IHMM Today, April 7, 2026

IHMM Today is an online publication of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management® (IHMM®).

Other than content specifically provided by IHMM, articles contained in IHMM Today are compiled from

independent sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IHMM.

IHMM launched its “Open to Work” online COLLABORATION community exclusively for IHMM certificants looking to connect, share resumes, and discover job opportunities together in a supportive environment.

You can find this community after logging into COLLABORATION here: https://community.ihmm.org/home

Sean Grady, CHMM – Environmental Transformation Podcast

Sponsored Content

IHMM Issues Analysis of PHMSA NPRM HM-215R to amend the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations

Federal Register  Deadline April 13, 2026

According to the Federal Register from February 10, 2026, PHMSA issued NPRM HM-215R to amend the U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 C.F.R. Parts 171–180) to maintain statutory alignment with updated international dangerous goods standards, as directed by 49 U.S.C. § 5120.

IHMM’s comments have been drafted and are now out for review by the Government Affairs Committee prior to submission on or before April 13, 2026.

Read more here

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review Reconsideration

Heat Safety Tool Released by OSHA-NIOSH

When you’re working in the heat, safety comes first. With the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool, you have vital safety information available whenever and wherever you need it – right on your mobile phone.

The App allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite, and, based on the heat index, displays a risk level to outdoor workers. Then, with a simple “click,” you can get reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness-reminders about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.

Working in full sunlight can increase heat index values by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep this in mind and plan additional precautions for working in these conditions.

The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Tool is available in English and Spanish for Android and iPhone devices. To access the Spanish version, set the phone language to Spanish.

Read more here…

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Releases Volume 4 of Incident Reports

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today released Volume 4 of its Incident Reports. The reports in the Volume detail 13 major chemical incidents that occurred across seven states — California, Indiana, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

The incidents resulted in two fatalities, 10 serious injuries, and over $1 billion in property damage.  Each report provides a summary of the chemical event and its probable cause based on information provided to the CSB pursuant to the agency’s Accidental Release Reporting Rule.

TSCA CBI Re-substantiation: When, Why, and How to Prepare

April 9, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EDT)

Register Now

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C^®) is pleased to present “TSCA CBI Re-substantiation: When, Why, and How to Prepare.” The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) provides critical protections for commercially sensitive information related to a company’s business, processes, and chemicals. The 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act amendments included a ten-year cap on many confidential business information (CBI) claims, absent a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved extension request. As a result, these CBI claims will begin to expire on a rolling basis in June 2026 unless further reasserted and re-substantiated.

Environmental News for This Week: March 30 – April 6, 2026

Workplace Safety News This Week: March 30 – April 6, 2026

Safety Champions Program

The Safety Champions Program is a new program for employers to develop and implement an effective safety and health program. The main goal of safety and health programs is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The Program incorporates the seven core elements of Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs.

The Safety Champion Program has three Steps (Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced). The Steps are self-guided, and participants may work at their own pace. Safety Champion participants may also request a Safety Champion Special Government Employee (SGE) to assess their safety and health program and Step progress at any time.

IHMM is a Premier Partner of the Falls 2026 Campaign

May 4-8, 2026

What is a Safety Stand-Down?

A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on “Fall Hazards” and reinforcing the importance of “Fall Prevention”. Employers of companies not exposed to fall hazards can also use this opportunity to have a conversation with employees about the other job hazards they face, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies and goals. It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about falls and other job hazards they see.

• The 2026 hardhat sticker ordering form is open.

In the coming weeks, IHMM will be making materials available for the Falls 2026 Campaign!   In addition, IHMM is looking for 2 volunteers, each from a different construction company, who can tell a great story about how they prevent falls in construction.

Safe +Sound in Schools – April 20 through May 1

Global DG Transport Regulatory Update: March 30 – April 6, 2026

IHMM Global DG Transport Compliance Matrix (2025–2026)

IHMM Certificant Compliance Checklist

Week of March 30 – April 6, 2026

United States

Regulatory developments

The most concrete U.S. development remains PHMSA’s active HM-215R harmonization NPRM, which would update the Hazardous Materials Regulations to align with newer international standards on proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air quantity limits, and vessel stowage. PHMSA’s proposal expressly points to updated ICAO Technical Instructions, IMDG Amendment 42-24, Transport Canada’s 2023 TDG Regulations, and the 23rd revised UN Model Regulations as reference points. That remains the principal federal rulemaking signal for hazardous-materials transport this week.

PHMSA’s March 18 special-permit notices also remain important during this period because they show where the agency is allowing operational flexibility before broader rulemaking catches up. PHMSA published a notice of new special-permit applications and a separate notice of actions on special permits, with comments due April 17, 2026.

Important news

The most legally relevant U.S. news item this week is not a federal safety rule but a state-law conflict with hazardous-materials implications: a railroad industry group sued to block a New Jersey law that, among other things, would require two-person crews on trains carrying hazardous materials and create a state-administered wayside-detector program. That litigation matters because it shows continued pressure at the state level to regulate hazmat-rail safety beyond federal minimums.

Read more here…

Illuminating Insights Into the School Threat Assessment Toolkit

This new video series, launching 4/13, brings together expert perspectives on how school threat assessment practices show up in real K–12 settings. Featuring voices from researchers, practitioners, and school safety leaders, each video focuses on a specific component of threat assessment, such as law enforcement collaboration, special education considerations, and program evaluation. Whether your team is using the School Threat Assessment Toolkit or exploring these concepts independently, this series offers clear, practical guidance to support your work. The first four videos will be available all at once, with more topics and voices to come. Visit the series page to learn more about these upcoming videos.

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External Opportunities

4/15/26 – Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities
Hosted by the U.S. Secret Service

5/20/26 – Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment
Hosted by the U.S. Secret Service

NEW!  FY25 Public Safety and Mental Health Initiative

Recent News from the European Chemicals Agency

• ECHA supports PFAS restriction with targeted derogations
• Guidelines for users of aprotic solvents
• New intentions and proposals to harmonise classification and labelling
• Corrigendum: BPC opinions on ethanol
• Science seminar: Development and real-life application of adverse outcome pathways for endocrine disruption
• Preparing biocides active substances in IUCLID and R4BP 3
• Key areas of regulatory challenge – 2026 update
• EUCLEF updated
• Read and subscribe to our new monthly LinkedIn newsletter
• Decisions on applications for authorisation

IHMM Foundation Affinity Programs For Certificants