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.

Inside IHMM

Creating a Collaborative Culture

1,561 different conversations are 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]

Sponsored Content

IHMM Proposes Changes in Government Recognition of Credentials

1. IHMM is circulating a letter with the Intersociety Forum [ISF] to communicate to the new Administration the value of the EHS communities of practice.
2. IHMM has filed comments in the OSHA proposed Heat rule, underscoring IHMM’s commitment to bringing our SMEs expertise to an important public policy issue as well as highlighting the value of our certifications and those who hold them.
3. IHMM has filed comments on the OMB Inquiry concerning the EPA and DOL proposed regulatory measures concerning Methylene Chloride on December 13, 2024.
4. IHMM Sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, concerning the uses of professionally credentialed persons performing work for the Park Service.
5. 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.

• Here is the response we received back from the VA.

4. 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.

5. 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

Congress: Big Picture Legislative Update. The 119th Congress is revving up, and the Buzz is monitoring two major legislative issues:

• Government funding expires on March 14, 2025—one month from today. Clearly, there is plenty of political acrimony between the parties and consternation among Democrats concerning how the administration has operated during its first several weeks. There are no clear signs yet about whether we are heading for a government shutdown, and anything can happen, as we saw during the final week of 2024.

• This week, the U.S. Congress officially started the budget reconciliation process that it will use to pass Republican legislative priorities, such as tax cuts, border security, defense spending, and energy promotion. As the Buzz has previously discussed, this complicated process will allow the Republicans to avoid the legislative filibuster in the U.S. Senate and pass legislation on a party-line basis. The process is likely to take up much of Congress’s time in the coming weeks and months.

AG Issues Memos on Private-Sector DEI. On February 5, 2025, Pam Bondi, the newly confirmed attorney general, issued two memoranda to U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) employees instructing them on steps that they must take to implement Executive Order (EO) 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” The memos are as follows:

• “Ending Illegal DEI and DEIA Discrimination and Preferences.” This memo instructs the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and Office of Legal Policy to jointly draft and submit a report containing recommendations “to encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including policies relating to [diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and [diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA)].”This report must contain “specific steps or measures to deter the use of DEI and DEIA programs or principles that constitute illegal discrimination or preferences, including proposals for criminal investigations and for up to nine potential civil compliance investigations of [private-sector] entities.” (Emphasis added.) This likely refers to provisions of EO 14173 that invoke the False Claims Act, which allows for criminal penalties, treble damages, attorneys’ fees, and private citizen “whistleblower” actions. Lauren B. Hicks, T. Scott Kelly, and Zachary V. Zagger provide an analysis of the implications of EO 14173 for organizations doing business with the federal government that will be subject to potential liability under the False Claims Act.
• “Eliminating Internal Discriminatory Practices.” This memo primarily instructs DOJ officials to terminate internal discriminatory programs and policies relating to DEI and DEIA. This includes the elimination of positions, programs, grants, contracts with vendors, etc., relating to DEI. It also directs DOJ officials to make recommendations on how to align the agency’s enforcement activities, litigation positions, consent decrees, regulations, and policies with the EO.The memo further instructs DOJ officials to develop new guidance that “narrow[s] the use of ‘disparate impact’ theories” and emphasizes that “statistical disparities alone do not automatically constitute unlawful discrimination.”

DOL Nominees Announced. The Senate has already confirmed sixteen of President Trump’s agency nominees, but the employment-related agencies (i.e., the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)) are a bit behind. There was some news this week, however, relating to DOL nominees:

• Secretary of Labor Hearing. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions was scheduled to hold a hearing this week on the nomination of former U.S. Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon to be secretary of labor. But due to a snowstorm in the Washington, D.C., area, the hearing has been rescheduled for February 19, 2025.
• DOL Subagency Nominees. Potentially filling in the leadership positions of the DOL’s subagencies are the following nominees who were announced this week:
  • David Keeling has been nominated to be the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. Keeling has held several positions overseeing private-sector employers’ workplace safety programs.
  • Wayne Palmer has been nominated to be the assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. Palmer held the same position during the first Trump administration.
  • Daniel Aronowitz, an insurance industry executive, has been nominated to lead the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
  • Henry Mack III has been nominated to lead the Employment and Training Administration. Mack previously served in the Florida Department of Education.

CFPB Halts Activity. Activity at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was effectively stopped this week while the Department of Government Efficiency reviews the agency’s internal operations. The CFPB, which “enforces Federal consumer financial law and ensures that markets for consumer financial products are transparent, fair, and competitive” stretched its reach over the last several years as part of former President Joe Biden’s “whole of government” approach to promoting unionization. For example, in 2023, the CFPB entered into an information sharing agreement with the NLRB “to address practices that harm workers in the ‘gig economy’ and other labor markets.” Pursuant to that agreement, the CFPB also focused on “employer-driven debt” that allegedly results from employee expenses related to “employer-mandated training or equipment.” Created by Congress in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, CFPB has long been criticized by Republicans.

H-1B Registration Period Announced. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap registration period will open at noon ET on Friday, March 7, 2025, and close at noon ET on Monday, March 24, 2025. Nicole Fink and Philip K. Sholts have the details on the increased fees, the second go-round of the beneficiary-centric selection process, and other need-to-know aspects of the process.

Significant Environmental Stories Have Dominated This Week

1. Intensified Climate Accountability Efforts Amid Pro-Fossil Fuel Policies

The re-election of President Donald Trump and his administration’s aggressive support for fossil fuel industries have galvanized climate accountability initiatives. Activists, state lawmakers, and youth environmentalists are advancing “make polluters pay” legislation and filing lawsuits against major greenhouse gas emitters, demanding compensation for climate-related damages. Despite facing legal challenges from red states and the fossil fuel sector, proponents remain optimistic, citing public support and recent legal victories.

2. EPA’s Hazardous Waste Cleanup Plan Sparks Protests in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to use a local beach as a sorting site for toxic debris from the recent Palisades fire has ignited public outcry. Protesters express concerns that handling hazardous materials, including asbestos and heavy metals, at the beach could pose significant environmental and health risks. The EPA aims to expedite the cleanup to prevent further ecological harm, but residents and environmental groups are urging for alternative solutions that safeguard public health and sensitive coastal ecosystems.

3. U.S. Paper Industry Seeks Relief from EU Deforestation Regulations

The American Forest and Paper Association has appealed to President Trump to negotiate with the European Union for the U.S. to be recognized as “deforestation-free.” This designation would ease compliance with the EU’s stringent anti-deforestation laws, which ban imports linked to forest destruction. The U.S. paper industry argues that the current regulations are complex and financially burdensome, potentially impacting over $3.5 billion in exports. Adjusting these rules could alleviate operational challenges and support the industry’s economic interests.

4. Declining Support for ESG Initiatives Among U.S. Investors

A recent report indicates that support for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) shareholder proposals has reached a record low, primarily due to decreased backing from U.S. investors. The study reveals that only 1.4% of 279 ESG resolutions received majority support, a significant drop from previous years. This trend aligns with growing opposition to ESG initiatives from right-wing activists and policy shifts under the Trump administration favoring traditional energy sectors. The report calls for enhanced regulatory action and leadership within the financial sector to address pressing environmental and social challenges.

These developments underscore the dynamic and often contentious landscape of environmental policy and action in the United States, reflecting the complex interplay between governmental decisions, industry interests, and public advocacy.

Workplace Safety Stories This Week

1. Debate Over OSHA’s Future Amid Legislative Proposals

A legislative proposal has been introduced to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), sparking a debate over the future of workplace safety enforcement in the United States. Proponents of the bill argue for reduced federal oversight, while critics warn that dismantling OSHA could lead to increased workplace hazards and a decline in worker protections. This discussion highlights the ongoing tension between regulatory control and business autonomy in ensuring safe working conditions.

1. OSHA Proposes Heavy Fines Following Worker Fatality in Boston

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed substantial fines against a company in Boston following the death of a demolition worker. The worker was fatally injured due to alleged safety violations, prompting OSHA to take enforcement action to address and rectify workplace hazards. This case underscores the importance of adhering to safety protocols to prevent such tragedies.

1. OSHA Employee Reductions

NPRM: Advancing Safety of Highway, Rail, and Vessel Transportation

Deadline: April 28, 2025

On October 28, HM-265 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Hazardous Materials: Advancing Safety of Highway, Rail, and Vessel Transportation” was published to the Federal Register. This NPRM proposes amendments to improve the safety and efficiency of hazardous materials transported by highway, rail, and vessel, as well as several amendments for all modes of transportation. Specifically, some of the proposed amendments include:

• Adopting the 2017 Rail Safety Advisory Committee Hazardous Materials Issues Working Group recommendations
• Removing the delegation to the Association of American Railroads as the sole source for tank car design approvals and tank car facility quality assurance program approvals
• Revising the UN ID number marking requirements for motor carriers who transport different types of petroleum distillate fuels (e.g., gasoline and diesel fuel) in multiple trips in the same day
• Updating cargo tank manufacture and inspection requirements to address safety deficiencies noted during inspections
• Removing the requirement for security awareness training for hazmat employees who manufacture packagings and do not come into contact with hazardous materials in transport.

As with any NPRM, PHMSA needs your input! We’ve extended the comment period, meaning that all comments must be received by April 28, 2025.

Notice to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP, e.g., 9-1-1 call centers)

Starting on June 24, 2025, the six Class I railroads are required to begin complying with the requirements of the HM-263 Real-Time Train Consist Information final rule.

This rule requires that, for any accident involving a train transporting hazardous material, or any incident involving the release or suspected release of hazardous materials from a car on a train, railroads must make a telephone call to the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) informing them of the incident or accident. Then, the railroad must transmit train consist information directly to the primary PSAP, in a form that the PSAP is able to receive and use.

Train consist information includes:

• The railroad’s designated emergency response point of contact (including contact phone number)
• the position in the train and contents of each hazardous material rail car, listed by reporting mark and number
• The point of origin and destination of the train
• Shipping paper information (e.g., UN ID number, proper shipping name, hazard class, packing group, technical name (if applicable), number and type of packages
• Emergency response information required by § 172.602(a) of this subchapter.

This information is critical for first responders to protect themselves and their communities during the initial stages of a response to a train accident or incident involving hazardous materials.

February ICC Compliance Bulletin

As we step into a brand-new year, we’re excited to bring you the February edition of our ICC Compliance Bulletin. This issue is filled with key updates and insights to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of dangerous goods regulations and set a strong foundation for compliance in 2025.

🔍 This Month’s Spotlights:

• “What’s New in the IMDG Code Amendment 42-24?” explains the latest updates to International Maritime Dangerous Goods Regulations, effective January 1, 2025.
• 6 New Year’s Resolutions for Safety Professionals” challenges safety experts to start 2025 with fresh goals for workplace safety. From learning key lessons from 2024 to staying ahead of regulatory updates and fine-tuning training, this article offers practical steps to enhance safety culture and compliance.
• “PHMSA Increases Penalties for 2025” alerts shippers to higher fines for dangerous goods violations. With penalties rising again, staying compliant through proper training is more crucial than ever.
• “Winter Driving Tips” highlights essential precautions for staying safe on snowy roads. From clearing ice off your vehicle to packing emergency supplies, these tips help both commercial and personal drivers navigate winter’s unpredictability.

Safe+Sound Week 2025 – August 11-17, 2025

Safe + Sound Week will be August 11-17, 2025. This year’s focus area is emergency preparedness and response. Stay tuned for more information!

Response-Ready Workplace Challenge

Workplace emergencies can happen at any time. It’s important for workers to be aware of emergency procedures and know what to do in case of an emergency. Are your workers familiar with your emergency action plan (EAP)?

Prepare for Safe + Sound Week 2025!  Take the Response-Ready Workplace Challenge.

1. Review your EAP.
2. Hold a toolbox talk or safety meeting to review your EAP.
3. Download your challenge coin.

Share that you took the challenge on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtWork and #ResponseReady.

Reducing Firearm-Related Violence Through Anonymous Reporting

In this video launching 2/19, Dr. Elyse Thulin explores how anonymous reporting systems (ARS) help prevent firearm-related violence in and around schools. Discover how firearm-related tips through ARS strengthen safety and empower communities to report concerns confidentially. Visit our website to learn more.

______

STOP Grantee Community of Practice

We’re thrilled to announce that the NCSS STOP Grantee Community of Practice (CoP) platform officially launched on February 13th. Hosted on Canvas, this exclusive online space is designed specifically for STOP grantees to connect, collaborate, and share valuable resources to enhance school safety efforts. Grantees, whether you’re looking to exchange best practices, access helpful tools, or engage with peers, the CoP offers a flexible and interactive space to support your work—whenever you need it. Stay tuned for more details tomorrow—we can’t wait for you to explore the CoP and start connecting with fellow grantees!

_______

FY2025 STOP School Violence Program Funding

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has announced the FY2025 STOP School Violence Program funding opportunity. This program aims to enhance school security by implementing evidence-based measures to prevent violence. These measures include training for students, school personnel, and law enforcement and implementing technology and infrastructure to improve school safety.

Here are key details about the opportunity:

• Purpose: To develop or improve violence prevention programs and school safety initiatives that address the unique needs of schools and communities.
• Eligibility: Local and tribal governments, state agencies, public and private schools, and non-profit organizations are typically eligible to apply.
• Funding Uses:
  • Training to prevent student violence against others and themselves.
  • Development of threat assessment and intervention teams.
  • Technologies or systems to address school violence.

For comprehensive information on the FY2025 STOP School Violence Program funding opportunity, please refer to the official solicitation document provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA):

This document offers detailed guidance on eligibility criteria, application procedures, funding categories, and program requirements. It is essential to review this solicitation thoroughly to ensure a complete and accurate application.

Additionally, the BJA’s official website provides a list of current funding opportunities, including the FY2025 STOP School Violence Program:

_____

• 2/19 – Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities
  Hosted by the Department of Homeland Security
• 3/19 – Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment

Hosted by the Department of Homeland Security

Breaking Bad News

Sometimes, things go wrong. It may be your role as an occupational and environmental health and safety professional to inform your clients, executives, or management of a problem, such as that employees have been exposed to dangerous levels of a toxic substance. Or you may have to warn them that a problem will occur if they don’t act, such as by ensuring a hazardous material is stored properly or used with appropriate controls.

Alan Leibowitz, CIH, CSP, FAIHA, emphasizes that everyone, no matter their role in their organization, must occasionally report problems to organizational leaders. This is particularly true for OEHS professionals. “The nature of our profession is that we don’t often focus on the things that are going well,” Leibowitz said. “We focus on identifying potential concerns.”

Read more here.

• Our new role in improving safety of packaging materials 
• Consultations on applications for authorisation
• New substance evaluation conclusion published
• Intention for identification as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) withdrawn
• Consultation on harmonised classification and labelling
• Register now for our Biocide Stakeholders’ Workshop
• Ethanol in biocides assessment – where are we?
• Biocides decisions on Union authorisations

IHMM-HMS Professional Development