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Another Successful RiverSweep 2018--Thank You!

We just completed another successful (11^th consecutive) RiverSweep ! We planted about 18 Buckeye, Elm and assorted other trees on a lot owned by West Creek Conservancy, just south of the main branch of West Creek. This is just west of the Stewardship Center in the West Creek Reservation and off of West Ridgewood Drive in Parma.

We also did some extensive soil excavation and amendment around each root ball and some decent fencing around each tree, to increase survivability from deer. Herb’s blue bandana kept the rain and the deer away….none to be seen during the event ! (It did rain cats and dogs on my way back to Akron).

In doing so, we were able to eliminate a neighborhood squatters parking lot and pull the forest back towards Ridgewood Drive. We also provided an additional riparian buffer around West Creek.

Yes, we have made progress over the years! There was not even a mass clean-up by the high school volunteers this year. This is because The upper reaches of West Creek, where we extracted cart dams in the early years, has been deeded over to Cuyahoga County Metro Parks. The Park District is now responsible for maintenance.

Many thanks to all who helped in the 2018 event and in our past events!

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 14 May 2018; Last Updated: 14 May 2018

2018 Summer IHMM Update

As a Board Member of IHMM, I am pleased to provide you with quarterly updates of the proceedings at the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management or “IHMM.”

As previously announced, IHMM has decertified those Certificants that were seriously in arrears in payment of their fees. Exhaustive efforts were made to contact these individuals by telephone, mail, e-mail and even social media. The contact information that IHMM had for these Certificants was often dated and it was difficult to find them. Many had apparently retired or left the hazardous materials field. Those who now have second thoughts may qualify for the IHMM Re-instatement policy. Those individuals should contact the IHMM Office, as soon as possible, to see if they are eligible for re-instatement. IHMM as offers a “Retiree” status, which allows a person to remain in our database for networking and professional communications, even though you did not recertify upon retirement.

Certificants are obligated to keep their contact information current with IHMM and respond to inquiries as to the status of their certification. IHMM recommends that Certificants provide work and home addresses, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers, so you can receive timely communications about your credential. IHMM also recommends that you immediately start your next recertification application. As you accrue certification maintenance points, you can enter your supporting documentation into the application in real time. Simply save the application and add information as time goes on. Then, when it comes time to submit your application for recertification, much of the work is already done !

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 01 May 2018; Last Updated: 01 May 2018

The 15th Annual Networking Social

The 15^th Annual Networking Social was held once again at the Flat Iron Café in Cleveland’s Flats on Thursday February 22, 2018. Environmental Health and Safety professionals and others who were in attendance had the opportunity to meet with other professionals in a casual setting to discuss industry practices, current events, and personal happenings. Attendees were provided with a variety of complimentary food and a cash bar was available for beverages that helped to stimulate conversations.

Many thanks to the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Hazardous Materials Managers, Northeast Ohio Chapter–American Industrial Hygiene Association, Northern Ohio Chapter–American Society of Safety Engineers, Northern Ohio Chapter–Air & Waste Management Association, and the Lake County Safety Council for without their generous support, this event would not have been possible.

The Networking Social will return in February 2019 so plan on attending next year.

Details: Written by Kenneth Doyle, MBA, CHSP, CHEP; Created: 01 March 2018; Last Updated: 01 March 2018