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considerations for purchasing international respirators

A recording of the recent webinar on Factors to Consider When Planning to Purchase Respirators from Another Country is now available. This webinar discusses key factors to help buyers make informed procurement decisions when making a respirator purchase. The information will help to maximize the likelihood of obtaining safe and effective products that will keep workers safe. Watch the webinar on Youtube

See the Factors to Consider When Planning to Purchase Respirators from Another Country page within the CDC COVID-19 Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment.

Details: Written by Super User; Created: 13 May 2020; Last Updated: 13 May 2020

EPA, CDC Release Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Spaces Where Americans Live, Work, and Play

Guidance helps facilities and families implement Opening Up America Again guidelines

WASHINGTON (April 29, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance to help facility operators and families properly clean and disinfect spaces. Developed in concert with the White House, the guidance provides step-by-step instructions for public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes, and falls in line with the Opening up America Again guidelines .

“These guidelines will provide all Americans with information they need to help the country reopen as safely as possible,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “These cleaning and disinfecting protocols will help ensure the health and safety of everyone in our homes, schools, offices and businesses.”

“Proper and effective cleaning and disinfecting are important to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield. “As our nation re-opens, this guidance is critical to help Americans return as safely as possible to work, school, and other daily activities within their communities.”

EPA’s expertise on the safe and effective use of disinfectants against the virus that causes COVID-19 informed the development of this comprehensive plan. The guidance offers a practical, three-step process for preparing spaces for reopening:

Develop a plan,
Implement the plan, and
Maintain and revise the plan.

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces is an important, two-step process central to any effort to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Clean: Use soap and water to remove germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It lowers the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfect: Use disinfectant products to kill germs on surfaces. By killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

EPA has compiled a list of disinfectant products, including ready-to-use sprays, concentrates, and wipes, that can be used against COVID-19. Always follow the product label instructions and safety information including leaving the product on the surface long enough to kill germs, rinsing off the product to avoid ingesting it, and putting the product out of reach of children right away.

Also, avoid over-using or stockpiling disinfectants or personal protective equipment (such as gloves). This can result in shortages of critical products needed for emergencies. In the event that disinfectant products on the EPA list are not available, the guidance provides other techniques for disinfecting surfaces that are as effective in reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

This guidance does not replace other measures that still need to be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. It is important to continue to practice social distancing, wear cloth face coverings, and wash your hands frequently. As we move forward to reopen America, continue to follow federal, state, tribal, territorial and local guidance.

To view the guidance, click here: https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/guidance-cleaning-and-disinfecting-public-spaces-workplaces-businesses-schools-and-homes .

Details: Written by Super User; Created: 29 April 2020; Last Updated: 29 April 2020

Ventilation, surface disinfection and PPE considerations

APIC learning: AIHA & APIC COVID-19 Response: Ventilation, surface disinfection and PPE considerations for the IP and IH

Details: Written by Super User; Created: 09 April 2020; Last Updated: 09 April 2020

Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

Other COVID-19 Resources

All products on this list meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Details: Written by Super User; Created: 03 April 2020; Last Updated: 03 April 2020

COVID-19 Details for EHS Professionals

The Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP) Cyber Chapter with its partner organizations, ASSP-NOVA Chapter, the Washington Metropolitan Area Construction Safety Association (WMACSA), and the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association (ChABSA) are pleased to be able to offer two more follow-up webinars.

On March 10, 2020, Dr. Michael Sauri of Occupational Health Consultants provided an excellent talk on “COVID-19 Technical Details for EHS Professionals” (click on name for download of webinar) which provided details of COVID-19 that are not in the mainstream media. As a follow-up to this talk, last week Bruce Donato of K&A First Aid and Safety, Inc., discussed "The Practical Aspects of Managing COVID-19 for EHS Professionals in Their Workplace".

April 16, 2020, Nashville Chapter Technical Seminar 11:00 AM Eastern

Details forthcoming

April 20, 2020, The Saga Continues - COVID-19 for the EHS Professional 6:30 PM Eastern

In association with the NEACHMM/New England Chapter of AHMP

Bruce Donato of K&A First Aid and Safety Inc. will continue his series on "The Practical Aspects of Managing COVID-19 for EHS Professionals in the Workplace - The Saga Continues".

April 22, 2020, COVID-19 - NYC, Suggestions on Managing in an Outbreak City 5:00 PM Eastern

In association with the New York City Chapter of ASSP

Bruce Donato will customize his Practical Aspects of Managing COVID-19 (see 4/20 talk description) to a city that the outbreak is in full force. NOTE: this talk will cover many of the same points as the 4/20/20 talk.

These are free webinarslimited to 100 participants and will be presented to accommodate as many interested parties as possible. Please only schedule yourself for one event. Click here to go to the AHMP Cyber Chapter events page to choose which session you would like to register for.

Go to the events tab to register for one or both webinars you want to attend. Spots are limited.

Attendance at live events will be documented and updated in user profiles (to create a non-member profileclick here) for use as continuing education. This tracking of live attendance is a free service of the AHMP Cyber Chapter.

Details: Written by Super User; Created: 03 April 2020; Last Updated: 09 April 2020

Collaboration!

Over 200 million Americans are now in stay-at-home orders. IHMM and HMS have assembled the most powerful and innovative online platform that, despite our isolation from personal contact, allows us to be isolated together in a new, virtual online environment. We can still communicate, collaborate and grow together.

IHMM and HMS' new platform allows certificants and members to easily interact and communicate online, empowering volunteer groups, committees, and other special groups to work effectively together remotely. Groups may also form around topical areas and shared interests, spawning knowledge communities. Social tools such as commenting capabilities and ranking stats will ensure quick and easy access to the most relevant/popular information.

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 very best people in their fields, people who are 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 all proud.

Our online community continues to grow every day, with new groups forming week in and week out. And we've updated the platform to ensure you can access the content, groups, members, and discussions that interest you most-quickly and easily.

Here's a quick overview of some of the features:

Enhanced email capabilities. You can receive digests of activities in your chosen communities.
Faster Search results – within the new platform, your member search is faster than ever.
Creation of networks – Auto creation of network based on certain profile demographics.
Signing up for all your Member alerts in one area --previously, you had to go to every single group in which you were a member to get alert notifications. No more!
Prefer to get everything via RSS feed? Now you can select any or all the communities in which you are a member, and they'll be aggregated into a single feed!
Like a document that you read? You can add it to your favorites for quick and easy access in the future.

We plan to take the site live this week and will shortly add mobile capability. Collaboration will continually evolve to meet your needs and those of our ever-growing online community.

Your online community awaits you. It's time for COLLABORATION!

Questions? Please contact Gene Guilford [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.], Jimmy Nguyen [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.], Tom Base [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]. Every member of the IHMM staff is assigned to work with one or more of the now 28 different communities and committees now in COLLABORATION.

Details: Written by Mark Baumgardner, CHMM; Created: 02 April 2020; Last Updated: 03 April 2020