This is a continuation of our ongoing look at professional designations in the safety industry. In previous issues, my colleagues, Dave Duncan and Ted Morrison, described the CRSP, CSP, MSP and CMSP designations. This series will look at designations related to the handling of hazardous materials.

The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management

The three designations this series will cover are issued by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM), a non-profit organization founded in 1984. IHMM launched the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) program in June 1984. Since then, it has certified more than 14,000 professionals, approximately 8,500 of whom remain active today.

The CHMM program is accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), an association that provides accreditation to US-based certification programs specializing in engineering and scientific fields.

What Is a CHMM?

A person who receives a CHMM designation advises on the proper handling and management of hazardous materials - any biological, chemical or physical item that may potentially harm humans, animals or the environment - ensuring safety and compliance.

The CHMM designation is awarded by the IHMM to individuals who meet established standards. As with many professional designations, a CHMM must renew membership every year and recertify every five years.

Education Requirements

There are two levels of CHMM: Senior and Master.

To qualify for the Senior level, the candidate must have a baccalaureate degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university, plus three years of appropriate experience.

For a Master level, the candidate must have a baccalaureate degree, plus seven years of experience that includes responsibility for developing, implementing, directing and/or evaluating one or more related program activities.

Candidates for certification must pass an exam and meet these criteria:

How Much It Costs

The application fee for the CHMM Senior or Master level is $100. Once the application has been approved, the examination costs $250. The windows for testing are during the last two weeks of odd-numbered months. A minimum passing score is 64%.

To upgrade from Senior to Master level, candidates must submit to IHMM documentation of qualifying work experience, education and a request for upgrading. They must also pay a fee of $15.

Maintaining the Certification

CHMMs must renew membership every year and recertify every five years. Annual certification maintenance fees are $70. During the five years that a CHMM is certified, he or she must earn a total of 17 Certification Maintenance Points (CMPs) to qualify for recertification. Methods of earning CMPs include:

Before the certification expires, the person holding a CHMM must submit sufficient evidence of the CMPs he or she has earned and pay a recertification fee of $75. Instead of earning CMPs, the CHMM may elect to take the examination again (at a fee of $250).

Conclusion

Hazardous materials management is a discipline essential to safety professionals in many fields, such as transportation, homeland security and industrial hygiene. If you're not yet eligible for the CHMM designation, you might want to consider the Hazardous Materials Manager-in-Training program, which we'll look at next week.

CONSUMER PRODUCTS
The Other Hazardous Materials in Your Workplace

By Catherine Jones

Your hazardous materials communication system shows your employees how to protect themselves from all the dangerous chemicals in your workplace. Or does it?

Consumer products may also be used where you work and may not be covered by the same information system as the products intended for industrial use. Your workers might be surprised to learn just how dangerous these consumer products can be, since they probably use them at home.

Here are some examples of hazardous consumer products commonly used in the workplace and at home:

Train your workers in these four areas regarding consumer products:

Include consumer products in your chemical safety program. Make sure your workers know how to read and understand labels and follow precautions.

TIP FOR THE TRAINER
Online Interactive Training

By Fedoska Mamchur

For more information on hazardous materials in the home, check out Toxtown, an educational tool for high school and college students. It's a great introduction to environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals.

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