IHMM Today September 7, 2021

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.

The Environmental Transformation Podcast by Sean Grady, CHMM

The Environmental Transformation Podcast will bring you interviews with leaders in the Environmental Industry with the goal of providing Environmental, Sustainability, and Safety Professionals, as well as and Business leaders with information about industry trends, regulatory changes, digital and software technologies, and service providers that are transforming the industry.

Robert Bilott, the attorney behind the movie “Dark Waters” and the author of the book “Exposure”, talks about the case against DuPont, PFAS litigation, the state of PFAS regulations, what still needs to be done to protect citizens from chronic exposure Forever Chemicals, and his 20 plus fight bringing justice to those affected by PFAS contamination like the ones in Parkersburg, West Virginia in this exciting episode.

Join Sean and his Guest Robert Bilott here > https://www.seankgrady.com/robert-bilott-the-attorney-behind-the-movie/

Finding the Program You Want at HMS/Education and Training

Last week a certificant was looking for a defensive driving course. Let’s review how easy it is to find one by looking at the Hazardous Materials Society website under the Education & Training section.

First, go to https://hazmatsociety.org/education-training/  

Second, see the SEARCH box below and enter “driver” then click the FIND TRAINING button

Last, you will see the Defensive Driver Training Course come up on the list:

It’s really very easy.

NPDES: Creating the Water Workforce of the Future: Webinar Series

Developing and Maintaining Workforce and Equity Partnerships

September 15, 2021

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Register Here

The water sector faces workforce challenges that can only be addressed by strong and sustainable partnerships that also focus on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Water jobs at utilities offer good pay, security, and a real opportunity to make a difference in our communities. Please join us on September 15^th for this webinar.

Candi Jones from the Philadelphia Water Department will describe an innovative partnership with PowerCorps Philadelphia to attract and retain men and women from disadvantaged communities into meaningful careers. She will be joined by Andy Kricun, formerly the director of the Camden County Municipal Authority (CCMUA), and now with Moonshot Missions. Andy will talk about engaging and fostering partnerships with organizations across New Jersey to develop a state-wide water workforce program involving state agencies, utilities, NGOs, community colleges, and others to help address the acute need for water workers across the state.

This webinar is part of an ongoing webinar series hosted by EPA, in partnership with leading water sector organizations around the country. More information on this webinar series can be found at

https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/water-sector-workforce-webinars

Moderator

• Jim Horne, U.S. EPA

Speakers

• Candi Jones, Assistant Deputy Commissioner- HR, Philadelphia Water Department
• Andy Kricun, Managing Director, Moonshot Missions

For any questions related to this announcement, please contact [email protected].

IHMM Certified Hazardous Materials Specialist [CHMS] Committee

The IHMM Certified Hazardous Materials Specialist Committee [CHMS] is in the latter stages of creating a new hazardous materials credential targeted specifically at the more than 250,000 military service personnel who muster out of the armed services each year with no degree and less than three years experience in a MOS, as well as recent college graduates with degrees in targeted disciplines but with no experience as they begin their hazmat careers. The latter serves as the next step after IHMM’s present Student CHMM program.

Call for Volunteers – Student CHMM Committee

From Spring 2020 through Early Summer 2021 IHMM ran a pilot program for the newly created Student CHMM credential. See > https://ihmm.org/student-chmm/ The pilot program involved two colleges that brought forth 90 Student CHMM applications. Having successfully conducted this pilot program, IHMM now seeks to have a small group of volunteers oversee and help to guide the program.

You can learn more about the program here > https://ihmm.org/ihmm-student-chmm-committee/  including the charter of the committee as approved by the IHMM Board of Directors.

If you would like to help increase interest in IHMM credentials among college students, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful and valuable contribution to IHMM and to college students before they graduate from college and start their professional hazmat careers.

Go here > https://ihmm.org/ihmm-student-chmm-committee/  and volunteer today! Preference is given to CHMMs.

Call for Volunteers – IHMM Professional Textbook Committee

IHMM is calling for volunteers to participate in updating the IHMM Managing Hazardous Materials – A Definitive Text, textbook. Preference is given to those who last participated in this endeavor, though IHMM seeks CHMM and CHMP hazardous materials professionals generally to populate this committee and contribute to this effort.

Information about and volunteering for this committee is here > https://ihmm.org/ihmm-professional-textbook-committee/  Note that this scholarly work will be peer-reviewed. In addition, this committee will be permanent and provide continuous improvement of the material by not only produced a single new textbook but also producing an annual update of material.

Here is how a professional certification body operates:

The IHMM Managing Hazardous Materials text is an integral part of the system that begins with producing or updating a blueprint for an IHMM credential, such as the CHMM or CHMP. Arising from the blueprint next comes creating examinations and item banks of questions that feed the exams. The IHMM text then mirrors the blueprint and examinations in order to best prepare applicants to take the exam. Then, arising from the blueprint and textbook comes the creation of preparatory courses further enabling applicants to prepare for and ultimately to pass the exam. The prep courses are offered through IHMM’s foundation at the Hazardous Materials Society.

Call for Volunteers – IHMM CSSS-CSSM Committee

IHMM is calling for CSSS and CSSM volunteers to participate in the CSSS-CSSM Committee. IHMM inherited the CSSS and CSSM credentials when it acquired ISHM in April 2019. The CSSS and CSSM credentials have no job task analysis, no blueprints, no exams, or item banks. Now that IHMM has spent the past 18 months establishing the updated processes to recreate the CSHM and CSMP credentials, we can turn to the CSSS and CSSM designations.

IHMM welcomes CSSS and CSSM designation holders to volunteer and participate in the committee. Volunteering may be done here > https://ihmm.org/csss-cssm-committee/

IHMM-AHMP 45 in 5 Task Force

We are preparing an initiated rulemaking at EPA to amend 40 CFR § 312.10 – Definitions to include CHMMs, as well as a petition to the Small Business Administration recognizing CHMMs for the purposes of conducting Phase I and Phase II site assessments.

These regulatory proposals go to the IHMM Board for its September 24, 2021 meeting.

IHMM CSHM Scheme Committee

The IHMM CSHM Scheme Committee is expected to complete the task of creating a new blueprint for the credential by Q4 of 2021. When released, this will lead to IHMM creating a separate group to organize the creation of new supporting text materials as well as working to create a new exam preparatory course.

IHMM CSMP Scheme Committee

The IHMM CSMP Scheme Committee is expected to complete the task of creating a new blueprint for the credential by Q4 of 2021. When released, this will lead to IHMM creating a separate group to organize the creation of new supporting text materials as well as working to create a new exam preparatory course.

IHMM Professional Standards Committee

The IHMM Professional Standards Committee is in the process of creating a new IHMM Code of Ethics orientation program for use by new applicants as well as during the recertification process.

IHMM Microcredential Task Force

The IHMM Microcredential Task Force is in the latter stages of preparing two draft blueprint recommendations for the IHMM Board for the creation of microcredentials for Pandemic Preparedness and Pandemic Response.

IHMM Professional Sustainability Task Force

The IHMM Professional Sustainability Task Force is in the initial stages of exploring the potential of creating a sustainability credential for IHMM and making a recommendation to the IHMM Board to that end.

IHMM 

IHMM is pleased to announce that three new credential videos are underway for the CSHM, CSMP, and ASHM credentials. These videos follow the two credential videos already produced for the CHMM and CHMP; see https://youtu.be/EGAChcNVeeY and https://youtu.be/tAV-RlKeHJ4

IHMM is also completing an update with Association Anywhere/MYIHMM to facilitate the transition of former ISHM credential holders [CSHM and CSMP] to participate in the IHMM recertification system. When formally announced, CSHM and CSMP credential holders will have one year to complete what will be a simple process of recertification.

IHMM has been soliciting responses to its RFP for a 360° cybersecurity audit of its operations and those of the contractors with whom IHMM works. IHMM has solid cybersecurity protection and is making sure that status remains ahead of the curve.

IHMM has just completed its application for ANSI/ANAB accreditation audit for the 2020-2021 year. The strength of credentials is based on the strength of their accreditation and IHMM’s ANSI/ANAB accreditation is the gold standard.

IHMM Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner [CHMP]

The IHMM is in its second month of promoting the CHMP credential to more than 6,000 college and university hazmat professionals. This program features June Brock-Carroll, CHMP and IHMM Board Member and Treasurer. https://ihmm.org/chmp/

PFAS Reporting Rules — What Every Company Needs to Know

WEBINAR
Thursday, September 9, 2021
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
Register Now

PODCAST
Available Now
Listen Here
Transcript Available Here

When it comes to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not messing around. The agency announced on June 10, 2021, three actions intended to protect communities from PFAS:

• proposing a rule designed to obtain comprehensive data on more than 1,000 PFAS manufactured in the United States;
• withdrawing guidance that EPA believes weakened its July 2020 significant new use rule (SNUR) restricting certain long-chain PFAS; and
• publishing a final rule that incorporates three additional PFAS into the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) maintained under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

More information about these rules is available in our June 11, 2021, memorandum “EPA Announces Three PFAS Actions, Including Proposed TSCA Section 8(a) Reporting Rule.” Comments on these proposed rules are due on or before September 27, 2021.

The proposed rule intended to obtain comprehensive data on PFAS would require all manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS in any year since 2011 to report information related to chemical identity, categories of use, volumes manufactured and processed, byproducts, environmental and health effects, worker exposure, and disposal. As a result of these EPA regulatory actions, companies that never expected to need to know TSCA are now finding themselves in EPA’s crosshairs.

In light of this, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C^®) is pleased to announce a complimentary webinar focused on these issues on September 9, 2021, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EDT). B&C Managing Partner Lynn L. Bergeson and Director of Chemistry Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., will discuss EPA’s proposed rules and what the regulated community must know and do to comply.

REGISTER HERE

IHMM and HMS

The graphic to the left illustrates the relationship between IHMM and HMS. IHMM formed HMS to serve IHMM’s certificates. IHMM offers a variety of professional credentials and HMS creates education and training programs to serve the applicants and certificants of those credentials.

Survey

The Hazardous Materials Society has created a survey to learn from IHMM’s certificants what those certificants need most. If HMS is to serve IHMM’s certificants we need IHMM’s certificants to respond to this survey.

Please go here for a short, 5 question survey that takes less than 2 minutes to take.

HMS Education and Training

Hazardous Materials Society now has 6,347 education and training programs on its website, 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.

IHMM applicants and certificants are free to search the landscape for training. IHMM wanted to make that task easier by aggregating training in one place if you choose to use it. Among these more than 11.000 programs are webinars delivered online and virtually all carry IHMM CMPs values with them for your annual / 5-year CMP planning.

Learn more here.

Hazardous Materials Society [HMS] Scholarship Applications for 2021 LIVE

Dan Levine, Chair of the HMS Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that HMS Scholarship applications for 2021 are live and available on the HMS website.

Visit the HMS Scholarship page and click the big red button that says APPLY NOW GET THE APPLICATION FORM HERE!

Thank you to Dan and his committee for getting the HMS Scholarship open in 2021, and for more information and the application form, please visit the website link above.

Donate to 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.

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.

Vendor Alert:  881 – How much of this business did you get?

IHMM has seen a 100% jump in applications and examinations over 2019, and for the first 5 months of 2021, we stand at 881. 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.