IHMM Remotely Proctored Exams Available Now
IHMM is pleased to announce that the American National Standards Institute [ANSI] has approved Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for IHMM’s CHMM, CHMP, and CDGP exams. IHMM has been using the Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for the CSHM and CSMP exams since April of this year.
About 60% of Kryterion in-person testing centers have reopened. If you prefer the comfort and convenience of taking your exam from your home or office instead of at a Kryterion center, IHMM is ready to enroll you in a remotely proctored examination.
Please contact either Kortney Tunstall at [email protected] for the CHMM, CHMP, or CDGP exams or Kaylene Cagle at [email protected] for the CSHM or CSMP exams.
IHMM Credential Recognition
Below you will see the 3 EHS credential badges that are now in each CSHM, CSMP, and ASHM certificant’s MYIHMM account. Every IHMM certificant may use these badges, linked as those below are to their IHMM credential page, for their email signatures, business cards, and other social media applications. You’re justifiably proud of the accomplishment of having earned your credential and you can show the rest of the world. Simply right-click on the badge of choice, then save as to your computer, and then load it to wherever you want to use it and please link that back to https://ihmm.org/.
IHMM Certificant Recognition
IHMM has completed inserting new credential badges in every certificant’s MYIHMM account. Everyone may access those badges for use in their email signatures, LinkedIn accounts, and other social media and communications media. With a link from your credential badge to the IHMM website [see above] you can not only stand out as an IHMM-certified professional, you can also promote IHMM credentials to others. Right-click on the badge of choice, save as to your computer, then load it to whatever medium you choose.
Throughout our certificant’s MYIHMM accounts are also now placed 10 Year, 20 Year, and 30 Year badges signifying their longevity as an IHMM certified professional.
IHMM has also added Distinguished Diplomates and Fellows of the Institute badges to the appropriate people in the MYIHMM database. These two badges will be accompanied by new lapel pins to be sent to each of those distinguished by holding these designations.
Follow IHMM
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 is in all 50 of the United States and in 47 countries around the world.
IHMM Micrcredential Task Force
71% of Americans do not believe the U.S. is ready for the next pandemic. Here is a video from the BiPartisan Policy Center that outlines the issues and challenges of not only the current COVID-19 pandemic but of how the U.S. can become better prepared for the next pandemic.
The IHMM Microcredential Task Force, chaired by Dan Blankfeld, CSHM, is working on developing a microcredential for [a] pandemic preparedness, and [b] pandemic response. We expect that by the end of 2021 the Task Force will be prepared to make a recommendation to the IHMM Board of Directors.
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How Millennials Want to Work and Live
“Demographics is destiny,” goes the quote, and for those of us who believe that to be the case preparing our companies and operations to deal with different demographic groups is essential. Millennials, born between 1981-1996, overtook Boomers as the largest segment of American society in 2019 – now over 72 million. 48% of millennial women are mothers. | Millennials make up 35% of the U.S. labor force | 44% of millennials are married.
Here is the recent Gallup study of millennials entitled “How Millennials Want to Work and Live.”
Millennials As Employees
As employees, millennials’ wants and needs are not all that different from those of the generations that preceded them. But unlike members of those earlier generations, millennials have instantaneous and far-reaching opportunities to research companies and jobs. They behave as consumers of the workplace, weighing their options and continually looking for roles and organizations that enable their best performance. Leaders and managers must understand what millennials expect from their jobs, managers, and companies. Page 13
Millennials As People
Are millennials really that different from members of other generations? Millennials differ in a few significant ways from their older counterparts; some of these differences are authentic, unique traits, while others reflect the technological world in which millennials matured. But millennials also have plenty in common with Gen Xers, baby boomers, and traditionalists. Page 57
Millennials’ Economic Impact
Millennials are an influential force in today’s economy, and their economic strength increases with each passing year. However, businesses are largely failing to connect with millennials as consumers and brand ambassadors. If companies want to strengthen millennials’ customer engagement, they must recognize what defines and drives this generation’s ideal customer experience. Page 103
“Why does any of this matter? Because the strength of the workplace and marketplace depends on what the millennial generation can accomplish. If millennials cannot find good jobs, the economy will continue to lag. If they are not engaged in those jobs, companies’ profitability, productivity and innovation will suffer. And if they are not thriving in their well-being, they will struggle in life, affecting how they perform as citizens, consumers, and employees.”
IHMM has 927 ASHM and Student CHMM credential holders, the vast majority of whom are Millenials.
IHMM Professional Sustainability Credential Task Force
The IHMM Professional Sustainability Task Force, chaired by Mark Bruce, CHMM, CSHM, has started the process of reviewing the landscape of professional certifications focused on sustainability. The role of the task force is to make a recommendation to the IHMM Board about the advisability of creating a stand-alone credential that focuses specifically on sustainability.
IHMM CSHM & CSMP Scheme Committees
The IHMM CSHM Scheme Committee, chaired by Steven Guillory, CSHM, https://ihmm.org/cshm-scheme-committee/ and the IHMM CSMP Scheme Committee, chaired by Kirk Rains, CSMP, https://ihmm.org/csmp-scheme-committee/ are busy creating totally new blueprints for these two credentials. Once completed later this year IHMM will be able to vigorously promote these credentials as having been rebuilt from the ground up and ready them both for ANSI/ANAB accreditation.
IHMM “702” Project
Rule 702. Testimony by Expert Witnesses
A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if:
- (a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
- (b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
- (c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and
- (d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.
The IHMM “702“ project is based on rule 702 of the federal rules of expert testimony/witnesses and the use of experts in trials. Even though the project is based on that rule it is not relegated only to the use of experts in legal proceedings. It is our intention to extend the use of this project and its population to include media commentary and the demands of environmental, dangerous goods, health, and safety regulators on matters directly related to the jurisdictions of IHMM certifications.
IHMM would inform the news media, state and federal regulators, and the legal profession of the availability of “experts” for use in legal proceedings, working with environmental regulators or commenting on matters in the news for the news media. This will raise the level of visibility of all IHMM credentials and those who hold them.
We will construct a section of our AA/database allowing IHMM certificants to register for this project and select the areas of specialization they hold. Only those whose fees are up-to-date will be allowed to register and be available for public view of their levels of expertise.
This project will increase the value of our credentials as well as our ability to serve the legal, media, and government regulator sectors of the economy by offering experts to provide commentary or testimony. Registration would be strictly voluntary.
Survey
Before IHMM does any further work on this project we need to collect some data. This survey is designed to collect data from IHMM certificant’s general attitude toward this new feature being created and whether or not you may ultimately register for it. The survey obligates you to nothing. We are just collecting data on whether or not IHMM certificants believe this service if it is created, would be worthwhile.
HMS and Earning Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs]
IHMM created HMS, in large measure, so that IHMM certificants could have one, central place within which to find professional development courses in which to earn certification maintenance points. HMS courses cover all of IHMM’s 8 credentials, not only one.
We’ve made it easy to find CMPs.
- Go to https://hazmatsociety.org/
- Go to the Education and Training tab
- Scroll down until you see these buttons…and click on the CMPs button
- The system will produce a listing of the programs on the platform that have already been reviewed and given CMP ratings. You can find the programs suitable for you.
For example, one of the programs is from Columbia Southern University, offered online, has 36 CMPs attached, and is FREE. This is only one example. There are hundreds of programs on HMS.
Recertification of your IHMM credential is easy and straightforward – encompassing the 5 basic steps shown above. This graphic applies to the CHMM, CHMP, CDGP, and CDGT credentials. IHMM is constructing the system to incorporate the former ISHM point system to the IHMM point system for all CSHM and CSMP credentials later this summer.
IHMM certificants need to recertify their credentials every 5 years. You can learn about and use this system here.
How to earn Certification Maintenance Points [CMPs] is also easy and straightforward: read the IHMM Recertification Claims Manual.
IHMM’s recertification system allows certificants to start a recertification application at any time, don’t wait until the 4th year and the 11th month to start one – start now and enter your CMPs as you go. That makes completing the application easy when the time comes to recertify. Certificants can start a recertification application with their CMPs through their individual MYIHMM accounts.
If you need assistance with this process, accessing your MYIHMM account, or anything concerning the recertification process, simply contact either Jimmy Nguyen at [email protected] or James Drosdak at [email protected] and either will be happy to help you.
Ask Me Anything In Collaboration Scheduled
Thursday, July 15, 2021, from 2:00 pm EDT until 3:00 pm EDT. Mark your calendars! Patricia Buley, Jimmy Nguyen, and Kortney Tunstall will be live in the General Information for All HMS & IHMM Community in Collaboration.
Whatever is on your mind, during this time period or whenever you wish, pose your question and we’ll be there to answer it.
Join us for ASK ME ANYTHING!
Federal court blocks CMS vaccine mandate
A federal judge in Louisiana has granted a preliminary injunction against the COVID-19 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate following a lawsuit filed by Montana and 13 other states.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen previously told MTN the Nov. 5 CMS rule is not only unconstitutional, but also will exacerbate the shortage of health care workers, by leading many of them to quit or be fired because they won’t get vaccinated. In addition, a new Montana law that was passed this year by Republican legislators prohibits most private businesses from requiring their employees to be vaccinated.
The CMS vaccine mandate was set to take effect Monday, Dec. 6 and would have required most hospitals and other health-care facilities to have their employees vaccinated against Covid-19 by January.
The ruling by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty, appointed by former President Trump in 2017, of the Western District of Louisiana puts a hold on enacting the mandate until the case is decided.
Doughty’s order states: “During a pandemic such as this one, it is even more important to safeguard the separation of powers set forth in our Constitution to avoid erosion of our liberties.”
The judge states the Biden Administration does not have the power to bypass Congress, but also notes, “This matter will ultimately be decided by a higher court than this one.”
Do You Want Government to Recognize Your Credential?
IHMM & AHMP 45 in 5 Project – National Credential Recognition
On January 25th, we began outlining the strategy to go after the 21 states in yellow, above. Since then we have succeeded in adding Nebraska, Colorado, and California.
This is just the beginning. Here is the present composition of the 45 In 5 Task Force and the states we are focusing on. More people may volunteer anytime!
In 2019 Mark Bruce from AHMP and Gene Guilford from IHMM worked on a project to get the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to recognize the CHMM and CDGT credentials. With Mark’s work on the ground in Pennsylvania, we succeeded.
Since the launch, we have added Delaware, Florida, Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Iowa, North Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico as the next places for us to work on with 44 volunteers.
45 in 5 Task Force Votes to Move Forward
At its July 19th meeting the 45 in 5 Task Force voted to:
- Initiate a rulemaking with the Environmental Protection Agency to amend 40 CFR § 310 Definitions, to include the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager [CHMM] credential with the existing Professional Engineer and Professional Geologist.
- Initiate a guidance change with the Small Business Administration concerning the performance of Phase I and II environmental assessments.
- Support the IHMM/PCC Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. H.R. 2171.
Self-Paced, Top-Rated Online Hazmat Training: CHEMTREC, the world’s leader in hazmat emergency response, can help keep your company safe and compliant with our online hazmat training courses. Available training includes Hazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness, 49 CFR, IATA, Lithium Battery Shipping and more. Sign up today!
Product Showcase.
IHMM RECENT NEWS
- Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy
- OSHA revises its National Emphasis Program, updates Interim Enforcement Response Plan for COVID-19
- OSHA-Extension of Period to Submit a Notice to Appear at Informal Hearing on Proposed Hazard Communication Standard to July 22
- House Passes $715 Billion Transportation & Water Legislation
- The Biden Administration’s First Unified Agenda
- House Passes $715 Billion Transportation & Water Legislation
- Coalition of Chemical Manufacturers, Brand Owners, NGOs, States, and Municipalities Calls on Congress to Restore Funding for EPA’s Safer Choice Program
- Do We Want EPA to Do Its Clean Water Act Job And, if So, What Will It Take?
- ESA Rules Redux: Services Plan a Second (and, in Some Cases, Third) Look at the ESA Regulations
- EPA Takes Action in Response to Supply-Chain Disruptions for Inert Ingredients
- It’s About More Than You
- Council on Environmental Quality Report to Congress on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration
- Oregon OSHA lifts face covering, physical distancing rules for workers
- Construction workers at higher risk of COPD, study shows
- Why Many Change Initiatives Fail to Achieve Expected Results
- COVID-19 Death Toll in June Went Hand in Hand with Those Who Were Not Vaccinated
- FDA Revokes EUAs for Certain NIOSH-Certified Respirators
- Know Your Exemptions: TDG’s Special Cases for the Agricultural Industry
- Maine bill on phthalates and PFAS
NSC Webinars
- January 19 – Understanding OSHA 1910.134 Respiratory Protection Program Requirements
- January 20 – Common OSHA Training Violations: What you can do to protect your company and your workers
- January 27 – Hazard Communication – Past, Present and Future
- February 2 – Celebrating Safety! Positive Reinforcement with Validity and Reliability
- February 3 – COVID-19 Update – The Latest on Mandates and Best Practices
- February 10 – Top 5 OSHA Safety Training Topics: Requirements and Best Practices for Safety and Health
Continuously Improve Safety in Your Workplace
Safe + Sound Week may be ending, but safety doesn’t take a day off. Continuous improvement is important for success. Visit the Develop Your Program page for resources on how to keep building your safety and health program.
Employee Participation in Hazard Identification
Worker participation is key for hazard identification activities. The OSHA On-site Consultation Program at the University of Alabama developed a micro-learning for Safe + Sound Week on Employee Participation in Hazard Identification. Learn how to move your safety and health program forward!
OSHA QUICKTAKES
- OSHA staff are on-scene at the Surfside building collapse and continue to provide technical assistance. The agency is working with local authorities and response personnel to ensure the safety and health of workers engaged in on-site operations.
- Heat Illness Prevention. OSHA has new public service announcements and infographics (in English and Spanish) to help get the word out on keeping workers safe in the heat.
- Trenching Safety. OSHA’s Alliance program is offering a free online presentation on trenching and excavation safety on July 23.
- Fall Safety Outreach. North Dakota construction contractors are reminded of their responsibility to protect workers from falls
- Hearing Loss Prevention. An OSHA initiative in the Midwest aims to protect manufacturing workers from hazardous noise levels.
- Combustible Dust Violations. A grain facility was cited after a worker was severely injured in a dust explosion
- Hazardous Energy Control Violations. A tortilla manufacturer was fined for repeatedly exposing workers to amputation dangers (en español).
Prevent Heat Illness at Work
- Drink Cool Water: Drink cool water even if you aren’t thirsty — at least 1 cup every 20 minutes.
- Watch Out for Each Other: Monitor yourself and others for signs of heat illness.
- Find Shade or a Cool Area: Take breaks in a designated shady or cool location.
- Take Rest Breaks: Take enough time to recover from heat given the temperature, humidity, and conditions.
- Dress for the Heat: Wear a hat and light-colored, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing if possible.
- If Wearing a Face Covering: Change your face covering if it gets wet or soiled. Verbally check on others frequently.
ASSP News
- 5 Ways to Commit to Your Safety Career in 2022
- Final Days of Discounted Rate for SafetyFOCUS 2022
- The Current State of Our Society
- ASSP Sees Uncertainty in Workplace Fatality Report
- Safety Professionals Turn to ASSP for Knowledge
- Q&A: Proactively Preparing for OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard
ASSP Webinars
- January 19, 2022 – Implementing the Hierarchy of Controls to Reduce Risk
- January 26, 2022 – Mitigating Liability and Managing Safety on Multiemployer Work Sites
- February 2, 2022 – Women in Safety: What it Means for Women to Lead
- February 9, 2022 – Human & Organizational Performance: Viewing Safety Through a Different Lens
- February 16, 2022 – Turning over the right stones: Keys to building an incident investigation process that delivers results
- February 21, 2022 – Live Virtual Classroom: Analytics for Safety: A New Approach to Performance Measurement
- February 21, 2022 – Analytics for Safety: A New Approach to Performance Measurement
- February 21-23, 2022 – Live Virtual Classroom: Safety Management I
- February 21-23, 2022 – Live Virtual Classroom: Corporate Safety Management
ISO 45001 and OSH Professionals
ASSP is the TAG Administrator [Technical Advisory Group] to ANSI for the ISO TC283 [Technical Committee]. TC283 is responsible for the creation of ISO 45001 and other important standards and documents under the 283 series of technical materials. ASSP, as the U.S. TAG Administrator, is responsible to work with the committee [TAG] membership to create U.S. voting positions and technical comments for ANSI at the global level. IHMM is a member of ASSP and is proud to have contributed to this important work through our representative Tom Slavin, CSHM.
The Society recently concluded an extensive webinar with Martin Cottam [TC283 Chair], Sally Swingewood [TC283 Manager], Vic Toy [U.S. TAG Chair], and Kathy Seabrook [U.S. TAG Vice-Chair].
This is an extensive webinar and interview that should interest OSH Professionals working with ISO 45001 and management systems. We address ISO 45001, 45003, 45005, etc. There are always a lot of questions on this standard[s] and ASSP can give you the answers. This webinar is worthy of your time to review.
IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to provide this information to all of our certificants.
IHMM and HMS
The graphic to the left illustrates the relationship between IHMM and HMS. IHMM formed HMS to serve IHMM’s certificates. IHMM offers a variety of professional credentials and HMS creates education and training programs to serve the applicants and certificants of those credentials.
Survey
The Hazardous Materials Society has created a survey to learn from IHMM’s certificants what those certificants need most. If HMS is to serve IHMM’s certificants we need IHMM’s certificants to respond to this survey.
Please go here for a short, 5 question survey that takes less than 2 minutes to take.
HMS Board of Directors Nomination Process if Open for Submittals
Overview of Available Board Positions
The Hazardous Materials Society (HMS) is looking for the best and brightest to lead the organization forward. A total of FOUR (4) DIRECTOR positions are open with a two-year term, beginning on January 1, 2022 and ending on December 31, 2024. The maximum number of years any candidate may serve is six (6) years.
These positions are open to ANY IHMM-certificant, who is in good standing with the Hazardous Materials society (HMS) as well as the Institute of Hazardous Materials Managers (IHMM). Self-nominations are permitted.
There are two documents for review. Click on both to open, download, review and submit #2:
Please email the completed nomination forms/submittals to Ms. Kendra Schroer, CHMM, HMS Nominating Committee Chair, at [email protected].
CHEMTREC Becomes An HMS Annual Training Agenda Vendor
HMS is pleased to announce CHEMTREC [https://www.chemtrec.com/] has become an education and training vendor and a part of the development of the HMS Annual Training Agendas.
CHEMTREC is an Emergency Response Information Provider (ERIP). CHEMTREC is the premier call center for hazmat emergency response coordination. CHEMTREC’s world-leading call center operates on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week, providing emergency response information wherever hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, or used. With the right procedures and protocols in place, and by doing what’s right quickly and effectively, CHEMTREC helps minimize environmental impacts, protect people, and preserve the assets and reputations of its customers.
Operating globally, CHEMTREC has offices in major regions and on-the-ground knowledge of local regulations, understanding of local nuances, and appreciation of cultural sensitivities. CHEMTREC offers a suite of services along with L1 emergency response, including SDS management and authoring, hazardous materials training, crisis management, L2/L3 notification services, carrier solutions, data reporting, and lithium battery solutions. CHEMTREC is proud to contribute to the practice of safe handling and transportation of hazardous materials throughout the supply chain.
HMS Education and Training
Hazardous Materials Society now has 6,347 education and training programs on its website, with more coming every week. Certificants will note that most of these programs carry a CMP value, making it easier to know in advance what to expect. The HMS Education and Training platform also provides a wide variety of courses for professional development across all of IHMM’s credentials – and more are being developed by the HMS Education and Training Committee.
IHMM applicants and certificants are free to search the landscape for training. IHMM wanted to make that task easier by aggregating training in one place if you choose to use it. Among these more than 6.000 programs are webinars delivered online and virtually all carry IHMM CMPs values with them for your annual / 5-year CMP planning.
Hazardous Materials Society [HMS] Scholarship Applications – DEADLINE November 1, 2021
Dan Levine, Chair of the HMS Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that HMS Scholarship applications for 2021 are live and available on the HMS website.
Visit the HMS Scholarship page and click the big red button that says APPLY NOW GET THE APPLICATION FORM HERE!
Thank you to Dan and his committee for getting the HMS Scholarship open in 2021, and for more information and the application form, please visit the website link above.
Member Benefits of Hazardous Materials Society
81% of IHMM certificants are aware of the Hazardous Materials Society, which we appreciate. IHMM established the Hazardous Materials Society in order to support and provide services to IHMM certificants.
Did You Know?
Your company’s membership dues for Associate Membership in the Hazardous Materials Society (HMS) are 100% tax-deductible and your participation directly supports scholarship and education/training opportunities for professionals working in hazmat and EHS. Joining as an Associate Member expresses your commitment and your company’s leadership in giving back to our professional community. Join today to claim your tax deduction for the 2020 tax year while expressing your company’s professional affiliation and accessing tools for your marketing and business development plans.
To learn more about what HMS is doing now and what they are planning for the future, please see the new Member Benefits page here.
IHMM/HMS Coronavirus Resources
In February of 2020, the World Health Organization’s director-general has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. On March 13, 2020 President Trump declared a national emergency for the United States. IHMM and HMS’ first concern is with the safety and health of all of us; our staff and families, colleagues, certificants and members. We will update this page regularly as credible, authoritative information is available.
INFORMATION FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND LABORATORIES.
COVID-19 Data Tracker By State
COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Non-Healthcare Workplaces
COVID-19 Weekly Review – July 9, 2021
CDC Communications Toolkit
Are adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine recordable on the OSHA recordkeeping log?
In general, an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is recordable if the reaction is: (1) work-related, (2) a new case, and (3) meets one or more of the general recording criteria in 29 CFR 1904.7 (e.g., days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid).
If you require your employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment (i.e., for work-related reasons), then any adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is work-related. The adverse reaction is recordable if it is a new case under 29 CFR 1904.6 and meets one or more of the general recording criteria in 29 CFR 1904.7.
New! Vaccine Data Dashboard. We now have a specific dashboard dedicated to state vaccination plans, updated daily. For each state, you’ll find:
- Current distribution phase,
- Brief overview of state plan,
- Current and future eligible populations, and
- Links to state documentation.
In February of 2020, the World Health Organization’s director-general has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. On March 13, 2020 President Trump declared a national emergency for the United States. IHMM and HMS’ first concern is with the safety and health of all of us; our staff and families, colleagues, certificants and members. We will update this page regularly as credible, authoritative information is available.
INFORMATION FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND LABORATORIES.
Environmental Workshops Becomes An HMS Annual Training Agenda Vendor
HMS is pleased to announce Environmental Workshops, LLC [https://enviroworkshops.com/] has become an education and training vendor and a part of the development of the HMS Annual Training Agendas.
Environmental Workshops, headquartered in North Carolina, is the largest training organization for environmental professionals worldwide. Since 2013, we have been training environmental professionals on the latest technologies in the industry. We have hosted over 300 workshops on 6 continents and more than 25,000 people have registered for our Professional Development Hours (PDH). Our sponsors are leaders in the environmental market and many of our speakers hold multiple patents and degrees. Their presentations address the following topics: Remediation, Vapor Intrusion, Air Monitoring, Air Quality, and Waste Water.
Columbia Southern University
The Hazardous Materials Society [HMS] is a partner of Columbia Southern University. Columbia Southern University is an online university based in Orange Beach, Alabama, that strives to change and improve lives through higher education by enabling students to maximize their professional and personal potential.
A subsidiary of Columbia Southern Education Group, CSU offers online degree programs at the associate, bachelor, master, doctorate or certificate levels in a multitude of areas such as occupational safety and health, fire administration, criminal justice, business administration, human resource management, health care administration and more. CSU also features undergraduate and graduate certificate programs to provide focused training in specialized areas for adult learners.
Click on the CSU graphic at left and learn more about the professional development and degree program opportunities at CSU.
IHMM CONFERENCES FOR 2021 & 2022
IHMM will attend and support a number of conferences and trade shows throughout 2021, virtually as well as in-person as COVID issues allow. Below are some of the conferences IHMM will support in 2021.
Are there conferences you believe IHMM should attend that do not appear here? If so, let us know! Send an email to Jillian Wood and tell us what conferences we should attend.
Ohio Safety Conference 2022
March 9-10, 2022
In March 2022, OSC22 will feature a premium lineup of online learning sessions and a newly enhanced digital expo.
Exhibitors to feature their products and services related to the safety of workers, their equipment, environment, and health all in a remote and virtual environment. Join us to access this exciting event that serves the individuals responsible for keeping Ohio’s workers safe on the job.
American Society of Safety Professionals – San Francisco
March 10, 2022
San Ramon, California
This Annual Symposium provides one of the most sought-after events for attendees to learn the profession’s best practices focusing on Safety, Health, Industrial Hygiene & Environmental Issues. The Symposium is attended by over 400+ attendees annually and features an Exhibition of over 40+ Sponsors and Exhibitors. The event features a keynote speaker and 20 breakout sessions with five concurrent tracks running throughout the day. The event is hosted at the San Ramon Marriott, located at 2600 Bishop Drive in San Ramon, California.
Thank you to Bart Miller, CHMM, for being the IHMM’s leader for this event.
AHMP National Conference
March 20-23, 2022
Planet Hollywood Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
Pre-conference workshops at the AHMP National Conference for 2022 include a Certified Dangerous Goods Professional [CDGP] exam prep course offered by Gene Sanders. The 3-day exam prep course will be offered on March 18-19-20. For more information see> https://ahmp.confex.com/ahmp/2022/meetingapp.cgi/Session/5584
Information about the AHMP National Conference is found here.
April 4-7, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina
Contaminated soil, groundwater, and the air is a global issue and over $1 trillion is spent every year to mitigate pollution. There is a lot still to learn from each other on how each segment of the environmental industry impacts the next. The 2021 Global EnviroSummit is postponed until April 4-7, 2022 due to COVID-19 Delta variant.
With over 75 speakers from around the globe, the EnviroSummit is likely the first environmental conference that will have presentations from all 6 continents about 4 different themes – Remediation, Air Quality, Vapor Intrusion, and Wastewater.
COSTHA Annual Forum and Expo
April 4-6, 2022
Beltway Buzz – Ogletree & Deakins
It’s Infrastructure Week! The U.S. Senate this week began debating the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684), the 2,700-page infrastructure bill that has been the subject of heated negotiations over the last several weeks. (As a point of reference, the first published edition of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace was merely 1,225 pages long.) Here are a few things to note about the bill and the process going forward.
- Hard infrastructure. The bill provides $1.2 trillion in funding for the building and repair of roads, bridges, ports, airports, public transit, broadband, power grid modernization, and other projects. The bill also takes steps to address climate change (it provides funding related to electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and carbon capture, for example), shrink red tape associated with major construction projects, and reduce pollution.
- No PRO Act. Importantly, the bill does not contain provisions of the PRO Act, and it does not address paid leave, child care, Medicare expansion, unemployment insurance reforms, or other “social infrastructure” matters. Congressional Democrats plan to address these and other issues in subsequent legislation using the reconciliation process, which would allow them to pass such a bill with a simple majority vote.
- ERTC shortened. Employers may want to note that the employee retention tax credit (ERTC), which was established by the CARES Act and extended in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will terminate early under the bill. Currently, employers can claim the retention credit through the end of 2021, but this date would be pushed forward to October 1, 2021 (though certain small businesses that began operations in 2020 may claim the credit for the remainder of 2021). The provision is included as a funding mechanism for the bill.
- Bipartisan push. The bill has significant bipartisan support, as 17 Senate Republicans voted with all Democrats to begin debate on the bill. In addition, the bill enjoys support from groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as from the AFL-CIO.
- What comes next? As for timing (always hard to predict), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that he would like to wrap up the amendment process quickly, which means that final passage of the legislation could take place sometime next week or sooner. Assuming the bill passes the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives will then have an opportunity to address it. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has promised that she would not address the bill until the second “social infrastructure” bill passes the Senate. This all means that we could be continuing this discussion about both bills into the fall.
Pregnancy Accommodation Bill—One Step Closer to Law? On August 3, 2021, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) advanced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) (H.R. 1065). The lopsided 19–2 committee vote on approval perhaps portends a favorable outcome for the bill on the Senate floor. The PWFA—which would require employers to make reasonable accommodation for pregnant workers (such as by providing more frequent bathroom breaks or easing lifting requirements)—has been on the Buzz’s radar for a while now. With this action this week, the bill moves one step closer to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Weil Nomination Slowed. In other Senate HELP Committee news, the committee voted 11–11 on David Weil’s nomination to be administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division. This means that Weil’s nomination (similar to the nomination of NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo) will need an additional vote from the full Senate in order to be discharged from the committee. Weil has the numbers on his side (ever so slightly), and he, like Abruzzo, will likely be confirmed in due course. As the Buzz has previously discussed, Weil is known for his views on the “fissured workplace,” as well as a narrow interpretation of what it means to be an “independent contractor” and an expansive interpretation of “joint employer.”
Fed. Contractor Minimum Wage Reg. Deadline (Slightly) Extended. The DOL extended the deadline for stakeholders to submit comments in response to the proposed regulations implementing an increase in the minimum wage for certain employees of federal contractors. Interested parties probably should not think about booking a late-summer vacation, though: the period has only been extended from the original date of August 23, 2021, to August 27, 2021.
Congress Continues to Target Arbitration. House Democrats have reintroduced the Restoring Justice for Workers Act, which would “prohibit predispute arbitration agreements that require arbitration of work disputes.” The bill represents yet another front in the political battle over arbitration agreements. As the Buzz noted recently, another bill in the 117th Congress—the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445/S. 2342)—proposes to limit the enforceability of certain arbitration agreements.
Congressional Gold Medals. The 2020 Summer Olympics wraps up on August 8, 2021. The Olympics and politics have always been intertwined, so it should come as no surprise that these former U.S. Olympians subsequently made their way into politics.
- Bob Mathias won gold medals in the decathlon in the Summer Olympic Games in London (1948) and Helsinki (1952), and he subsequently represented California’s 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives (1967–1975).
- Wendell Anderson won a silver medal playing ice hockey for the United States in the 1956 Winter Olympics. He was later elected governor of Minnesota. When Minnesota senator Walter Mondale resigned his position after being elected vice president of the United States in 1976, Anderson essentially appointed himself as Mondale’s successor, and served two years in the U.S. Senate (1976–1978).
- Tom McMillen earned a silver medal playing basketball for the United States in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The U.S. men’s team lost to the Soviet Union, 51–50, and became the first U.S. men’s basketball team not to win a gold medal in the Olympics (after having won gold at the previous seven Olympic Games—all the way back to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin). The final seconds of the game were mired by an officiating controversy, and the U.S. team refused to receive their silver medals. After completing a successful professional basketball career, McMillen served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1987–1993) from Maryland’s 4th congressional district.
- Bill Bradley won a gold medal in basketball in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He subsequently won two National Basketball Association championships playing for the New York Knicks before representing New Jersey in the U.S. Senate (1979–1997).
- Ben Nighthorse Campbell also represented the United States in the 1964 Summer Olympics, participating in judo. He later represented Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives (1987–1993) and in the U.S. Senate (1993–2005).
- Jim Ryun (whom the Buzz previously profiled) also participated in the 1964 Summer Olympics as a middle-distance runner for the United States, and he also participated in the Olympics in Mexico City (1968) and Munich (1972). He then represented Kansas’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives (1996–2007).
Vendor Alert: 884 – How much of this business did you get?
IHMM has seen a 100% jump in applications and examinations over 2019, and for the first 8 months of 2021, we stand at 884. 244 new certificants and 640 more awaiting examinations. How much of this business did your company see?
If you’re missing out contact Diane McLevy at [email protected] and see how you can benefit from a relationship with IHMM and HMS.
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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.
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