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HMS General Membership Meeting

The Board of Directors of the Hazardous Materials Society (HMS) has rescheduled their 1^st Annual Virtual General Membership Meeting of the Society to 4:00PM Eastern Time, Wednesday, December 16, 2020, so as not to conflict with the AHMP meeting scheduled for December 9^th. This new meeting date allows IHMM certificants who are active in AHMP to attend both meetings.

The HMS General Membership Meeting is your opportunity to meet the HMS Board, and to be updated on what the HMS Board and its newly formed Committees worked on in 2020 and their plans for next year. Your host will be Bob West, HMS Board Chair. We anticipate the meeting to be up to one hour in length. Access information for the meeting will be provided via future e-mail messages.

Please feel free to contact me with questions regarding the HMS General Membership Meeting.

Thomas M. Base

Director of Member Services

Hazardous Materials Society (HMS)

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Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 23 November 2020; Last Updated: 23 November 2020

Remember to Vote !

By Mark T. Baumgardner, CHMM, IHMM Board Member

The Election for the IHMM Board of Directors closes on November 30. Your vote is important !

If you are certified, you received an invitation to vote from IHMM on or about November 1. Use that link to vote or contact the IHMM executive Director Gene Guilford Jr. at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for another link to a ballot.

If you need background information about the candidates, you are welcome to contact me and I will provide what information I know about each of them. Contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you are not certified, now is the time to sit for the examination and become certified. One of the advantages of being certified is to be able to vote for whom you would like to see on the Board.

Also, my term on the Board will be up at the end of 2022. NEOCHMM has always had active participation in IHMM. If you have an inclination to serve on the Board, now is the time to start planning to submit your nomination for the next election cycle. The Nomination Committee looks for your past experience with serving on Committee’s of the IHMM. To a lesser extent, service with the AHMP is also considered. If you would like to volunteer for the IHMM, check out this link: https://ihmm.org/ihmm-volunteer-center/

Also, Happy Thanksgiving from NEOCHMM and IHMM !

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 20 November 2020; Last Updated: 20 November 2020

IHMM September Board Meeting

By Richie Spangler, CHMM, CDGP, IHMM Board Chair

The IHMM Board of Directors held its Third Quarterly Board Meeting by video conference on September 11, 2020. The IHMM staff continue to work from home with one person going into the office regularly to “keep the lights on” and take care of things that need to be done physically from the office. The routine business of the IHMM committees has historically taken place via conference calls and email and that continues to be the case. In particular, the IHMM Nominating Committee has completed its review of the applicants for the upcoming election and presented a slate to the Board during its recent meeting. The current election cycle is for one CHMM director and one public (non-IHMM certified) director. The IHMM election will take place from November 2-30, 2020 and the results will be announced on December 4, 2020. Please take some time and review the bios of the highly qualified candidates on the ballot and cast your vote. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the IHMM has frozen a portion of its budgeted spending and received a Payroll Protection/SBA forgivable loan to support our continued operations. We are happy to report these efforts have been effective in maintaining a positive financial status for the year. In other positive news, the IHMM has a backlog of over 600 applicants ready for testing. Even with the various remote testing options available, many of the applicants have indicated they are waiting until in-person testing resumes. The new Student CHMM program is off to a great start with 50 applicants and the first set of testing completed. The IHMM is still collecting data from the initial rollout and expects to see further expansion next year. In a related effort, the IHMM has begun credential development on an early career credential as a transition from the student status to the full CHMM. This is an exciting, but challenging time for the IHMM and your Board of Directors, committees, and our dedicated IHMM staff who are working hard to position the IHMM for continued success.

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 31 October 2020; Last Updated: 31 October 2020

IHMM Remotely Proctored Exams Available Now

IHMM is pleased to announce that the American National Standards Institute [ANSI] has approved Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for IHMM’s CHMM, CHMP, and CDGP exams. IHMM has been using the Kryterion Remotely Proctored Exams for the CSHM and CSMP exams since April of this year.

About 60% of Kryterion in-person testing centers have reopened. If you prefer the comfort and convenience of taking your exam from your home or office instead of at a Kryterion center, IHMM is ready to enroll you in a remotely proctored examination.

Please contact either Kortney Tunstall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the CHMM, CHMP, or CDGP exams or Kaylene Cagle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the CSHM or CSMP exams.

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 29 October 2020; Last Updated: 29 October 2020

EPA’s List of Approved SARS-CoV-2 Surface Disinfectant Products Passes 500

WASHINGTON (October 21, 2020) —The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now approved more than 500 surface disinfectant products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This is an important milestone for ensuring American businesses, families, schools, and other organizations have as many tools as possible to disinfect surfaces and protect themselves and their families against the novel coronavirus.

“Since the beginning of this coronavirus pandemic, the Trump Administration has worked to ensure that Americans have access to safe and effective surface disinfectant products to use against the novel coronavirus,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “With more than 500 products now on our list of disinfectants, Americans have a wide range of options to choose from to help protect themselves and their families from COVID-19.”

In early March, EPA released its initial List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2. This list began with 85 products and continues to be updated on a weekly basis. The list is searchable and sortable, comes with helpful tips on how to use disinfectants properly, and features frequently asked questions to ensure correct product usage. EPA’s List N has received more than 20 million views and remains a valuable resource for the public.

The more than 500 wipes, sprays and other products on List N are expected to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 because they demonstrate efficacy against:

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
A pathogen that is harder to kill than SARS-CoV-2.
A different human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.

When using an EPA-registered disinfectant, it is important to follow the label directions for safe, effective use. These directions include, but are not limited to:

Always follow the product label. This includes making sure to follow the contact time, which is the amount of time the surface should be visibly wet. Use disinfectants only at the concentrations specified in the label directions.
Keep disinfectants out of reach of children. Children should not apply disinfectants. Disinfectants can harm children's health if used or stored incorrectly.
Only use fogging, fumigation, and wide-area or electrostatic spraying to apply EPA-registered products designed and labeled for use in this way. Unless the pesticide product label specifically includes disinfection directions for these application methods, it may not be effective when applied in these ways.
Do not apply disinfectants to skin, food or cloth face coverings. Do not mix disinfectants with other chemicals.

If an EPA-registered disinfectant from List N is not available, diluted household bleach can be used to disinfect surfaces. Users should closely follow the bleach dilution directions on the CDC's website, including precautions.

Please note that according to the CDC, while “it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes,” the virus is thought to spread mainly through close contact between individuals.

Background

Since the U.S. Department of Health Services declared the coronavirus a public health emergency in January 2020, EPA has aggressively worked to ensure that Americans are aware of and have access to effective surface disinfectant products to use against SARS-CoV-2. These actions include:

In January 2020 EPA activated—for the first time ever—its Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVP) Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticides. Under this guidance, EPA allows manufacturers to provide the agency with data, even in advance of an outbreak, to show their products are effective against harder-to-kill viruses.
In March and again in April 2020, EPA implemented changes to its regulatory processes to allow disinfectant manufacturers to source certain ingredients from alternative suppliers, helping to address supply chain disruptions and ensure the continued availability of disinfectants. Also in March 2020, EPA started expediting EVP claim submissions. Disinfectants with EVP claims are now being reviewed in 1 to 2 weeks instead of several months or more.
In April, EPA and the CDC released joint guidance (“Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes”) for cleaning and disinfecting spaces where Americans live, work and play.
In May, EPA expanded expedited review of new products and amendments to existing product labels that require review of new efficacy data.
In July, EPA announced the first products on its List N that have specifically been tested against SARS-CoV2. While these products were already on List N, they now carry additional weight against the virus that causes COVID-19 based on testing performed by the manufacturer and confirmed by EPA. The total number of products in this category is now 56.
In July, EPA began to expedite applications to add directions for use with electrostatic sprayers to products intended to kill SARS-CoV-2. Electrostatic spraying has drawn increased interest through the public health emergency because of the need to disinfect large indoor spaces (e.g., schools, offices, businesses) or areas with many surfaces.
In October, EPA released draft guidance that allows companies for the first time to demonstrate their products have "long-lasting" or "residual" effectiveness against viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 27 October 2020; Last Updated: 27 October 2020

Ohio Safety Congress will go virtual next year

Ohio Safety Congress will go virtual next year. Our annual Ohio Safety Congress & Expo will be online only in 2021. Mark your calendar for March 10-11! The event will feature dozens of learning sessions and a digital expo, allowing participants to chat virtually with vendors about new and existing products and services. As always, the event is free for Ohio employers. Well open registration atwww.ohiosafetycongress.com [ http://www.ohiosafetycongress.com ] in January 2021.

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 25 September 2020; Last Updated: 25 September 2020

OCOSH Facility Closing

OCOSH facility closing, moving to Columbus BWCs Ohio Center for Occupational Safety and Health (OCOSH) is moving from Pickerington to downtown Columbus at the end of October. This will not change the way you call or email us. Remote services during the COVID-19 pandemic will continue. However, OCOSHS address will change to the 25th floor of the William Green Building, 30 W. Spring St., Columbus, OH 43215.OCOSH houses our Division of Safety & Hygiene. Were bringing the center to our headquarters to foster greater collaboration with our other divisions, fill the available space we have in the William Green Building, and save on costs, all of which leads to better service for our customers.

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 25 September 2020; Last Updated: 25 September 2020

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