Happy Memorial Day
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2021 will occur on Monday, May 31. While many of us celebrate next Monday as the unofficial start of summer, I will always remember it as the day my grandmother took me to my Uncle Howie’s grave to place flowers and an American flag. Uncle Howie died in combat in Korea in 1952 at the age of 19. While I never knew him, on this day I remember him and those who died fighting for freedom.
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Tuesday, May 25, 2021
IHMM Today is an online publication of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
Other than content specifically provided by IHMM, articles contained in IHMM Today are compiled from independent sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of IHMM.
IHMM 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.
Let us know what you think of this resource. See: http://hazmat.globalincidentmap.com/home.php
CDC – When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
CDC – When You’ve Been Fully VaccinatedIf you are fully vaccinated against #COVID19, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, incl. local business and workplace guidance.
Read More > https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
IHMM Board Nominations for 2021 Open
IHMM Board Nominations for 2021 OpenThis 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.
- 2021 IHMM Nominations and Elections Process
- 2021 IHMM Call for Nominations
- 2021 IHMM Fillable Nominations Form
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
Thank you.
CALL TO ACTION – Representative Spanberger of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District has drafted legislation entitled, H.R. 2171, “Freedom To Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act.” This legislation 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 costsrecertification, 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).
Employers Confused About Workplace Guidance, Employees, and COVID?
Employers Confused About Workplace Guidance, Employees, and COVID?OSHA Tells Employers to Follow CDC Mask Guidance
In a sign that the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact is waning and vaccines are having an impact on the spread of the virus, on May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that fully vaccinated people may resume their pre-COVID-19 pandemic activities without wearing a mask, except where required by, among other things, federal or state law and local business and workplace guidance and rules.
Though welcome news for many, the CDC’s announcement left employers wondering whether they still needed to, or should, require fully vaccinated employees to wear face coverings consistent with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Jan. 29, 2021, COVID-19 non-mandatory guidance, titled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.”
On May 17, OSHA answered the question: “No.” On its website, the workplace safety agency instructed employers to follow the CDC’s recent mask guidance for employees who are fully vaccinated. OSHA’s announcement, however, does not apply to activities in the health care industry (see CDC announcement for some additional exceptions). OSHA plans to update its non-mandatory COVID-19 safety and health guidance based on the CDC’s new mask guidance.
Although OSHA has given employers the “green light” to permit fully vaccinated employees to stop wearing face coverings in the workplace, employers must still adhere to state and local mask mandates. To date, not all states and localities have withdrawn their mask mandates; some states, like California, Virginia, Michigan, and Oregon, have workplace safety regulations related to COVID-19 that specifically require employees to wear face coverings in the workplace without regard to whether an employee is fully vaccinated. As such, employers should review state and local mandates and regulations when considering whether to roll back their employee face-covering requirement.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
IHMM’s offices in Rockville, Maryland is a prime example of the complexity of making these decisions as employers. While the May 13th CDC guidance allowed for fully vaccinated employees to not wear masks in the workplace except where federal or state law or business or local regulation required it – OSHA updated its guidance to defer to the CDC on May 17th. The State of Maryland guidance now follows the CDC. Montgomery County, Maryland, however, requires businesses to follow CDC guidance – or – the Montgomery County Department of Health, whichever is more strict. https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html.
US Department announces OSHA rule proposal to clarify handrail, stair rail system requirements in general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standard
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing updates in the handrail and stair rail system requirements for its general industry, Walking-Working Surfaces standard.
OSHA published a final rule on walking-working surfaces and personal protective equipment in November 2016 that updated requirements for slip, trip and fall hazards. The agency has received numerous questions asking when handrails are required, and about the height requirements for handrails on stairs and stair rail systems.
This proposed rule does not reopen for discussion any of the regulatory decisions made in the 2016 rulemaking. It focuses solely on clarifying some of the requirements for handrails and stair rail systems finalized in 2016, and on providing flexibility in the transition to OSHA’s newer requirements.
Follow the online instructions at the Federal eRulemaking portal to submit comments. Submit comments by July 19. For more information, read the Federal Register notice.
Learn more about OSHA’s General Industry Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection standards.
OSHA Occupational Chemical Database
This chemical inventory is OSHA’s premier one-stop-shop for occupational chemical information. It compiles information from several government agencies and organizations. The information available on the pages includes:
Chemical identification and physical properties
Exposure limits
Sampling information, and
Additional resources.
SEE: https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/index.html
OSHA Standards and Exposure Limits
Employers must comply with a number of standards where employees are potentially exposed to chemical hazards. These include OSHA’s Permissible Exposure Limits PELs for about 400 substances, which can be found as follows:
Air contaminants and Z1, Z2, Z3 tables
29 CFR 1910.1001 – 29 CFR 1910.1018
29 CFR 1910.1025- 29 CFR 1910.1053General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
29 CFR 1926.1101 – 29 CFR 1926.1153Construction: 29 CFR 1926.1101, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
Substance-specific standards
OSHA’s PELs are included in the “Exposure Limits” table for individual chemicals in the database. In addition, OSHA has separate substance-specific standards, which can be found in the “Notes” section of the “Exposure Limits” table.
Other OSHA standards that generally apply to hazardous substances include the Hazard Communication standard (1910.1200) and the Respiratory Protection standard (1910.134). Employers may also need to provide personal protective clothing (1910.132) where there is a potential hazard from skin contact with chemicals, or eye and face protection to guard against chemical splashes (1910.133).
Welcome CITI Program to IHMM and HMS
Welcome CITI Program to IHMM and HMSToday we welcome CITI Program to IHMM and HMS. The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) is dedicated to serving the training needs of colleges and universities, healthcare institutions, technology and research organizations, and governmental agencies, as they foster integrity and professional advancement of their learners. Organizations around the world, including the top 25 in the U.S. News and World Report 2020 Best College Rankings and all of the academic medical centers in the U.S., rely on CITI Program for their research, ethics, compliance, and professional development education needs. In addition, the U.S. military, government agencies, cutting edge technology companies, and many of the most prestigious companies involved in research today use our training program.
See>> https://about.citiprogram.org/en/homepage/
Welcome!
The IHMM Professional Standards Committee, chaired by Dan Blankfeld, CSHM, meets on May 25th to continue its discussions of ethics training as requested by the IHMM Board. https://ihmm.org/professional-standards-committee/
The IHMM Microcredentials Task Force, chaired by Dan Blankfeld, CSHM, meets again in mid-June to continue its work crafting a proposal to the IHMM Board concerning Pandemic Preparedness and Pandemic Response microcredentials. https://ihmm.org/microcredential-task-force/
The IHMM Professional Sustainability Credential Task Force, chaired by Mark Bruce, CHMM, CSHM, continues its meetings to determine if the group can fashion a recommendation to the IHMM Board concerning a sustainability credential. https://ihmm.org/ihmm-sustainability-task-force/
The IHMM-AHMP 45 in 5 Task Force meets again on May 25th to continue its efforts to achieve state and federal government recognition of IHMM credentials across the US and Puerto Rico.
Welcome to the 1,956 members of the HMS Academia Community in Collaboration!
Welcome to the 226 members of the HMS Government Employees Community in Collaboration!
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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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!
New Course Available on OFCCP’s Contractor Compliance Institute
New Course Available on OFCCP’s Contractor Compliance InstituteOFCCP has released a new course in the Contractor Compliance Institute for federal contractors and subcontractors (“contractors”). The new course, titled Compliance Evaluations, will help supply and service contractors better understand OFCCP’s compliance evaluation processes and procedures.
Some of the key items examined in this new course are:
- The types of compliance evaluations OFCCP is authorized to conduct
- OFCCP’s procedures for each of the four types of compliance evaluations:
- Compliance Checks
- Compliance Reviews
- Focused Reviews
- Off-Site Review of Records
OFCCP is committed to providing meaningful compliance assistance to contractors to ensure they know how to comply with their equal employment opportunity obligations. Find additional compliance assistance resources on OFCCP’s website.
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/
- Washington state AHMP chapter is about to file its material seeking recognition of the CHMM with the state and that can serve as a template for other states – MTCA regulatory update in your library.
- We need everyone to engage their federal House and Senate Members on HR 2171, here > https://ihmm.org/45-in-5-task-force/
- Every IHMM credential page now has a section on “Who Hires…” and you can see the CHMM version here > https://ihmm.org/chmm/ The federal and state agencies that recognize our credentials is extraordinary ranging from EPA to NASA and private sector companies from Abbvie to Texas Instruments. This is a great foundation on which to build formal govt recognition
- When Oracle in Karnataka, India needs an Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Oracle looks for an IHMM CSHM.
- Explore with Erik Vega in Puerto Rico on the approach to agencies there.
- The CSHM and CSMP will have new blueprints by the 4th q of this year, so our efforts on behalf of both should wait until that project is completed.
- Any other areas where we need attention?
- We can launch on the regulatory update of https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/312.10 40 CFR 312.10 this summer
- We can launch on the regulatory update of SBA guidance to lenders for Phase I and II assessments this summer, anything else from the last meeting on this topic? Environmental Phase I Assessment Reports in your library
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 on May 25th.
This is why the IHMM-AHMP 45 in 5 Project is Important to You. IHMM credentials are known and respected worldwide. Here are a few examples…
When Amazon in Luxembourg looks for a Senior Health & Safety Change Manager, Amazon looks for an IHMM CHMM
When Flex in Guadalajara, Mexico looks for a Manager of Global EHS Programs, Flex looks for an IHMM CHMM
When Thermo Fisher Scientific looks for an EHS Senior Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific looks for an IHMM CHMM
IHMM NEWS RECENT UPDATES
Meeting Notice on Preparations for the 40th Session of the UNSCEGHS
OSHA issues a notice of informal hearing to discuss updates to the agency’s Hazard Communication Standard
Clean Water Act Methods Update Rule for the Analysis of Effluent
Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Establishing the Allowance Allocation and Trading Program Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act
Rescinding the Rule on Increasing Consistency and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process
Canada Undertakes Updates to Environmental Laws
Treasury Unveils Plan to Close the Tax Gap
Arizona and Many Other States Begin Legislative Process to Protect Employees Against Discrimination Based on COVID-19 Vaccine Choices
EP Announces Funding For Projects Focused On The Transition To A Sustainable, Climate-Neutral, And Circular European Economy
Hazcom training
SAM and hazardous energy
OSHA Investigation of Fatal Incident Leads to Citations and Penalties of Three California Contractors
PHMSA Terminates Stay of Enforcement and Notice of Enforcement Discretion Related to COVID-19
California Expands Review Of PFOS, PFOA To Include Cancer Risk
Wearables in the Workplace: What You Need to Know
State and Operator Variations … Is It Worth The Read?
Dangerous Goods – By Drone?
Granholm Stumps for Nuclear Power; DOE Eyes Waste Management R&D for Advanced Reactors
Is recycling a waste? Here’s the answer from a plastics expert before you ditch the effort
Two years after disastrous chemical fire, Texas close to creating new safety rules for industry
Tanker Truck Owner Lied After Serious Explosion to Avoid Responsibility
A guide to the four levels of Hazardous Materials (HazMat) response
Elite, lean hazmat team tackles toughest cases
Governments Rely Upon IHMM Certificants.
Governments Rely Upon IHMM Certificants. Here are a few examples of where our CHMMs, CHMPs, CDGPs, CSHMs, CSMPs, and ASHMs work…
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.
Week 1 – Prevent Incidents Before They Start
Week 2 – Address Ongoing COVID-19 Safety Concerns
Week 3 – It’s Vital to Feel Safe on the Job
Week 4 – Advance Your Safety Journey
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. |
Economic Benefits of the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program
OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services for small and medium-sized business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. When employers use consultation services, the employers and their workers experience benefits that include lower injury and illness rates, improved morale, and economic benefits.
In fact, the On-Site Consultation Program generates national economic benefits of approximately $1.3 billion per year.
The table below breaks down the program’s economic benefits.
National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction
The 8th annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction is scheduled for May 3-7, 2021. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries. OSHA encourages construction employers and other stakeholders to join the event to raise awareness and provide training to address one of the industry’s most serious dangers. Use #StandDown4Safety to promote the event on social media, and to share feedback after the events. Visit the National Safety Stand-Down webpage for more information.
Registration opens in July and will be announced via IHMM Today and EHS Professional.
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.
The informal comment period opened May 12th and closes May 28th on ISO 45006-201X (proposed and in draft]
Balloting opened on Approval of ISO FDIS 45003 as an American National Standard
Balloting opened on Approval of ANSI NWIP ballot form for Proposed ISO 45006.docx
Safety News You Need: Research and Technology
Planning for a Safe Return to the Workplace
Reports and Regulations
Protecting the Public From Construction Hazards
ASSP Webinars
IHMM is a member of ASSP and is pleased to provide this information to all of our certificants.
HMS UPDATES
HMS Donations
HMS 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 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 – Professional Liability Insurance
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 RCM&D to be able to offer an outstanding comprehensive professional liability insurance program to IHMM certificants. Here, you will find information about this important program offering Environmental Consultants and Engineers Professional Liability coverage. This coverage is intended to add protection for loss stemming from actual or alleged negligent acts, errors, and omissions in performing professional services.
IHMM/HMS Coronavirus Resources
IHMM/HMS Coronavirus ResourcesIn 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 – May 21, 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.
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.
IHMM/HMS Coronavirus Resources
How Can First Responders Manage Sleep And Stress?
Even as COVID-19 cases drop and restrictions lift, the pandemic still continues to pressure those on the front lines, particularly our first responders. We want to share MySlumberYard’s guide on How Can First Responders Manage Sleep And Stress? here:
https://myslumberyard.com/blog/how-can-first-responders-manage-sleep-and-stress/
In an effort to support first responders, particularly those struggling with burnout due to the coronavirus, our team made a point of including:
- Testimonials from three first responders and their recommendations on how to manage sleep and cope with burnout.
- A review of burnout causes and how they can impact stress and physical health.
- Sleep disorders are most common among first responders and how responders can stay resilient.
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 406 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
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
IHMM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Beltway Buzz – Ogletree & Deakins
The Biden Administration at 100 Days. President Joe Biden recently marked his 100th day in office, and labor and employment policy changes have been at the forefront of his administration’s agenda. The enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act, passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R. 842) in the U.S. House of Representatives, rescission of the independent contractor rule by the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) development of a COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (currently in flux) are just a few examples of the policy changes that have already occurred or been undertaken. We have some brief rundowns of the most significant labor and employment actions of the last 100 days, both in Congress and at the federal agencies.
OSHA, CDC, and Masks. A top employment law priority for the administration—the promulgation of an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address COVID-19 workplace safety concerns—continues to be the subject of debate in Washington, D.C. First, in a process that we discussed last week (see “ETS AWOL?”), officials in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) continue to meet with stakeholders on the matter. As of this writing, OIRA has extended the period for those meetings until at least May 24, 2021. Second, last week’s announcement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) easing mask-wearing recommendations for vaccinated individuals has many wondering how OSHA will respond, and whether the draft ETS may have to be amended as a result of the CDC’s guidance. In the meantime, OSHA is instructing employers to “refer to the CDC guidance for information on measures appropriate to protect fully vaccinated workers.”
More Workplace Safety News. Of course, workplace safety goes beyond COVID-19 protections. In other OSHA news, the workplace safety agency issued a notice of proposed rulemaking proposing to update the handrail and stair rail provisions of its 2016 final rule on walking-working surfaces and personal protective equipment. The proposed changes are intended to remove confusion (partly due to typos and formatting goofs) as to “when handrails are required on stairs as well as what the height requirements are for handrails on stairs and for stair rail systems, depending on date of installation.” Comments are due by July 19, 2021.
Senate Rescinds EEOC Conciliation Rule. On May 19, 2021, the U.S. Senate voted 50–48 to rescind the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) conciliation rule pursuant to the Congressional Review Act. The rule, which was finalized on January 14, 2021, and went into effect on February 16, 2021, requires the EEOC to provide employers with more information during the statutorily required conciliation process, such as notifying employers of the legal basis for reasonable cause findings. Having passed the Senate, the resolution of disapproval now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass. President Biden is expected to sign the resolution rescinding the rule.
Paid Leave Debate Heats Up. On May 18, 2021, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing on paid leave (both family/medical and sick leave). The hearing was not the first, nor will it be the last, on the matter, but it was further indication of the political momentum that continues to build for some form of a national paid leave program. The COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout have brought a renewed focus to the issue of unpaid time off work, and President Biden has called for the creation of a comprehensive paid leave program in his American Families Plan. Additionally, the growing patchwork of state and local paid leave laws has at least some members of the business community itching for a uniform, national framework (depending on the details, of course). In addition to paying close attention to the American Families Plan, the Buzz is monitoring the progress of the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (S. 248) (which would provide partial paid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act funded by employer and employee payroll taxes) and the Healthy Families Act (S. 1195) (which would require employers to provide employees with up to seven paid sick days per year).
More States Discontinue Emergency UI Programs. Alaska, Indiana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia, have joined 15 other states in withdrawing from participation in federally funded emergency unemployment insurance (UI) programs established by the CARES Act.
Trump-Era EEOC Rule Overturned By The Senate
Trump-Era EEOC Rule Overturned By The SenateThe U.S. Senate voted 50-48 to repeal the Trump Administration’s rule requiring the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to turn over information about discrimination complaints to employers when initiating a dispute resolution process called conciliation. The Senate voted to repeal the rule under the Congressional Review Act, which grants Congress the power to overturn agency rules filed by past administrations. Opponents of the rule, including Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), argued that the rule gives too much power to employers by disclosing identifying information of victims. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) expressed disappointment in the resolution to overturn the rule, saying the rule “increased transparency and decreased the odds of expensive lawsuits.”
PHMSA – Hazardous Materials: Notice of Public Meetings in 2021 for International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
PHMSA – Hazardous Materials: Notice of Public Meetings in 2021 for International Standards on the Transport of Dangerous GoodsSUMMARY: The notice announces that PHMSA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety will host four public meetings during 2021 in advance of certain international meetings.
- The first meeting will be held in preparation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) Working Group 21 (WG/21) virtual meeting scheduled for May 24– 28, 2021.
- The second meeting will be held in preparation of the 58th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) scheduled for June 28 to July 2, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland.
- The third meeting will be held in preparation of the ICAO DGP 28 Meeting (DGP/28) scheduled for September 27 to October 1, 2021.
- The fourth meeting will be held in preparation of the 59th session of the UNSCOE TDG scheduled for November 29 to December 8, 2021. For each of these meetings, PHMSA will solicit public input on current proposals.
Public notices will be published in the Federal Register prior to the public meetings conducted by the International Standards Group.
PHMSA International Program Overview
Federal Register Notice > https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-04-02/pdf/2021-06871.pdf
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 NOW HAS A COMPANION ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED AND DELIVERED. THE CALENDAR IN THIS SPACE FROM THE IHMM WEBSITE IS BEING REPLACED BY THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SOCIETY WEBSITE AND THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTION FOUND HERE: https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
9210 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 470, Rockville, Maryland, 20850
www.ihmm.org | [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 Fax:301-984-1516