Proud to Stand With Our Military
You’ve learned some special skills while serving our country. As you consider your options after the service, now is the time to consider a private certification that respects your skills and sends a strong signal to private sector employers about the skills you have and how those skills translate into civilian life.IHMM participates in the military service branch’s Credential Online [COOL] program to help you. Check these DoD sites for your branch and how we can work with you to make the very most of your transition to civilian life. Visit these sites for more information that benefits You. You earned it.
If you require any assistance from IHMM please contact James E. Drosdak [USAF] at [email protected]
Phone: 301-984-8969 | [email protected]
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
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.
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IHMM UPDATES
CHMM Recertification Committee – Call for Volunteers
IHMM’s CHMM Recertification Committee has an immediate vacancy for membership. The CHMM Recertification Committee plays a critical role in maintaining and strengthening the integrity of the CHMM credential by enacting new policies and reviewing and updating existing policies pertaining to all aspects of the recertification process. This includes evaluating new and existing recertification claim types, standards for audits of recertification applications, and other policy considerations relevant to the recertification process.
- More information on the IHMM CHMM Recertification Committee is here
- Applicants are considered in the order in which they are received
Committee membership is awarded in 2-year increments. It requires that members attend virtual meetings, participate in teleconferences, and carefully review IHMM staff Requests for Evaluation (RFEs). The reward is recognition for your contribution to the continued vitality of the Institute and 10 certification maintenance points (CMPs) per year toward your recertification for your participation.
If you are interested, please send your resume and a cover letter to Jimmy Nguyen, Certification Coordinator – Maintenance, at [email protected]. Please put CHMM Recertification Committee in the subject line.
The application deadline for this opportunity is Friday, October 30th.
Please contact Jimmy Nguyen, CHMM Recertification Committee Staff Liaison, at [email protected] if you have any questions.
IHMM Survey
IHMM presents this brief, four-question survey for you to fill out. This survey collects information on our services to certificants, so your feedback is important to serve you better.
Please go to this link >> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IHMMSeptember
Thank you!
College & University Hazardous Materials Management Conference | October 6-30, 2020
College & University Hazardous Materials Management Conference | October 6-30, 2020The College and University Hazardous Materials Management Conference is the premier conference for College and University hazardous materials professionals. It provides an opportunity to network and share best practices on topics such as hazardous waste management, laboratory safety, emergency response, hazardous materials shipping, training techniques, and environmental management. The conference is held in a different location every year and is hosted by a member College or University. The annual conference includes pre and post-conference professional development courses, facility tours, technical sessions, pre-conference recreational activities, and conference networking events.
IHMM is a part of CUHMMC and its more than 175 colleges and universities around the nation that have a strong focus on hazardous materials curricula. The partnership between IHMM and CUHMMC will be important when IHMM’s Student CHMM pilot program is reviewed for expansion in March of 2021.
Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech
Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speechAbstract
Mandates for mask use in public during the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, worsened by global shortage of commercial supplies, have led to the widespread use of homemade masks and mask alternatives. It is assumed that wearing such masks reduces the likelihood for an infected person to spread the disease, but many of these mask designs have not been tested in practice. We have demonstrated a simple optical measurement method to evaluate the efficacy of masks to reduce the transmission of respiratory droplets during regular speech. In proof-of-principle studies, we compared a variety of commonly available mask types and observed that some mask types approach the performance of standard surgical masks, while some mask alternatives, such as neck gaiters or bandanas, offer very little protection. Our measurement setup is inexpensive and can be built and operated by nonexperts, allowing for rapid evaluation of mask performance during speech, sneezing, or coughing.
Read more >> https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/36/eabd3083
Reprinted with permission from “Science Advances,” Martin Fischer, PhD., Laura Remis, Warren S. Warren
How COVID-19 Spreads – Updated October 5, 2020
COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person to person, including between people who are physically near each other (within about 6 feet). People who are infected but do not show symptoms can also spread the virus to others. We are still learning about how the virus spreads and the severity of illness it causes.
COVID-19 spreads very easily from person to person
How easily a virus spreads from person to person can vary. The virus that causes COVID-19 appears to spread more efficiently than influenza but not as efficiently as measles, which is among the most contagious viruses known to affect people.
Read more >> https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html
Temporary Enforcement Guidance – Tight-Fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Used During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released this Tight-Fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Used During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Memorandum, which provides temporary enforcement guidance for enforcing initial and annual fit-testing requirements of the Respiratory Protection standard, Section 1910.134 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It applies to tight fitting PAPRs, approved by NIOSH, when used for protection against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, by healthcare personnel or any other workers in high or very high exposure risk activities because of supply shortages of both disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators and fit-testing supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Creating Micro-Credentials at IHMM
Creating Micro-Credentials at IHMMThe IHMM Board of Directors has established a Micro-Credential Task Force. This Task Force will explore opportunities to create and execute micro-credentials or endorsements to our fully accredited credentials. These endorsements or micro-credentials may be in specific areas such as environmental law or pandemics. That is for the Task Force to develop and recommend. 60% of IHMM credential holders are interested in this area, so now we begin to build a Task Force to make the idea real. You may volunteer here by providing your name, email, phone, and credential type.
IHMM credential holders are eligible to serve and IHMM will consider applications made here in the order in which they are received.
IHMM Credential Recertification – Earning CMPs Made Easy and Inexpensive
Last week we have several certificants ask about providing RCRA training courses.
By creating the Hazardous Materials Society, IHMM has made it easier to find courses certificants can take to earn CMPs toward recertification. We’ve also worked with education and training program vendors to add inexpensive or even free courses as well.
Go here >> https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/
Scroll down to the search bar…and see this…
Certificants may type RCRA in the Search box, then click FIND TRAINING. Up will pop a number of programs offered that deal with RCRA.
Taking courses is not the only way certificants may earn CMPs toward recertification. For more information about all of the ways you may earn CMPs simply go here and read the Recertification Claims Handbook.
Become an IHMM Mentor
Become an IHMM MentorIHMM’s Collaboration platform provides CHMM’s the opportunity to become mentors to Student CHMMs. IHMM’s Student CHMM pilot program involves students from Columbia Southern University, where we already have 50 applicants, as well as Kennesaw State University that is kicking off their participation in the pilot program this fall.
Mentors may decide how many mentees they are willing to work with, for how long, and how they wish to be engaged. Mentors decide how many hours per week or month they can commit to becoming mentors.
This is a unique opportunity for CHMMs to work with students still in school and advise them on their courses of study as well as plan for their future as they graduate and look for opportunities in the job market toward a path to one day becoming a CHMM themselves.
Signing us is easy. As an IHMM CHMM, you are already allowed to go to the CHMM Community in Collaboration. https://community.ihmm.org/home
Once in the CHMM Community look for the Mentor Match part of the toolbar, click on it and see the drop-down menu. Read the simple instructions, then click on Enroll as a Mentor. Student CHMMs have the same menu in their Student CHMM Community where they enroll as a mentee. Students select the areas of mentoring they are looking for and when matched with the CHMM’s areas of expertise – the match is made!
CSU and KSU are both promoting the IHMM Student CHMM pilot program to their students. Once we have more experience in running this pilot as well as with the exam the students take, we will be able to go back to the IHMM Board next March and discuss how we expand the Student CHMM program to colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and elsewhere around the world.
A Collaborative Culture
There are 239 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.
In October HMS added the following new communities:
- HMS Academia Community
- HMS Consultants Community
- HMS Government Employees Community
- HMS International Members Community
- HMS Senior Members Community
- HMS Student Members Community
- HMS Women Member Community
- HMS Youth Member Community
We opened COLLABORATION to enable thousands of certificants and supporters to collaborate together. You can collaborate here> https://community.ihmm.org/home
IHMM is pleased to announce that we now have 54 Student CHMM applicants! Last week we added Mark Alan Gregory as IHMM’s newest Student CHMM with congratulations on passing his exam.
The IHMM CSHM Scheme Committee, chaired by Steven Guillory, is making great progress toward establishing a new blueprint for the credential, expected to be announced in the 1st quarter of 2021. For the first time, the CSHM will have its own job task analysis, blueprint, and item bank for examinations. All of this leads to IHMM being able to apply for accreditation by the American National Standards Institute [ANSI], later in 2021. These actions further enable IHMM to take steps to grow the credential as well as promote it nationally. IHMM Staff presented a transition plan for CSHM recertification to the IHMM Board last month and hopes to share elements of that plan with certificants soon. IHMM makes recertification relatively inexpensive and simple so transitioning from the former system you were used to to the new IHMM system will be easy and straightforward.
The IHMM CSMP Scheme Committee, chaired by Kirk Rains, is making great progress toward establishing a new blueprint for the credential, expected to be announced in the 1st quarter of 2021. For the first time, the CSMP will have its own job task analysis, blueprint, and item bank for examinations. All of this leads to IHMM being able to apply for accreditation by the American National Standards Institute [ANSI], later in 2021. These actions further enable IHMM to take steps to grow the credential as well as promote it nationally. IHMM Staff presented a transition plan for CSMP recertification to the IHMM Board last month and hopes to share elements of that plan with certificants soon. IHMM makes recertification relatively inexpensive and simple so transitioning from the former system you were used to to the new IHMM system will be easy and straightforward.
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.
HMS Education and Training
Hazardous Materials Society now has 14,414 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 14.000 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/
PHMSA Training
PHMSA TrainingPHMSA offers Hazmat transportation training workshops and webinars throughout the year. These free training opportunities are for anyone who offers or transports hazardous materials in commerce or has a desire to learn more about DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).
PHMSA conducts webinars specialized to meet the needs of industry or the public safety community. Transportation webinars provide a basic overview of the regulatory requirements – what they are, how they apply, and how to comply with them – for shipping and transporting Hazardous Materials.
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.
HMS Affinity Programs – Home / Renters / Auto Insurance
With more than 27,000 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.
Start saving money today on your auto and home insurance! HMS has joined with NFP’s InsurChoice as a one-of-a-kind auto & home insurance program that offers multiple insurance discounts and provides HMS members with access to different personal insurance products. The program scans the marketplace shopping your auto & home insurance across more than 20 of the top-rated insurance carriers in the country. So not only are you getting the best coverage, you’re getting the best rates! In fact, program participants saved an average of more than $600 per year. Click on InsurChoice graphic below for a quote, the savings has just begun!
Product Showcase
ONLINE TRAINING – TCA’s hazMAX Portal
Training Available:
- Hazardous Materials and Dangerous Goods Transportation Training
- DOT Bulk & Non Bulk, Tank Car, Cargo Tank, IATA, IMDG, TDG, ADR, Lithium Battery, Infectious Substances, Dry Ice
- OSHA Training
- Driver Safety Training
Our hazMAX portal provides one location for your Transportation and Safety Training needs. hazMAX will keep you informed of when your training is due and keep your records organized!
IHMM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
House of Representatives Passes Heroes 2.0
The House of Representatives passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill on the evening of October 2nd by a 214-207 vote. The text of the 2,154-page bill is here >https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/SUPP_SEP_01_ALL_xml.2020.9.28.1753.pdf
On May 15, 2020, the House passed the first iteration of the “Heroes Act,” whose price tag then was $3.5 trillion.
In the absence of an agreement with Senate Republicans and the White House, this vote is regarded as giving rank and file Democrats political cover to go home and campaign asserting that Democrats had passed legislation and Republicans in the Senate and White House had refused.
Read more >> https://ihmm.org/house-passes-heroes-act-2-0-2-2-trillion-covid-19-relief-bill/
PHMSA Issues Notice of Enforcement on International Standards
How COVID-19 Spreads – CDC Updated October 5, 2020
Missouri Title Restrictions – Professional Certification Coalition [PCC] of which IHMM is a Member
The Missouri legislature passed (and Gov. Parson signed into law) a comprehensive occupational licensing bill that incorporated several provisions that the PCC drafted that provide legal safe harbor to private certification programs and distinguish such programs from government credentialing programs. The new law did not amend existing law to affirm that an individual can legally hold themselves out as a “registered” professional if “registered” is used as the designation that is conferred under a private credentialing program. Under the language in the current law, the title “registered” is restricted to those who fulfill requirements to register with the state.
As we reported to those of you who joined our monthly member strategy call several weeks ago, the Missouri Division of Professional Registration confirmed to state legislative staff in writing its interpretation that the restriction is intended to apply only to those who falsely hold themselves out as having registered with the state, and that an individual who has earned a credential from a private certification organization may lawfully use that title. In the interest of legal certainty, the PCC followed up on that communication by sending a letter to the Director of the Division to request that the Division formally confirm our favored interpretation in writing, as official policy/guidance from the Division. In response, the Director told us that the Division does not have the legal authority to issue a formal interpretation memorializing its position on this issue as conveyed to Missouri Senate legislative staff.
On our member strategy call last month, we solicited your input regarding whether the PCC should seek a formal opinion from Missouri’s Attorney General on this issue or whether the fact that Missouri appears to not have any intention of restricting an individual’s ability to hold themselves out as “registered” is sufficient without such a legal opinion. PCC members who weighed in on the call almost uniformly supported outreach to the Attorney General requesting legal certainty on this issue. As such, we wrote back the Director of the Division and asked her to request this legal opinion from the Attorney General (as the AG does not accept requests for legal opinions from private individuals or groups). We will be speaking to her on the phone in the next several days. We will keep you all apprised as this situation unfolds.
Michigan H.B. 4488
As discussed on our member strategy call, the PCC is concerned about legislation in Michigan – H.B. 4488 – that purports to limit and restrict how licensure agencies may consider the criminal conviction history of applicants or holders of professional licenses. However, this bill goes further than the standard ex-offender reentry bills we have seen all over the country: even as amended by the House, it would prohibit licensing agencies not only from considering non-felony criminal convictions but also from considering judgments in a civil action against an individual for lack of good moral character. This affects PCC members because professional certification organizations have codes of conduct and professional societies have ethics codes – both of which often rely on public records of licensure actions to obtain information on what a credential holder or certificant has done and whether they are complying with applicable conduct/ethics codes. The PCC has been consistent in its position that licensure boards should not be restricted from considering the facts underlying criminal convictions and civil judgments, as they have been established in a proceeding with due process. In light of these provisions, the PCC sent a letter to the bill’s sponsor in the spring of 2019.
H.B. 4488 passed the Michigan House several weeks ago and was considered in a Senate Regulatory Reform Committee hearing earlier this week. In light of this rapid action on the bill, the PCC has retained a lobbying firm in Michigan to work with the bill sponsor to amend the bill to address its deficiencies. In a matter of several days, our lobbyist persuaded the bill sponsor to pause action on the bill, which likely would have been considered without our amendments on the Senate floor if the PCC had not intervened. Although we do not yet have a firm commitment from the bill sponsor to agree to our amendments, we are working to do so and he is initially receptive. At the same time, we are coordinating with the influential Michigan Institute of CPAs to ensure broad support for our position. We are cautiously optimistic that the bill will be amended when the legislature returns to regular session in mid-November. We will provide any further updates on this legislation as they arise. At the same time, we do not expect any further action on MI S.B. 40 – an ALEC-backed “review and repeal” occupational licensing reform bill – which we have been tracking. We will, of course, work our lobbyist to ensure that, if the bill does advance, it will include our proposed amendments.
CHEMTREC’s Online Hazmat Training Meets U.S. DOT Training Requirements!
CHEMTREC, the world’s leader in hazmat emergency response, can help keep your company safe and compliant with its self-paced online hazmat training courses. Available training includes 49 CFR, Hazmat General, Safety and Security Awareness, IATA, and Lithium Battery Shipping. Sign up today!
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