IHMM Today June 15, 2021

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 2020.

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. There are Kryterion centers available worldwide and we also offer remotely-proctored testing wherever you are.

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.

Phone: 301-984-8969 | [email protected]

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

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

IHMM Credential Recognition

Below you will see the 8 credential badges that are now in each 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.

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IHMM UPDATES

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.

Explosions Rock Illinois Chemtools Plant

An explosion at a northern Illinois chemical plant Monday morning sparked massive fires that sent flames and huge plumes of thick black smoke high into the air and debris raining onto the ground, prompting evacuations.

After 7 a.m., emergency crews rushed to the scene of the fire near Rockton, northwest of Chicago, at Chemtool Inc., a company that manufactures lubricants, grease products and other fluids, and is, according to the company, the largest manufacturer of grease in the Americas.

Rockton Fire Department Chief Kirk Wilson said about 70 employees were evacuated safely from the plant, and that one firefighter suffered a minor injury. Chemtool’s parent company, Lubrizol Corp., later said there were closer to 50 employees present when the plant was evacuated.

Illinois officials update information on Rockton Chemtool’s explosion and evacuations.

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!

IHMM Board Nominations for 2021 Open – Deadline June 30, 2021

This newsletter opens the 2021 Board Nominations season. In 2021 we have one position open, the CHMP representative, open for a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2022.

This process is guided by the IHMM Nominating Committee, chaired by Nathan Phelan > https://ihmm.org/nominating-committee/ We appreciate our Nominating Committee volunteers’ work working through the following documents and reviews before coming to a proposed slate of nominees.

This announcement is the Call for Nominations. ONLY CHMPs may participate in this year’s process as the position is for a CHMP representative on the Board. IHMM will hold this phase of the process open through June 30, 2021, when it will then close to further nominations.

The Nominating Committee will review nomination documents, interview nominees, perform a series of background checks, and then deliberate on a proposed slate of nominees through August 13, 2021. After August 31, 2021, the proposed slate will go to the IHMM Board for review at its September meeting.

The CHMP representative’s elections will begin on October 1, 2021, and run through October 29, 2021. The winning nominee will be announced during the week of November 5, 2021, for a term to commence on January 1, 2022.

To nominate a CHMP for this position, use only the

2021 IHMM Fillable Nominations Form

Thank you.

CALL TO ACTION – H.R. 2171, “Freedom To Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act.” Representative Spanberger of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District has drafted legislation that expands the provisions of existing law with respect to the allowable uses of Section 529 education tuition accounts.

PLEASE GO HERE TO PARTICIPATE: https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/

All you have to do is enter your name, address, and zip code and the IHMM VoterVoice system does the rest and automatically sends our message to your Senators and members of the House of Representatives. It’s very easy and matters!

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education costs. 529 plans, legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under H.R. 2171 those pursuing or who already have private credentials may use their Section 529 savings for applications, examinations, professional development/certification maintenance points /costs recertification, and so on.

The “Freedom To Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act” will enable those who seek professional, post-secondary credentials from institutions recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. A copy of the draft legislation is here.

Spanberger co-led the introduction of the legislation alongside U.S. Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI-06), Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01). A companion bill in the U.S. Senate is led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Braun (R-IN).

In Dangerous Goods, every month is National Safety Month.

Since June is National Safety Month, we thought it would be a good time to reiterate the most important reason Dangerous Goods professionals do what we do. Yes, it’s safety.

Why do we help shippers understand and comply with Dangerous Goods regulations? Safety.

Why do we consistently point out areas where shippers may need extra help complying with regulations? Safety.

Why do all those regulations exist in the first place? Of course, they’re ultimately about safety. It’s easy to forget that connection in the day-to-day effort of keeping the hazmat supply chain compliant, but when you get right down to it, every month is National Safety Month for Dangerous Goods professionals.

National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) Meeting Announcement

OSHA and The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) will meet on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., ET, by teleconference and WebEx. Comments and requests to speak must be submitted by June 14, 2021.

Federal Register notice > https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/04/2021-11550/national-advisory-committee-on-occupational-safety-and-health-nacosh-notice-of-meeting

Trenching and Excavation Resources

June 2021 is the National Utility Contractors Association’s (NUCA’s) second annual Trench Safety Month, and June 14-18 will be Trench Safety Stand-Down Week (poster available here). During that week, NUCA and United Rentals will be providing guided toolbox talks and conducting webinars on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We

binar registration is available at https://www.trenchsafetyevents.com/. Webinar descriptions and registration links have also been provided below for your convenience.

As a reminder, OSHA resources (including posters, QuickCards, and a video) are available from the Trenching and Excavation Safety and Health Topics page.

Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention – NIOSH Sound Level Meter App

The NIOSH Sound Level Meter (SLM) app combines the best features of professional sound levels meters and noise dosimeters into a simple, easy-to-use package. The app was developed to help workers make informed decisions about their noise environment and promote better hearing health and prevention efforts.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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!

IHMM & AHMP 45 in 5 Project – National Credential Recognition – 21 States Targeted

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! https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/

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.

The Task Force meets again in June.

IHMM NEWS RECENT UPDATES

Why Become a Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner?

Here is June Brock-Carroll of Clemson University telling why she became a CHMP and what it has meant to her career.

Where Do IHMM’s CHMPs Work?

All over the world, and here are a few examples…

IHMM is a member of the National Safety Council and is pleased to bring this important information to all of its certificants

Join NSC and our sponsor VelocityEHS – Award-winning EHS & Sustainability Software – for the 25th anniversary of National Safety Month, an annual observance to help keep each other safe from the workplace to anyplace.

With the U.S. seeing the highest number of workplace deaths since 2007 – 5,333 fatal workplace injuries in 2019 – this observance is more important than ever.

NSC Impact Tracks

The NSC Impact Tracks provide valuable educational opportunities for safety professionals looking to enhance their career, brush up on their skills and earn CEUs in the comfort of their home or office. This new virtual opportunity provides a day of topically focused education featuring five 60 minute technical sessions, lunch and stretch breaks, and an opening welcome from NSC President & CEO, Lorraine Martin. Each session will be taught by leading safety and subject experts in the field.

SAVE MY SPOT

NSC Webinars

Please join us in participating in Safe + Sound Week from August 9-15, 2021. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August to show your business’s commitment to keep workers safe year-round. Safe + Sound Week is also a time when information and ideas are shared to help get your safety and health program started or improve an existing program.

Download the Save the Date and share that you’ll be participating in Safe + Sound Week on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtAWork.

A Safety and Health Pledge for Managers

When management leadership is sincere and is supported by actions, workers know that safety and health are important to business success. A safety pledge is one way to demonstrate your commitment to workplace safety and health. Create your own safety pledge using A Safety and Health Pledge for Managers template, then share it with your workers and on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtAWork.

Spring Arrives with a Slate of Exciting
Virtual Events and Trainings

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to share information regarding a full slate of upcoming opportunities for chemical industry stakeholders to stay abreast of key regulatory developments both in the United States and internationally. We hope you will join B&C professionals, industry colleagues, and regulatory agency speakers for one or more of these events.

TSCA at Five Virtual Conference – June 30, 2021

This June marks the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the game-changing Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg) that amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). With a new Administration and the relentless pace of regulatory developments related to Lautenberg implementation, there are many issues to consider and problems to solve.

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI), the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C^®) are pleased to announce the fifth annual conference providing updates and insights regarding the current state of TSCA implementation, ongoing and emerging issues, and related developments. Topics will include how EPA is implementing Section 6 risk evaluation provisions, changes in new chemical review, existing chemical risk management provisions, and TSCA’s role in achieving environmental justice, among other topics.

As with our previous TSCA anniversary events, a stellar faculty of speakers from government, non-governmental organizations, industry, and academia will convene to inform, analyze, discuss, and debate the most pressing issues related to TSCA with regulatory practitioners and other stakeholder attendees.

Detailed program and registration information to come. SAVE THE DATE!

TSCA Tutor® On-Demand Virtual Training

Available 24/7/365
Enroll Online

B&C’s TSCA Tutor online e-training platform offers expert, efficient, essential TSCA training. Professionals seeking TSCA training can preview and enroll in on-demand classes to complete at their own pace and timing.

TSCA Tutor online training courses include:
• Video lessons.

• Detailed handout materials, including copies of all presentations and relevant course materials from EPA and other sources.

• Customizable, yet detailed and ready-to-use Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the regulatory topic covered in the session.
Interested professionals should visit www.TSCAtutor.com to view sample course segments and purchase modules. Volume discounts are available for companies wishing to purchase courses for multiple employees.

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.

ASSP Webinars

ASSP/A10 Guidance Document for Construction and Demolition Operations

This communique is on behalf of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), as Secretariat, for the ANSI/ASSP A10 Committee for Construction and Demolition Operations. ASSP takes great pleasure in presenting you with a PDF copy of our updated document “ASSP A10.0-2021: The Construction and Demolition Operations Compendium of Standards.”

Reminder: A10.0 is not a standard or technical report. It is a guidance document used by OSH Professionals to identify the applicable ANSI/ASSP A10 Standards addressing hazards and exposures in construction and demolition operations.

Scope: The A10 Construction and Demolition Compendium of Standards is a set of standards that covers a series of American National Standards addressing the protection of workers on construction and demolition sites. This guidance document identifies those specific standards and establishes their role in the Compendium and their interdependence.

IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to provide this information to all of our certificants.

HMS UPDATES

HMS Donations

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.

HMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATION PROCESS IS 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].

HMS Education and Training

Hazardous Materials Society now has 11,585 education and training programs on its website https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/ 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.

This is the center of education and training for IHMM certificants and prospective certificants. Among these more than 15.000 programs are webinars delivered online and virtually all carry IHMM CMPs values with them for your annual / 5-year CMP planning. SEE: https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/

HMS Affinity Programs – ADP

Reaching more than 127,000 people – here is where HMS leverages our numbers for member’s benefit. There is strength and value in numbers and that translates into lower costs for you.

HMS is proud to have partnered with ADP. Save on payroll, tax & HR solutions for small to mid-sized businesses from ADP. After clicking on the next link click on START SAVING. Enroll with NPP today to start saving.

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.

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 I require my employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of their employment, are adverse reactions to the vaccine recordable?

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.

State Vaccination Distribution Plans

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.

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.

A Collaborative Culture

There are 421 different conversations going on in the IHMM/HMS Collaboration platform this week. A collaborative culture is important for every business but is especially important for our hazardous materials, dangerous goods, environment, health, and safety communities of practice. IHMM credentialed professionals are at the top 1% of their professions and their reach is global. We are at the forefront of environmental protection, health, and safety and this is where collaborating with the best people in their fields, always willing to help one another, lessens the stress of our jobs, and where we strive as a team to make a difference of which we are proud.

We opened COLLABORATION to enable thousands of certificants and supporters to collaborate together. You can collaborate here> https://community.ihmm.org/home

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 Jim Drosdak at [email protected] and he’ll be happy to help you.

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

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 the first few conferences we have coming up early in 2021.

AHMP 2021 National Conference

July 25-28, 2021
Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center
Kansas City, Missouri

More information here – Registrations Open

College & University Hazardous Materials Management Conference

August 7-12, 2021

Denver, Colorado

This conference is currently planned as being entirely virtual.

ASSP Safety21 Conference & Expo

September 13-15, 2021

Austin, Texas

This is a hybrid conference of both virtual and in-person events

Global Enviro Summit

September 14-17, 2021

Charlotte, North Carolina

EnviroSummit is a global conference with international presentations in the morning on the main stage, and breakout sessions for Remediation, Vapor Intrusion, Air Quality and Wastewater in the afternoon.

The Environmental Workshops, LLC is the manager of the 2021 Global EnviroSummit. Since 2013, the EnviroWorkshops has hosted close to 400 workshops on 6 continents, in 20 countries, and in over 100 cities worldwide. Over 20,000 environmental professionals have registered around the globe and they continue to expand into new countries every year.

Annual Conference of the Federation of Environmental Technologists

December 7-9, 2021

Ingleside Hotel, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Due to schedule challenges at the hotel and safety concerns of COVID during 2021, the FET Board has made the decision to host the in-person conference in December this year. We intend to move the Environment 2022 Conference back to October.

IHMM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Beltway Buzz – Ogletree & Deakins

A Month of Action on Capitol Hill.” The American Rescue Plan Act was enacted in March 2021, and since then President Joe Biden has been looking for his next major legislative victory. Accordingly, President Biden promised that the next several weeks would be “a month of action on Capitol Hill.” Things are not off to a good start. This past weekend, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) penned an op-ed in a West Virginia newspaper explaining his opposition to voting reform legislation—a priority for the administration and congressional Democrats. (Manchin also wrote, “I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster.”) In addition, bipartisan negotiations broke down this week on the administration’s infrastructure proposal—another major legislative goal of the administration. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t see a legislative package addressing infrastructure—it could very well be ushered through Congress using reconciliation, the arcane process that was used to pass the American Rescue Plan Act. Because the infrastructure legislation has the potential to include major labor and employment items such as the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, required federal contractor union neutrality, increased enforcement measures, and the like, the Buzz will continue to monitor and provide updates on its status.

Senate Fails to Advance Paycheck Fairness Act. Part of this “month of action” in the U.S. Senate includes work on the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA) (H.R. 7), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on April 15, 2021. This week, a motion to end debate on the PFA narrowly failed by a vote of 50–49 (Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) did not vote) that essentially sounded the death knell for the bill. While the bill sounds innocuous enough, it would enact significant changes to current federal compensation discrimination law. For example, the bill would:

rewrite employers’ affirmative defenses that currently permit nondiscriminatory reasons for pay differentials, such as education, experience, expertise, or location;
allow plaintiffs to recover compensatory and unlimited punitive damages;
make it easier for plaintiffs to bring and maintain class actions;
require employers to submit employee compensation data to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP); and
prohibit employers from asking about or using job applicants’ wage histories.

OSHA Issues ETS and Guidance. More than four months after President Biden’s executive order that essentially instructed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address COVID-19 in the workplace, OSHA finally complied. Sort of. Despite increasing vaccination rates (nearly 64 percent of adults in the United States have received at least one vaccination dose), on June 10, 2021, OSHA issued an ETS applicable to healthcare settings (hospitals, nursing homes, emergency responders, etc.) and updated its guidance applicable to general industry. The ETS is effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register (we don’t know when that will happen just yet), and employers will have 14 days to comply with most of the provisions. Dean F. Kelley and John F. Martin have the details.

Immigration Agency Moves to Streamline Processes. Looking to rebuild itself, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this week that it would make changes to its policy manual to ease processing backlogs and help streamline immigration protocols. More specifically, USCIS will do the following:

Expedite processing. USCIS has amended its criteria for determining when a case should be considered for expedited treatment, including criteria for nonprofit organizations “whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States.”
Rescind the RFE/NOID memo. USCIS will return to a 2013 policy on requests for evidence (RFE) and notices of intent to deny (NOID) that instructs adjudicators not to immediately deny petitions and applications “when additional evidence could potentially demonstrate eligibility for an immigration benefit.” The change rescinds a 2018 USCIS memo that had permitted denials without allowing petitioners or applicants to correct mistakes or provide additional helpful information.
Extend the EAD validity period. USCIS has extended work authorization from one year to two years for applicants waiting for decisions on their adjustment-of-status applications.

NLRB Rules on Solicitation of Mail Ballots. This week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) addressed a situation dealing with the integrity of mail-ballot voting for union representation elections. The Board ruled that neither party in a mail-ballot union election—a process that has predominated relative to manual-election methods during the COVID-19 pandemic—may offer to handle or collect a voter’s ballot, “but such solicitation will be a basis for setting aside the election only where the evidence shows that a determinative number of voters were affected.” The Board reasoned in part that “solicitation of mail ballots casts doubt on the integrity of the election and the secrecy of employees’ ballots.”

Vendor Alert: How much of this business did you get?

IHMM saw an increase in applications of more than 50% in 2020, and for the first 1/3rd of 2021 now has 393 people waiting to take exams. 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.

IHMM EVENTS CALENDAR

IHMM HAS A COMPANION ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED AND DELIVERED. THE CALENDAR IN THIS SPACE IS FROM THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SOCIETY WEBSITE AND THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTION FOUND HERE: https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/

Date	Event	Event Producer	Location

Daily	CE 1102- Industrial Hygiene for Safety Professionals (online)	Columbia Southern University	Online
Daily	CE 1105: Maritime Hazardous Materials Inventory	Columbia Southern University	Online
Daily	CE 1106: Coronavirus Facts: Understanding the Coronavirus	Columbia Southern University	Online
Daily	CE 1107: Coronavirus Prevention & Control: Strategies for Employees	Columbia Southern University	Online
Daily	CE 1108: Coronavirus Prevention: Strategies for Managers	Columbia Southern University	Online
Daily	CE 1109: Coronavirus Prevention & Control: Train the Trainer	Columbia Southern University	Online
Daily	Hazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness Online Training Course	CHEMTREC	Online
Daily	49 CFR Ground Shipper	Lion	Online
Daily	IATA Dangerous Goods Training for Operations Personnel	DGI	Online
Daily	Shipping Fully Regulated and Excepted Lithium Batteries and Cells Online Training	Chemtrec	Online
Daily	Healthy Buildings Amid COVID-19	Golder Associates	Online
Daily	Air Transport of Radioactive Materials (IATA/DOT) Online Training	Energy Solutions	Online
Daily	DOT/NRC Radioactive Waste Packaging, Transportation and Disposal Online Training	Energy Solutions	Online
Daily	GET THE DIRT ON EXCESS SOIL Navigating Ontario’s Finalized Regulations	Golder Associates	Online
Daily	DOT NON-Bulk Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Online IATA Dangerous Goods Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Webinar IATA Dangerous Goods Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Webinar DOT Bulk Tank Truck Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Onsite DOT Bulk Tank Truck Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Online DOT Bulk Railcar Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Hazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness Online Training Course	CHEMTREC	Online
Daily	OSHA 30 Construction (Online)	ClickSafety	Online
Daily	HAZWOPER 2020 Refresher (Online)	ClickSafety	Online
Daily	HAZWOPER 40-Hour All Industries (Online)	ClickSafety	Online
Daily	HAZWOPER 24-Hour All Industries (Online)	ClickSafety	Online
Daily	Hazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness Online Training Course	Chemtrec	Online
Daily	IATA Dangerous Goods Online Training for Operations	Chemtrec	Online
Daily	8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher Course	Hazmat School	Online
Daily	DOT Hazmat Employee with Packaging Course	Hazmat School	Online
Daily	RCRA Hazardous Waste Generator Online Training Course	Hazmat School	Online
Daily	OSHA Asbestos Awareness Training	Hazmat School	Online
Daily	49 CFR Training	Chemtrec	Online
Daily	ASP^®-CSP^® Online Review	Bowen	Online
Daily	IATA Dangerous Goods Online Training for Operations Personnel	Chemtrec	Online
Daily	CHMM Online Review	Bowen	Online
Daily	COVID 19: Sampling Approaches for Healthy Buildings – Virtual Live Panel	Golder Associates	Online
Daily	Onsite Lithium Battery Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Onsite ADR Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Webinar ADR Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	Webinar TDG Training	Compliance Associates	Online
Daily	OSHA Confined Space Operations Training	Hazmat School	Online
Daily	Emergency Management, Laser Safety Fundamentals	Bowen EHS	Online
Daily	49CFR/IATA/IMDG INITIAL WEBINAR	DGI	Online
Daily	CSHM Exam Prep Course	Vubiz	Online
June 15, 2021	DOT Hazardous Materials Training	PTP	Online
June 15-17, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Ray Davis	McMinnville, TN
June 17, 2021	IATA Transportation of Dangerous Goods By Air – Online with Instructor	PTP	Online
June 17, 2021	Legionnaires Disease – Implications for the Industrial Hygienist	Bowen	Online
June 18, 2021	IMO / IMDG Training	PTP	Online
June 21-23, 2021	24 Hour HAZMAT Technician Training	PTP	Swedesboro, NJ
June 22-24, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Ray Davis	St. Louis, MO
June 23, 2021	8 Hour OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher Training	PTP	Swedesboro, NJ
June 21-24, 2021	40 Hour OSHA HAZWOPER Training	PTP	Swedesboro, NJ
July 12-14, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Ray Davis	St. Louis, MO
July 20-22, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Ray Davis	Columbia, TN
July 22, 2021	Webinar: Root Cause Analysis Simplified	Bowen	Online
July 26-27, 2021	CHMM Certification Review Class – Online with Instructor	PTP	Online
July 27-29, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Joseph D. Angelone	Newark, NJ
August 3-5, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Ray Davis	Bethlehem, PA
August 10-12, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Ray Davis	Hickory, NC
August 17-19, 2021	PHMSA HMIT Grant DOT Hazmat Basic Awareness Training	HMS	Rockville, MD
August 24-26, 2021	PHMSA HMIT Grant DOT Hazmat Advanced Awareness Training	HMS	Rockville, MD
September 8-10, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Workshop	Ray Davis	Eastlake, OH
Sept 14-16, 2021	PHMSA HMIT Grant DOT Hazmat Advanced Awareness Training	HMS	Rockville, MD
Sept 21-23, 2021	PHMSA HMIT Grant DOT Hazmat Basic Awareness Training	HMS	Rockville, MD
September 28-30, 2021	DOT PHMSA HMIT Basic Awareness Training	Ray Davis	Littleton, MA

9210 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 470, Rockville, Maryland, 20850
www.ihmm.org | [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 Fax:301-984-1516