- Cost-effective strategies to safeguard your construction business
- MCR Safety celebrates 50 years of protecting workers around the world
TRANSPORTATION
SCHOOLS
- MSU Pays $3 Million Fine for Violating Post-Nassar Agreement
- Tennessee School District Didn’t Properly Report Sexual Assault for Years, According to OCR
- Uncovering the Real Potential of AI in School Security
- Texas: Corsicana ISD Assistant Principal Injured by Student May Lose Eye
- School Safety Impacts Student Achievement, Teacher Retention, New Survey Finds
- Rice University Student Killed in Alleged Murder Suicide
- El Paso ISD Police Officer Fatally Shoots Retired FBI Agent at Franklin High
- Wisconsin Principal Faces Felony Charge for Allegedly Concealing School Gun Incident
- Ex-Long Beach School Safety Officer Pleads No Contest to Voluntary Manslaughter in 2021 Shooting
- 2024 Illinois School Safety Conference to Be Held October 2
INDUSTRIAL
- OSHA video gives demo of new Severe Injury Report dashboard
- Chicago countertop manufacturer faces $1M in penalties for silica dust violations
- Is your facility at risk due to inadequate electrical testing?
- Integrating smart technologies to burn out fire hazards
- The future of industrial safety: How autonomous systems can prevent accidents
- Epicore Biosystems to deploy connected hydration globally to Chevron’s frontline workers
OTHER
Inside IHMM
IHMM At Environmental Compliance Navigator 2024 Conference
September 9-10, 2024, Nashville, Tennessee
IHMM will be exhibiting at the 2024 Environmental Compliance Navigator Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on September 9-10, 2024.
Creating the systems necessary to ensure uninterrupted compliance remains a challenge for US facilities. The environmental code of federal regulations is 16,687 pages, longer than the entire tax code and safety regulations combined. New requirements, evolving agency regulatory interpretations, facility backsliding, personnel turnover, and operational changes present a dynamic challenge.
Nearly 16,000 U.S. facilities have current environmental violations, and more than 4,000 currently have significant violations. Over the past three years, EPA has cited more than 27,000 facilities for environmental violations. Enforcement last year resulted in more than $700 million in penalties and restitution (a 58% increase over the previous year) and 199 criminal cases (up 70%). EPA is hiring more than 300 additional inspectors, attorneys, and technical staff this year.
Join fellow environmental compliance managers to re-think compliance strategies, stay current on emerging requirements, and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the U.S.
This conference is produced by Aarcher Institute, a national environmental compliance training organization, and IHMM/HMS Training Partner.
For more information, please navigate to the conference website here.
Range Snodgrass, Winner of the 2023 Excellence in EHS Management Award
IHMM is proud to announce the winner of the 2023 Excellence in EHS Management Award.
Range Snodgrass is a Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) with extensive experience in the field of health, safety, and environmental (HSE) management. Currently serving as the HSE Lead at a global chemical manufacturing plant, Range plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all employees and the surrounding community.
In this capacity, Range oversees the development and implementation of comprehensive safety programs, conducts risk assessments, and ensures compliance with all relevant regulations. His expertise extends to the coordination of safe work programs, risk reduction measures, hazard identification, incident investigations, and other programs critical to overall health and safety.
Before his current role, Range honed his skills as a Safe Work Permit Coordinator, where he was responsible for the systematic issuance and management of permits, ensuring that all safety protocols were strictly adhered to during maintenance and operational activities.
In addition to his extensive HSE experience, Range is also a trained paramedic and firefighter. His background in emergency response adds a critical layer of expertise to his role, enabling him to effectively manage and respond to any incidents that may arise.
Range’s commitment to safety and his diverse skill set make him an invaluable asset to any organization focused on maintaining the highest standards of health and safety.
Congratulations Range, for your outstanding EHS leadership!
IHMM Launches 2024 Salary Survey
IHMM is pleased to release the 2024 survey of salaries underlying the workplace safety credentials salaries by job title. You may download the survey as linked below.
IHMM Enters Its 40th Year
On December 3, 1984 the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management was created with the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager® [CHMM®] credential. John H. Frick, Harold M. Gordon, John J. McCambridge, and Richard A. Young created what would become an Institute that offers 11 professional credentials across Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods and EHS Work Place Safety communities of practice in all 50 of the United States and 85 other countries.
IHMM thanks its hundreds of volunteer leaders, thousands of certificants and companies who support IHMM through strengthening its ability to extend its reach and allow us all to live up to why we exist our vision, and our mission…
Why We Exist
We believe there is only one Earth; our passion is to protect it.
Our Vision
IHMM credentials and competency standards are embraced worldwide
Our Mission
IHMM sets standards of excellence for professional credentials to advance the global environmental, health, and safety communities of practice.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
Reception & Celebration • December 3, 2024 • 2:00 PM–6:00 PM
9200 Corporate Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850
IHMM requests the honor of your company on December 3, 2024, for our 40th Anniversary Reception & Celebration, to be held in Rockville, MD.
Join us for an observance of our shared history and recognition of those who have contributed to the Institute’s advancement over the years. Food and drinks will be provided.
The program will consist of opening remarks from the Institute’s leadership and esteemed guests, an awards ceremony, and more.
Please save the date on your calendar and RSVP no later than October 18, 2024, so we can have an accurate headcount for this event.
RSVP Here
The Dr. John H Frick Memorial IHMM Scholarship Program – Deadline 10/18/2024
The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management is pleased to have created $32,000 in academic scholarships, divided equally between $16,000 for students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education in approved schools and who are also Student CHMMs, and $16,000 for students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education in approved schools and who are also Student ASHMs.
IHMM seeks to foster the growth and academic success of students whose courses of education, and participation in one of our Student certifications, will lead to those students becoming fully-certified IHMM credential holders later in their professional lives.
Go to > https://ihmm.org/scholarship/
Creating a Collaborative Culture
There are 1,430 different conversations going on in the IHMM/HMS Collaboration platform this week.
Do you have a problem you need to solve and want the opinions of your colleagues? We created the COLLABORATION platform to enable our certificants to network, learn, and grow from one another.
This is where we collaborate with the best people in their fields, always willing to help one another lessen the stress of our jobs, and where we strive as a team to make a difference of which we are proud.
You can collaborate here.
Access to COLLABORATION is through the same username/password you use to access your MYIHMM account. Are you having a problem? Contact Jimmy Nguyen at [email protected]
IHMM Recertification Videos
Recert Video #1
Recert Video #2
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.
Full recertification information is found here >> https://ihmm.org/credentials/#recertification
Questions about your recertification may be made to either Jimmy Nguyen [email protected] of Jelian Larbi [email protected]
IHMM CONFERENCES For 2024
IHMM will attend and support a number of conferences and trade shows throughout 2024, virtually as well as in-person as resources allow. In 2023 IHMM participated in the Bay Area ASSP conference, Ohio Safety conference, COSTHA Annual Meeting, AIHA Conference & Trade Show, ASSP Annual Conference, CUHMMC, AHMP, National Safety Conference and FET.
Are there conferences you believe IHMM should attend that are not named here? If so, let us know by sending an email to [email protected]
Environmental Compliance Navigator 2024™
September 9-10, 2024
Nashville, Tennessee
National Safety Council Conference
September 13-19, 2024
Visit IHMM in Booth #3947
Orlando, Florida
IHMM – 26 Fellows Are Mentors
IHMM Fellows Committee Chair Atanu Das, CHMM, is leading the effort within the IHMM Collaboration networking platform to engage both 26 IHMM Fellows as Mentors and anyone who seeks some assistance as Mentees.
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. This article from ASAE magazine outlines how a mentoring program can become more successful – engagement!
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.
IHMM Organizing Broader Government Affairs Activities – Call for Volunteers
In strategic planning on August 17, 2023 IHMM created a strategic imperative to create a broader government affairs operation on behalf of, and with the assistance of, all of IHMM’s certificants.
- Federal Government – Regulatory
We need a group of people watching Federal regulatory developments to advise when taking action can be helpful and raise our visibility in the agencies. - Federal Government – Congress
We need a group of people watching legislation to advise us when taking action can be helpful and raise our visibility in Congress.
- State Governments – Regulatory
We need a group of people watching state regulatory developments to advise when taking action can be helpful and raise our visibility in the agencies. - State Governments – Legislatures
We need a group of people watching legislation to advise us when taking action can be helpful and raise our visibility in state legislatures.
If you want to make a difference in the recognition of your credentials and build on the successful record we have achieved thus far – we need you to volunteer. Learn more by visiting our Government Affairs Committee page, and get involved with government affairs. You can volunteer for one, two, three or all four of the segments of the committee’s work. That’s up to you!
IHMM Government Affairs
IHMM Proposes Changes in Government Recognition of Credentials
IHMM Signs Letter Opposing Reductions in OSH Worker’s Pay – The IHMM Government Affairs Committee has agreed to sign a coalition letter opposing reductions in pay for IH and OSH employees. Here is the coalition letter we signed.
IHMM submitted comments on OSHA Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH): Notice of Meetings concerning OSHA-2024-0002-0007, and highlighted the creation of IHMM’s Certified Pandemic Preparedness Specialist [CPPS] credential.
State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection is proposing to update Chapter 851, Standards for Generators of Hazardous Waste. In the current regulation, work is required by a professional engineer. IHMM is proposing to include an environmental professional as defined by 40 CFR §312.10.
All IHMM Government Affairs Projects Are Here
Beltway Buzz – Ogletree Deakins
District Court Postpones ‘Parole in Place.’ This week, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a fourteen-day administrative stay of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approvals of “parole in place” applications. In so holding, the court did not “express any ultimate conclusions about the success or likely success” of the legal challenge to the program that was filed by sixteen states with Republican governors. While the stay is in place, “aliens will still be able to apply for parole in place,” but the agency cannot issue approvals. The court also set forth an expedited briefing schedule but noted that “good cause may exist to extend this administrative stay for additional periods through mid-October.” According to an alert issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, during the postponement, the agency will “[c]ontinue to schedule biometric appointments and capture biometrics at Application Support Centers (ASCs).”
DOL Tips Regulation Vacated. Late last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2021 tip credit rule. The court struck down the rule because it “applies the tip credit in a manner inconsistent with the [Fair Labor Standards Act’s] text” and “is arbitrary and capricious because it draws a line for application of the tip credit based on impermissible considerations and contrary to the statutory scheme enacted by Congress.” The case is a prime example of how the Supreme Court of the United States’ recent instruction in Loper Bright—that federal courts should not defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes and instead should determine for themselves the best interpretations of the ambiguities—can impact policymaking via regulation. Victoria L. Vish and Steven F. Pockrass have the details.
Federal Court Issues Partial Block of H-2A Regulations. On August 26, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia blocked a DOL rule relating to H-2A visa holders, which went into effect on June 28, 2024, and is designed to increase “protections for temporary agricultural workers” and enhance “the Department’s capabilities to monitor program compliance and take necessary enforcement actions against program violators.” More specifically, the rule prohibits employers from retaliating or discriminating against workers who participate in “concerted activities for the purpose of mutual aid or protection” or who refuse to attend an employer-sponsored meeting relating to such activities. It also bestows Weingarten rights upon covered workers.
The court ruled that the regulation violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) because it confers collective bargaining rights on agricultural workers, who are expressly excluded from the NLRA’s definition of “employee.” The court wrote, “Through this Final Rule, the DOL seeks to create law by affording some agricultural workers—H-2a workers and American workers similarly situated—the right to collectively bargain. Congress has not created that right. And in fact, the NLRA reflects Congressional intent to not create such a right.” The court’s order blocking the rule is limited to the seventeen states led by Republican governors that challenged the rule. The DOL has since filed a motion requesting that the injunction apply only to the labor provisions of the rule and that the remaining provisions continue in force.
NLRB Decision Complicates Settlement of Unfair Labor Practice Allegations. In a decision issued late last week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) abandoned its decades-long practice of allowing cases to settle via consent order, whereby an administrative law judge approves a settlement under terms offered by the respondent, but without the consent of the charging party or Board’s general counsel (though the order is subject to appeal and review by the Board). Three Democratic Board members determined that allowing cases to settle via consent orders is contrary to the Board’s rules and regulations, “creates administrative challenges and inefficiencies, tends to interfere with the General Counsel’s statutory prosecutorial authority, and, most importantly, fails to effectuate the policies of the Act.” Republican member Marvin Kaplan dissented, writing:
It is damaging to the Agency’s credibility to, on the one hand, plead for additional resources from the American people while, on the other, change Board policies to divert those resources to be spent on needlessly litigating cases where the Respondent offered to provide either an eminently reasonable settlement or, even, a full remedy. Worse, the misallocation of resources that is the unavoidable result of my colleagues’ decision today needlessly reduces the amount of available resources for the Board to use actually protecting American workers.
Chair Lauren McFerran, in the majority, approved the use of consent orders in a Board case issued in 2016.
NLRB/DOL to Assist Antitrust Investigations. On August 28, 2024, the NLRB general counsel, DOL, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division (ATR) announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) “to strengthen worker protections and fair competition by collaborating on labor issues in antitrust merger investigations.” Pursuant to the memo, the agencies commit “to working together to ensure all relevant and appropriate information and expertise can be used to facilitate the Antitrust Agencies’ ability to assess the potential impacts of mergers and acquisitions on labor markets.” This includes the NLRB and the DOL providing “training to appropriate personnel from the Antitrust Agencies” and meeting with those agencies to provide “technical assistance, as appropriate, on labor and employment law matters in merger review, including in the resolution of labor market merger investigations.” The Board has entered into similar MOUs with the FTC, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the DOJ.
Regulatory Updates
| Date: | Subject: | Document Type: | Part: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/28/2024 | Pipeline Safety: Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments; Technical Correction | Rule | 192 |
- Environmental Protection Agency issues its Spring 2024 Regulatory Agenda – Read more here
- Department of Transportation issues its Spring 2024 Regulatory Agenda – Read more here
- Department of Labor issues its Spring 2024 Regulatory Agenda – Read more here
OSHA – Proposed Rule to Protect Indoor and Outdoor Workers from Extreme Heat
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a proposed rule that would protect approximately 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor work settings from extreme heat. The proposed rule would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive heat. Among other things, the plan would require employers to evaluate heat risks and — when heat increases risks to workers — implement requirements for drinking water, rest breaks and control of indoor heat. It would also require a plan to protect new or returning workers unaccustomed to working in high heat conditions.
An official version of the proposed rule will soon be published in the Federal Register. The public is encouraged to submit written comments on the rule once it is published. The agency also anticipates a public hearing after the close of the written comment period. For more information, please see OSHA’s New Release and Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Setting Rulemaking webpage.
EPA – Fraud Alert: Notice of Violation Letter Phishing Scam
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General is issuing this fraud alert to highlight an increasingly common phishing scam involving fraudulent EPA Notice of Violation letters. In this scam, a fraudster sends a falsified EPA Notice of Violation letter to a target business and requests that the business respond by phone or email.
In recent instances of this crime, a fraudster sent falsified letters through email or U.S. Postal Service mail. The letters allege that the target business violated an environmental regulation such as the Clean Air Act. They indicate that the business owes thousands of dollars in fines and should respond by phone or email. However, the contact information provided—[email protected]—is NOT associated with the EPA. Official U.S. government organizations use the “.gov” domain name; for example, “epa.gov.”
If you receive a Notice of Violation letter and are unsure of its validity, we encourage you to thoroughly review the letter, including the email address, and contact the EPA’s enforcement office directly to verify authenticity.
If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, or have knowledge of potential waste, fraud, or abuse involving EPA operations and programs, report it to the EPA OIG Hotline by completing the online complaint form, emailing [email protected], or calling (888) 546-8740.
US Department of Labor launches Severe Injury Report dashboard, providing interactive view of injuries across states
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today unveiled an online tool giving users the ability to search its severe injury report database and view trends related to workplace injuries occurring in states covered by federal OSHA.
The Severe Injury Report dashboard allows users to search and download data by year, industry, state, establishment name, and Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System codes. The dashboard includes information on all severe injuries reported by employers covered under federal OSHA since 2015.
OSHA encourages workers and employers to use the dashboard to learn how severe injuries happen in their industries and use the agency’s available resources to help prevent workplace injuries. A brief instructional video is available to demonstrate how to use the dashboard.
Federal law requires employers to notify OSHA of a work-related in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours of the incident. The agency’s compliance assistance specialists and on-site consultations are available across the country and in U.S. territories to help employers.
Learn more about OSHA’s severe injury report data, and the severe injury reporting requirement.
Planning Ahead for Tax Reform in 2025
Earlier this month, the ASAE Board approved a strategic investment to allow ASAE to take the lead in advocating for associations as Congress shapes a tax reform package next year.
- Sweeping Trump-era tax breaks established in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will expire in 2025.
- This sets the table for a major tax reform battle in Congress.
- There is disconcerting talk on Capitol Hill about targeting associations and other tax-exempt organizations for additional tax revenue.
- This poses a significant threat to our community and we will need your support to fight off this legislative attack.
Senate bill would provide $10B to fund research on Long COVID
Legislation recently introduced in the Senate would provide $1 billion in mandatory funding per year for 10 years to the National Institutes of Health to support research on Long COVID-19.
Sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the Long COVID Research Moonshot Act of 2024 would direct NIH to establish a new research program with the goal of better understanding, preventing, diagnosing, managing and treating long COVID and its related conditions, a press release from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee states.
Symptoms of long COVID – regardless of age or severity of initial infection – can include fatigue, cognitive impairment (also known as “brain fog”), shortness of breath, muscle/joint pain, heart palpitations, sleep difficulties, and mood changes.
Read more by clicking here.
OSHA Lock-Out/Tag-Out Standard
The agency published a renewed ICR dealing its lockout/tagout standard. Lockout/tagout is an important part of industrial safety programs.
Professional Certification Coalition
IHMM is a member of the PCC. The PCC monitors state and federal legislative and regulatory activity affecting professional certification on an ongoing basis. The PCC has compiled several “Watchlists” identifying and analyzing provisions in pending legislation at both the state and federal level that, under applicable rules, may still be enacted in the current legislative session. Depending on the carry-over rules in the relevant legislature, the charts listing current legislation may include bills introduced in a prior year. In addition, the PCC compiles a chart of enacted legislation that affects certification each year. The charts include hyperlinks to every bill or executive order. Note that the Watchlist and the Enacted Legislation document do not include profession-specific legislation and do not include regulatory initiatives. The charts will be updated as needed based on new developments.
State legislation currently being tracked:
Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition – Senate Action On IHMM-Supported Legislation
The House and Senate are in recess until mid-September.
S. 722 / H.R. 1477 / Coalition Roster
Important Stories for IHMM Certificants
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and September 9-13 is Construction Suicide Prevention Week, an annual event promoting awareness of the unique challenges faced by construction workers, how they can contribute to mental health challenges, including suicide risk, and what can be done to reduce risk and save lives. Available resources include videos, toolbox talks, a social media toolkit and a sample Stand-Down agenda, and participants are encouraged to register their participation. For more information, see constructionsuicideprevention.com.
In addition, on Thursday, September 5, at 2 pm ET, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training will host a webinar on Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry in conjunction with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), and the Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSNFA). Register here.
As a reminder, OSHA’s poster, Suicide Prevention: 5 Things You Should Know, handout, Role of Employers in Preventing Suicides, and fact sheet, Workplace Mental Health, are all available in English and Spanish.
Government Shutdown Threat Looms in September
The House adjourned last Thursday until mid-September with only 5 of 12 annual spending passed, ensuring that a short-term continuing resolution will be needed to avoid a government shutdown at the end of September.
What’s next: The Senate hasn’t passed any spending bills and will be adjourned next week. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) vowed earlier in the year not to pass any more stopgap funding bills but will have little choice when Congress is back in session.
- Johnson has reportedly not decided whether he prefers the House to pass a CR until December or January.
Some House conservatives want to push it to January when they hope former President Trump will be back in office.
What they’re saying: “There’s a lot of different ideas on the table and we’re trying to work through that – what makes the most sense,” Johnson said. “There’s good arguments for different approaches.”
- Senate returns September 9th
- House returns September 9th
- The current fiscal year ends September 30th
National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) Meeting – September 9
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will host a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) on Monday, September 9, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., ET, by teleconference and WebEx.
Registration information is available on the NACOSH website here. Upon registration, attendees will receive a WebEx link and dial-in information to access the meeting remotely.
Individuals may submit comments and requests to speak at the NACOSH full committee meeting by Tuesday, September 3, 2024, identified by Docket No. OSHA–2024–0005, electronically at https://www.regulations.gov/, which is the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. For more information, including tentative agenda items and access information for the virtual meeting, see the Federal Register Notice.
OSHA Emergency Response Standard Hearing
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a notice scheduling an informal public hearing on its proposed rule ‘‘Emergency Response Standard’’ mentioned in the email below. The public hearing will begin on November 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time (ET), and will be held virtually. Information on how to access the informal hearing will be posted shortly at https://www.osha.gov/emergency-response/rulemaking.
To testify or question witnesses at the hearing, interested persons must electronically submit their notice by September 27, 2024. Please see the Federal Register Notice (Docket Number OSHA-2007-0073) and https://www.osha.gov/emergency-response/rulemaking for additional details.
Back-to-School Resources
As schools and students across the country prepare for the new school year, here are resources to support a safe and successful return to the classroom:
- School Staff: Back to School Resources
- Caregivers: Back to School Resources
- SchoolSafety.gov’s Back-to-School Campaign
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Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board
The Department of Homeland Security announced the inaugural members of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board. The NCSS is honored to be part of this dedicated group of experts working to enhance K-12 school safety and security nationwide. Learn more here.
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Creating a Culture of Support: Enhancing Staff Resilience in Emergency Situations Webinar
In this webinar on 9/12, presenters from the Colorado School of Public Health will discuss improving systems around emergency drills through tailored training, gathering staff feedback, and identifying local resources. Participants will learn to customize training for their districts, lead effective feedback sessions, and implement changes based on staff input. Registration coming soon.
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Understanding Firearm-Related Injury and School Violence
In this 5-part podcast interview series released earlier this year, experts cover crucial topics like youth suicide prevention, anonymous reporting systems, and community engagement. Listeners will gain a comprehensive understanding of how school safety strategies intersect with firearm-related injuries.
- Episode 1 – Contributing Factors for Firearm-Related Injuries
- Episode 2 – Firearm Safety, School Violence, and Youth Suicide
- Episode 3 – Extreme Risk Protection Orders
- Episode 4 – Anonymous Reporting Systems
- Episode 5 – Community Engagement
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8 Lessons Learned From a Real-Life Swatting Incident
Last fall we hosted a live webinar with staff from the city of Franklin, New Hampshire, and the Franklin School District. The discussion highlighted their response to a swatting incident in 2022.
With these crises becoming more common nationwide, preparation is crucial. Our latest blog post shares valuable insights from the Franklin team that may help school districts address potential security issues. Learn more here.
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Explore Our School Threat Assessment Toolkit:
Now Available in Interactive Web Format!
The End of Chevron Deference: What It Means for OEHS
If you aren’t familiar with Chevron deference, you’re not alone. It was a somewhat obscure practice in which federal courts generally deferred to government agencies, relying on their expertise to interpret vaguely-worded laws. However, this changed in June when the Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (PDF) that overturned Chevron deference, arguing that federal “[c]ourts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority…. But courts need not…defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous.”
IHMM Credential Recognition
The highest priority of IHMM’s Government Affairs Committee is the recognition of IHMM’s credentials by government. We have made substantial progress in the two years we have undertaken this endeavor, as outlined in detail here > https://ihmm.org/credential-recognition/
In this project we have 45-in-5, increasing the number of states that recognize IHMM credentials.
- We have already succeeded in 13 states – New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Indiana, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Arkansas, Oklahoma. Ohio, North Dakota, and Georgia. [Red states in the map above]. These are states where IHMM credentials are cited or 40 CFR 312.10 is cited by reference.
- We have partially succeeded in another 16 states – Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. [Orange/Black Stripe states in the map above] These are states where the requirements of an “environmental professional” or QEP are cited that coincide with an IHMM credential so that relatively little work would need to be done to clarify the desired outcome.
- We have 21 states where no reference to an IHMM credential is made in either statute or regulation, nor is there anything defined in the area of an environmental professional. These states will require legislation or regulatory work. [Yellow states in the map above].
in January 2022 Gene Guilford released the 40 CFR § 312.10 EPA regulation that states a private certification that meets or exceeds the requirements of the regulation is an Environmental Professional under the regulation. Here is the crosswalk between the 40 CFR § 312.10 EPA regulation and the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager [CHMM] blueprint. The CHMM meets or exceeds the requirements of an Environmental Professional.
Here’s what we ask each volunteer to do:
- Watch legislative and regulatory developments in your state that provide an opportunity for us to create amendments or other interventions
- Be willing to speak with regulators and legislators in your area about the recognition efforts we craft together
Retiring? IHMM Invites You to Become an Emeritus
You may have decided, after a long and successful career, to retire from active daily duty. Congratulations. That doesn’t mean you have to completely disengage from your profession. IHMM is pleased to offer Emeritus status to all certificants who will no longer be actively engaged in their communities of practice but who still want to stay in touch. Please let us know when you’re approaching that decision and we will assist you in the credential transition.
Please contact Jimmy Nguyen at [email protected] and he’ll be happy to help you.
News from IHMM Affiliates
National Safety Council
IHMM is a member of the National Safety Council and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.
NSC News
- Most U.S. women struggle to prioritize their health: report
- Survey asks truckers to share their biggest industry concerns
- OSHA publishes proposed rule on indoor/outdoor heat
- Pennsylvania ‘green-lights’ new color for construction vehicle flashers
- Health care worker mental health: NIOSH offers tips for stigma-free communication
- EPA wants input on occupational exposure assessments for three pesticides
NSC Webinars
- Sept 12 – Advancing Electrical Safety – Principles and Practices
- Sept 26 – Written Safety Plans: Not Just a Paperwork Exercise
- Oct 3 – Frontline Impact: Engaging EHS and Sustainability Teams for Better Information and Insights with Practical AI
- Oct 17 – Bloodborne Pathogens Terminology: Exposing the Regulation One Term at a Time
IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants.
ASSP News
- Sept 12-Oct 10 – ONLINE COURSE: Integrating ISO 45001 to Manage Occupational Health & Safety
- Sept 26-Oct 24 – ONLINE COURSE: Integrating Z10 to Manage Occupational Health & Safety
- Sept 26-Oct 10 – ONLINE COURSE: Prevention through Design
- Oct 3-31 – ONLINE COURSE: Safety Management I
- Oct 10-Nov 7 – ONLINE COURSE: Safety Management II
- Oct 17-Nov 14 – ONLINE COURSE : Corporate Safety Management
- Oct 21 – 23 – Live Virtual Classroom: Advanced Safety Management Methods
- Oct 21-22 – Live Virtual Classroom: Risk Assessment and Management for Safety Professionals
- Oct 21 – Live Virtual Classroom: Fundamentals of Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems
For a complete list of ASSP Webinars, click here.
10 Facts About the State of Workplace Safety in the U.S.
While U.S. workplace safety has improved since the passage of the landmark Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act in 1970, progress has recently stalled — even as enduring problems like safety inequity continue and new hazards emerge.
The comprehensive annual report, “Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2024” published by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) covers the state of workplace safety in the U.S., highlighting several key issues:
- Black and Latino workers are at greater risk for injury, illness or death on the job.
- New and worsening hazards such as workplace violence, heat and infectious disease must be addressed to reduce their growing threat to workplace safety and well-being.
- Job safety agencies have been flat-funded for years, not even keeping up with inflation. Employees and resources have shrunk as responsibilities have grown.
- The OSH Act is more than 50 years old now and needs updates, particularly to its whistleblower programs and protections, and to strengthen criminal prosecution and penalties.
- Workplace injuries and illnesses remain underreported and costly, and changes to data reporting obscure the true scope of these problems.
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.
Employment Opportunities from the
HMS Job Boards Site
We invite companies to post their industry-relevant employment opportunities on the HMS Jobs Board site. Submissions will be reviewed by staff for approval prior to publishing. Submit your job post today.
- Environmental Engineer III – Arkema is a premier provider of chemicals and materials. Pasadena, TX
- HSE Specialist –Arkema is a premier provider of chemicals and materials. Grand Rapids, MI
University of Cincinnati, OSHA Training Institute, IHMM, and HMS’ New Training Partner Offers Courses for 2024
| Daily | Online |
Aarcher Institute, IHMM, and HMS’ New Training Partner Offers Courses for 2024
| Sept 11-13, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Sept 11-12, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Sept 17-19, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Sept 24-26, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Oct 1-4, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Oct 8-9, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Oct 22-25, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Oct 29-30, 2024 | Online | |
| Oct 31-Nov 1, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Nov 5-8, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Nov 13-15, 2024 | In Person | |
| Nov 19-22, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Dec 3-4, 2024 | Online and In Person | |
| Dec 10-12, 2024 | Online |
AIHA, HMS Training Partner, Adds Courses for IHMM Certificants
American Industrial Hygiene Association [AIHA] an HMS training partner, has added its first of many courses approved in advance for earning IHMM recertification certification maintenance points. We are pleased to promote these programs in support of IHMM certificants holding the CHMM, CHMP, CSHM, and CSMP credentials. Thank you, AIHA.
Bowen EHS, HMS Training Partner, Adds Courses for IHMM Certificants
Bowen EHS, an HMS training partner, has had 4 courses approved in advance for earning IHMM recertification certification maintenance points. We are pleased to promote these programs as reviewed and approved by the HMS Education and Training Committee, chaired by Diana Lundelius. Thank you Bowen EHS and thank to HMS’ Education and Training Committee.
Thank you Bowen EHS for contributing programs enabling IHMM certificants to engage in professional development and earn important CMPs! All three of the new Bowen EHS programs are available online and on demand.
| Daily | Emergency Management Self-Paced PDC | Online |
Thank you Bowen EHS for contributing programs enabling IHMM certificants to engage in professional development and earn important CMPs! All three of the new Bowen EHS programs are available online and on demand.
Easily Find Courses to Help You Pass IHMM Credential Exams
A core mission of EHS is education and training. Part of that mission includes assembling the best and most effective courses to assist IHMM applicants in passing their IHMM credential exams.
CSHM™ Prep Courses
CSMP™ Prep Courses
HMS Makes Finding Courses to Earn CMPs Easy
Every year more than 1,600 IHMM certificants have to recertify their credentials, evidenced their continuing commitment to improvement and learning to elevate their professional credential.
Earning Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs] is illustrated under Recertification of Your Credential, that includes the Recertification Claims Manual – Appendix A, that details all of the ways a certificant may earn CMPs > https://ihmm.org/recertification-claims/
Having mastered that manual, how does an IHMM certificant find courses to earn CMPs?
HMS has made that simple and easy.
- Go to https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
- Scroll down until you see a row of buttons…click on the CMPs button
The system will then generate all of the courses on the HMS E&T platform with IHMM CMPs already attached.
The next developments by the HMS E&T committee will refine available courses’ CMPs by individual credential!
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.
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.
Benefits of a CSU Learning Partnership:
- 10% Tuition Discount
- Exclusive Scholarships
- Waived Application and Evaluation Fees
- Access the Career Services Department
For further assistance or additional information, contact Ernie Smith, [email protected]u, or call 251-923-4055
IHMM-HMS Event Calendar
IHMM has a companion organization for which education and training programs are presented and delivered. The Hazardous Materials Society education and training website can be found here.
9210 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 470
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
www.ihmm.org | [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 | Fax: 301-984-1516