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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

Women’s History Month

Fueling Innovation Through Collaboration! 🚀

This week alone, 1,580 conversations are sparking ideas, solving problems, and connecting professionals on the IHMM/HMS Collaboration Platform!

Need expert insights? Facing a tough challenge? Looking for fresh perspectives from industry leaders? This is your space to connect, share, and grow.

🔹 Tap into a powerhouse of knowledge
🔹 Engage with top professionals in your field
🔹 Turn workplace challenges into success stories—together!

At IHMM, we believe that the best solutions come from collaboration. This is where we support each other, reduce workplace stress, and create meaningful change—as a team, as a community, and as a force for excellence.

Join the conversation. Make an impact. Let’s collaborate!

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]

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IHMM Proposes Changes in Government Recognition of Credentials

1. IHMM is circulating a letter to Congressional appropriators encouraging OSHA funding for FY2025.
2. IHMM is circulating a letter with the Intersociety Forum [ISF] to communicate to the new Administration the value of the EHS communities of practice.
3. 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.
4. IHMM has filed comments on the OMB Inquiry concerning the EPA and DOL proposed regulatory measures concerning Methylene Chloride on December 13, 2024.
5. 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.
6. 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

President Trump Addresses Congress. On March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump delivered an address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Although the State of the Union–like address was short on specifics, President Trump mentioned a few issues that caught our attention at the Buzz.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and Accessibility. President Trump did not reveal any new policy initiatives in this area, but his discussion of the topic further demonstrates that the administration views this as a winning political issue. Consequently, employers—including federal contractors—should expect the administration to continue moving forward with anti-DEI policy initiatives already set in place, including an appeal of a federal court’s decision to block three components of two DEI-related executive orders.
• Gold Cards. President Trump touted this nascent policy idea that would purportedly allow foreign nationals to buy permanent residency in the United States (a “gold card”) for $5 million. Would this replace the EB-5 investor program or exist alongside it? Nobody knows because the proposed policy hasn’t been presented in written detail. This would likely take an act of Congress, too.
• No Tax on Tips or Overtime. This is an issue that both parties brought up on the campaign trail in 2024 and was reemphasized by President Trump. Legislation has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. But questions of where to draw the lines around who could take advantage of such a policy, the potential fiscal impact, and general tax fairness will have to be resolved before the bills move forward.

Court Reinstates NLRB Member Wilcox. On March 6, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the reinstatement of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox, whom President Trump fired on January 7, 2025. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) allows for the removal of Board members “upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause.” In this case, the administration did not argue that Wilcox was removed for neglect of duty or malfeasance, but instead argued that this provision acted as an unconstitutional restriction on the authority of the executive branch. Ruling that the protection from removal contained in the NLRA “is a valid exercise of congressional power,” the court stated, “The President does not have the authority to terminate members of the National Labor Relations Board at will, and his attempt to fire plaintiff from her position on the Board was a blatant violation of the law.” Accordingly, the court ordered Wilcox to be reinstated to her position on the Board. The administration will assuredly appeal. C. Thomas Davis and Zachary V. Zagger have the details.

Update on Government Funding. The federal government will shut down at midnight on March 15, 2025, if Congress does not come to an agreement on federal appropriations. Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are expected to move a continuing resolution that would extend current funding through September of this year. Of course, anything can happen with the way politics works these days. In the meantime, readers can remind themselves of what happens to labor/employment and immigration agencies in the event of a shutdown.

Bipartisan Team of Senators Seeks Government Control Over Labor Contracts. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has teamed up with Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), as well as Democratic Senators Cory Booker (NJ), Gary Peters (MI), and Jeff Merkley (OR), to introduce the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a smaller component of Senator Hawley’s larger labor reform framework. The bill would do the following:

• Require employers to begin bargaining within ten days of receiving a request to do so from the exclusive bargaining representative of its employees.
• If an employer and union could not reach an agreement on a contract after ninety days, either party would be able to request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to mediate.
• If after thirty days of FMCS-facilitated bargaining, the parties still could not come to an agreement, a three-member FMCS panel would be empowered to “render a decision settling the dispute and such decision shall be binding upon the parties for a period of 2 years, unless amended during such period by written consent of the parties.”

If this sounds a lot like the Employee Free Choice Act and the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, you’re correct, so it is no surprise that the bill is supported by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Business groups have roundly criticized the bill. The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which describes the Faster Labor Contracts Act as a “horrible bill,” states that “[a]rbitrators, many of whom know nothing about running a business or the specifics of the business in question, could impose devastating terms for the employer or workers, and there would be no means of stopping them from running a business into the ground.”

PRO Act Reintroduced. Speaking of the PRO Act, the legislation was reintroduced in Congress this week. In a blog post discussing the bill, Republicans on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce wrote, “The PRO Act is bad for workers and bad for job creators.” With Republicans in control of Congress and the White House, the bill is unlikely to gain much traction.

DOL Nominee Advances. This week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be deputy secretary of labor. Sonderling previously served as a commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and in the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division. Accordingly, many in the business community are hopeful that Sonderling will play a significant role in setting the policy agenda of the DOL.

H-1B Registration Opens. Registration for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap opened earlier today (March 7, 2025) and will close on March 24, 2025. This year will be the second go-around under the new beneficiary-centric selection process, but the first year since the registration fee increased from $10 to $215, as well as the first year under the second part of the Biden-era H-1B modernization rule, which among other changes, amended the definition of “specialty occupation.”

Let’s Stay Together. On March 4, 2025, Representative Al Green (D-TX) had to be escorted from the House chamber by the House sergeant at arms for continually interrupting President Trump’s speech to Congress. (Green later became the twenty-eighth representative to be censured in the House.) The sergeant at arms is tasked not only with maintaining decorum in the House, as he did this week, but also with ensuring the safety of members of Congress and those visiting or doing business there. The sergeant at arms is also empowered to compel absent members to the House floor for votes and is famous for announcing the arrival of the president for the State of the Union address, for example. Establishing the position was one of the first acts of the very first Congress in 1789. Since that time, thirty-nine individuals—including the current sergeant at arms, William McFarland—have served in the role. Of those thirty-nine, eight also served as representatives in the House either before or after their duty as sergeants at arms.

SCOTUS Ruling Limits EPA Authority in San Francisco Case

Significant Environmental Stories Have Dominated This Week

​Over the past week, several significant environmental developments involving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state actions have emerged:​

1. EPA Freezes ‘Green Bank’ Funds Amid Legal Dispute

The EPA, under the Trump administration, has frozen a $7 billion grant awarded to Climate United Fund, intended for financing clean energy and climate projects. The funding halt impedes the group’s capacity to provide loans and pay staff, leading to a lawsuit against the EPA and Citibank, which handled the grant funds. This freeze comes amid accusations by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin of misconduct and wasteful spending in the program. ​Associated Press+3Associated Press+3reuters.com+3

2. Long Island Water Companies Challenge EPA’s PFAS Standards

Two national utility trade groups representing Long Island water providers have filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the EPA’s restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” The new EPA standards set maximum contaminant levels at 4 parts per trillion for two common PFAS. The water providers argue that the compliance costs are too burdensome and that the EPA did not follow proper procedures in setting these standards. ​insideclimatenews.org+2New York Post+2The Guardian+2

3. California’s Wildfire Prevention Measures Raise Environmental Concerns

Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order to suspend environmental regulations, such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Coastal Act, aims to expedite wildfire prevention projects like prescribed burns and timber thinning. While intended to mitigate wildfire risks, some experts and environmentalists are concerned that this approach might weaken important environmental laws and set a precedent for bypassing environmental protections. ​sfchronicle.com

4. EPA Administrator Cancels Additional Grants to Cut Spending

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, with the assistance of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has identified and canceled 21 additional grants, amounting to over $116 million in taxpayer savings. This third round of cuts brings the total savings to more than $287 million since Zeldin’s appointment. The canceled grants were deemed misaligned with the agency’s priorities under the current administration. ​Associated Press+3Environmental Protection Agency+3Associated Press+3nhregister.com

5. EPA Implements Stricter Oversight on Large Expenditures

The EPA has issued new guidance requiring that expenditures over $50,000 receive approval from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. This move aims to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the agency but has raised concerns about potential delays and added bureaucracy. Critics argue that involving external oversight could hinder the EPA’s efficiency in addressing environmental issues. ​Associated Press

These developments reflect ongoing debates and actions concerning environmental regulations, public health, and administrative oversight at both federal and state levels.

Workplace Safety Stories This Week

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.

March ICC Compliance Bulletin

As winter fades and spring approaches, March is the perfect time to refresh your compliance knowledge. ICC is here with the latest updates to keep you informed, prepared, and ahead in the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

This Month’s Spotlights:

• Single Packaging Variations explores the limited modifications permitted for UN-rated single packaging without voiding certification. Learn how certain closure changes and size reductions can be made while ensuring compliance with strict safety regulations.
• Ways to Get Your Shipment Rejected outlines the common mistakes that can lead to the refusal of dangerous goods shipments by air. From incorrect documentation to improper labeling, ensure compliance to avoid costly delays and frustrated customers.
• OSHA Hazard Communication Standard in the Workplace ensures employees are informed about hazardous chemicals in the workplace through proper labeling, safety data sheets, training, and inventory management, helping to prevent accidents and maintain a safe work environment.
• Lithium Battery vs. Lithium Cell: What’s the Difference? explains the key distinctions between lithium cells and batteries, highlighting their structure, voltage, and regulatory classification. Understanding these differences is essential for proper transportation, compliance with hazardous materials regulations, and ensuring safe handling of lithium-powered devices.

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.

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• 3/13 – Implementing and Enhancing Bystander Reporting Programs in K-12 Schools
  Hosted by CISA
• 3/19 – Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment

Hosted by the Department of Homeland Security

A Meeting That Explores Diverse Scientific Interests

Every year, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) hosts more than 5,000 toxicologists for a five-day whirlwind of science, mentoring, networking, exhibits, and fun. Planning this yearly event is no small feat, especially when you’re trying to produce sessions that appeal to everyone from drug developers and industrial hygienists to academicians and environmental toxicologists.

To ensure that the interests of the Society’s broad membership are met each year, SOT relies heavily on its Component Groups—our Regional Chapters, Special Interest Groups, and Specialty Sections—to identify the scientific session proposals that present the strongest and most interesting science in their respective areas. These sessions are then carefully reviewed by the dedicated SOT Scientific Program Committee to determine the nearly 60 scientific sessions that are presented each year.

Read more here.

• Highlights from February BPC meeting
• New proposals to identify substances of very high concern 
• Substance evaluation decisions soon sent to registrants
• Consultations on harmonised classification and labelling
• Report available: New approach methodologies user forum kick-off workshop
• ECHA Board of Appeal to transition to new model
• Workshop to discuss results of enforcement project on safety data sheets
• Reminder: Regulatory officer and IT solution engineer
• EUON website update: new content and translations
• Appeal concerning a tonnage downgrade upheld

IHMM-HMS Professional Development