IHMM Today September 1, 2020

Tuesday, September 1, 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.

IHMM UPDATES

PHMSA HMIT GRANT DOT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM

2020 20-Hour PHMSA HMIT GRANT DOT
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS
AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM
and
4-Hour NESHTA DESIGNING AND
DELIVERING EFFECTIVE TRAINING
SUMMARY REVIEW

2020_PETE_HMIT_DOT Schedule

Minimum Class Size:  10

Maximum Class Size:   10 – WHEN WE REACH 10 REGISTRATIONS WILL SHUT DOWN

• We are not allowed to accept registrations from government employees. We can accept registrations from government contractors and everyone else other than government employees.
• ALL registrants must disclose their employer’s name.
• ALL registrants must either be hazmat employees or hazmat employees working for a hazmat employer. Both are defined below. 
• In accordance with Montgomery County, Maryland COVID-19 guidelines, we will ensure appropriate social distancing in the classroom as well as require every attendee to wear face-covering while attending the class. We will provide hand sanitizer. The classroom will be cleaned each evening before re-entering the classroom the next day. Everyone will be asked about any symptoms associated with COVID-19 and if symptoms are evident then the attendee will not be allowed to attend.

Read more and Registration >> https://hazmatsociety.org/training/phmsa-hmit-grant-dot-hazardous-materials-regulations-awareness-training-program/

EnviroWorkShops Global Summit with IHMM & HMS

You are invited to attend the IHMM Training at the 2020 Global EnviroSummit in Charlotte, NC from September 1-3^rd.  There are 75 speakers from 6 different continents that are addressing the “Accelerating Trends and Advancing Technologies” in our industry from around the globe.

This will be a “hybrid conference” with both in-person and virtual registration options and it includes 10 different breakout sessions on a range of topics, but our training will focus on the Value of IHMM Credentials.  Each virtual breakout session is $49 to attend.

The international speakers from Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia, Africa, and South America will be streaming on YouTube at 8:15 am EST on September 2^nd and there is NO CHARGE for you to register.  REGISTER TODAY!

IHMM has presentations on Day 3, September 3rd, on how

• We prepare and train professionals to acquire their credentials,
• We use advancing technologies to resolve environmental challenges,
• We prepare global dangerous goods transportation professionals, and
• We work with the government in the United States.

Among our presenters are Robert A. West, former IHMM Chair and current HMS Chair, Rich Cartwright of Clicksafety/SPAN and IHMM Fellow, and Gene Sanders of W.E. Train Consulting. The presentations are followed by a panel discussion moderated by Aaron Stern, with US Geological Survey (USG); joined by Richie Spangler, current IHMM Chair; Sean Grady with GHD;  Atanu Das, with MSDSWriter.

New Handbook Helps SMEs Create Safe and Healthy Workplaces

Health and safety at work not only saves lives, it is essential to effective business performance. ISO 45001 is the first and only International Standard for occupational health and safety (OH&S) management, a result of agreed good practice from around the world. A new handbook has just been published to help small organizations get the most out of it.

Decent work is safe work, says the International Labour Organization, and few would disagree. Yet still, some 2.78 million people die from occupational-related accidents or diseases every year. Add to those hundreds of millions of non-fatal accidents and health conditions and it is clear that the cost to society and the economy is significant.

ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, aims to improve those statistics by providing an agreed framework to reduce workplace risks, enhance health, increase safety and promote well-being at work.

A new handbook, published jointly by ISO and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, provides additional guidance specifically to small organizations on the implementation of ISO 45001.

Prepared by the group of experts who developed the standard, ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational health and safety management systems – A practical guide for small organizations gives an overview of the requirements of ISO 45001 and outlines ways in which small organizations can establish an OH&S management system, taking into account their particular challenges and needs.

The benefits of such a system are many, including reduced risk of work-related ill-health and injury, greater protection for people who work with or for the organization, a more positive company culture, and an improved reputation amongst clients, suppliers and the community.

ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational health and safety management systems – A practical guide for small organizations can be purchased from your national ISO member or the ISO Store. IHMM is a member of ASSP and participates in the development of this important document.

The COVID-19 Vaccine: Now Is Time for Employers to Plan for Whether They Can, and Should, Require Employees to Be Vaccinated

A Gallup survey released earlier this month indicates that more than one in three Americans, specifically 35 percent, intend to decline to have any COVID-19 vaccine that ultimately is approved by the FDA — even if offered free of cost. That high percentage appears to be based upon the influence of the anti-vaxxer movement, as well as concerns about the fact that the vaccine may have been “fast-tracked” for approval and will be brand new and, therefore, lack a long track record of safe use.

A major concern with this large percentage of Americans who intend to forgo the vaccine is, according to experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, that the effectiveness rate of any vaccine is likely to be something materially below 100 percent. For instance, according to the CDC, the annual flu vaccine is typically somewhere between 40 and 60 percent effective. Therefore, those individuals rejecting the COVID-19 vaccine will increase the risk even for those who get the vaccine — given the fact that no one will be completely protected.

Read more >> https://www.natlawreview.com/article/covid-19-vaccine-now-time-employers-to-plan-whether-they-can-and-should-require

HMS Affinity Programs

Hazardous Materials Society has a series of affinity programs designed to save you money and make your lives a bit easier. Check out

•HMS Health Insurance for Small Businesses

Start saving money today on your auto and home insurance! HMS has joined Aetna, Meritain Health, and National General to offer small businesses the power of buying as a large business. This is where you could save money versus buying health insurance in the regular commercial market.

Here are some key features of our HMS member’s program:

• Exclusive discounts on group medical plans and voluntary benefits for groups of 2+ employees
• The types of discounts that only used to be available for large companies now being created for small to medium companies.
• Opportunities to receive premium refunds based on the performance of your group
• Telemedicine Benefit program included
• Wellness programs and services designed to help improve employee health, productivity and retention
• Leverage the numbers of IHMM/HMS members to create lower costs for you

A Collaborative Culture

There are 201 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

HMS Education and Training

Hazardous Materials Society now has 13,855 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.

This is the center of education and training for IHMM certificants and prospective certificants. Among these more than 13.000 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/

IHMM EVENTS CALENDAR