Former EPA Chief To Speak at ACHMM National Conference

ACHMM Seeks Award Nominations

ACHMM and RABQSA Announce Agreement

ACHMM Seeks Leadership Workshop Sponsors

Next Webinar: Minimizing Incidents in an Aging Workforce

ACHMM Career Center: Opportunities for Employers & Job Seekers

Call for ACHMM of the Month Nominations

BEAC® Releases New Audit Standards

ACHMM Members Teach Hazmat Course in India

Making Sense of Biomonitoring

ACHMM Media Kit

ACHMM Internet Resources

Call for ACHMM of the Month Nominations

Each month ACHMM recognizes the hard work, extraordinary achievements and contributions of a member. You can submit an ACHMM of the Month nomination via e-mail today. Nominees must be an ACHMM certified or affiliate member or an ACHMM local chapter.

When submitting a nomination, be sure to include the name(s), contact information and a brief description (250 words or less) of the deserving member's or chapter's accomplishments or contributions. The ACHMM Awards Committee will select an honoree to be featured in The Manager each month.

Honorees will be notified in advance and asked to provide a photo. ACHMM of the Month honorees receive a special certificate of recognition.

back to top

BEAC® Releases New Audit Standards

The Board of Environmental, Health & Safety Auditor Certifications (BEAC®) has released the final draft of the revised Performance And Program Standards For The Professional Practice Of Environmental, Health & Safety Auditing for comment by industry stakeholders throughout the world.

The revised standards provide greater clarity, transparency and ease of use. They have been updated to reflect the dramatic changes the auditing profession has undergone over the past several years. “The standards are there for the auditing profession. It is essential that the profession has high standards that are well respected on a global basis. It is simply a step forward in advancing the EH&S auditing profession,” said Jim Ball, chair of the BEAC Standards Board.

CPEA certification programs have raised the bar for our profession. The updated standards provide auditors, management and stakeholders a benchmark to ensure that their EH&S auditors demonstrate professional skills, proficiency and knowledge to meet the high qualifications essential to quality EHS auditing and promoted by BEAC.

Click here to obtain a copy of the updated standards. The draft will be open for comment through April 30, 2008. When providing feedback, please reference the heading and numbering system used in these revised draft standards.

You can submit your comments via:

• E-mail to info@beac.org. Please write “Revised Draft Standards” in the subject line.
• Fax to (407) 830-7495
• Mail to: Wendy Acha, Administration Manager, BEAC, 247 Maitland Avenue, Altamonte Springs, FL  USA 32701-4201

The Standards Board will review all comments and make appropriate revisions before recommending the revised standards to the BEAC Board for adoption.

back to top

A group of 10 ACHMM members led by President Michael J. Mandracchia, CHMM, have returned home after traveling to India earlier this month to present the Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management Course to ACHMM-India chapter members.

The EHMM training course was staged at the Bangalore Institute of Technology in Bangalore, India from Feb. 1 through Feb. 3. While in Bangalore, the ACHMM members also participated in the international chapter’s first-ever National Seminar on Hazardous Materials Management, which drew 70 hazmat professionals from across India.

Participants in these events were from industries, academia, government and non-government organizations involved in environmental pollution control and hazardous materials management activities from India and other countries.

The timing of the events was timely since there is a heightened need for hazardous materials management education in India. The country has more that two million old personal computers that are awaiting disposal and an average of 30,000 computers being discarded annually. Additionally, there is a major movement in the Indian government to remove toxic substances and to tackle the country’s waste problems. In fact, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board helped organize and sponsor the national seminar.

In addition to President Mandracchia, the members of the ACHMM delegation included the organization’s International Ambassador and India Chapter President Rampur S. Viswanath, Ph.D., CHMM, REM; Adriane Borgias, MSEM, CHMM; Brandan Borgias, Ph.D.; Raymond Davis, CHMM, CIPS, CBSM; Lorenz Spangler, CHMM; Wen Pan, Ph.D., CHMM; John Herrig, J.D.; Steve Bakhtiar, Ph.D., CHMM; and Ron Wilkins, CHMM.

This was the second time that the EHMM course was presented to members of the ACHMM-India Chapter. It was last presented by ACHMM members to the newly formed international chapter’s members in February 2006.

back to top

Biomonitoring attempts to determine how much of a particular chemical can be detected in a person's blood, urine or breast milk, but scientists do not know just yet whether the detected level is a cause for concern. 

In an effort to better understand the data, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, various chemical manufacturers and trade associations are working to create "biomonitoring equivalents," calculating a safe level of the chemicals to use as a benchmark. 

Summit Toxicology President Sean Hays says biomonitoring equivalents could be used to determine whether public health risks exist and whether there is a need for further study of particular chemicals—not as a screening tool for chemical levels in individuals. Scientists must take into consideration absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the chemicals by the body when creating biomonitoring equivalents. 

Experts stress that biomonitoring equivalents do not measure the level of chemicals in target organs, like adrenal glands, ovaries, testes or the brain. Additionally, they do not indicate whether a person was exposed to a particular chemical in small amounts over a lengthy time span or a large amount at one time. 

Scientists note that other factors must be taken into account when calculating toxicity, such as vitamin or mineral deficiencies, exposure to a variety of chemicals that interact with one another, and access to medical care.

back to top

ACHMM Media Kit
Learn more about ACHMM Sponsorship Opportunities today.

back to top

Ride the Crest into the
21st Century with the
Information Superhighway

Available Information:
» Membership
» National Conference
» Education Programs
» Professional Development
» Locate a Chapter
» Bookstore
» Committee Activities
» ACHMM Board of
  Directors List
» Important Links
»Member Directory

back to top

A Message From ACHMM
Harry S. Kemp, CHMM
ACHMM Vice President

Since I first joined the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Manager’s (ACHMM) national leadership team in 1997, I have seen the organization make great progress. Besides achieving and maintaining financial stability through sound fiscal management, support and service to membership and chapters has continued to be a focus of the national leadership’s efforts. Now that we have a capable executive director at the helm, we are positioned more than ever for organizational growth. A decision last spring by your Board of Directors to implement a formal business management system (BMS) will support this growth through improved management processes.

On January 12 the ACHMM Board adopted a Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety Policy. The adoption of this policy culminates months of preparatory work by your Board of Directors, the Management Systems Committee and ACHMM staff in training, developing a draft BMS Description Document, and conducting a gap analysis. It sets the stage for the development and implementation of our BMS to begin in earnest. This management system will be based on the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. 

This move represents a commitment on the part of ACHMM leadership to “walk the walk” on the environment, health and safety, but more importantly it is a commitment to providing quality products and services to ACHMM’s more than 4,000 members. This formalized focus on quality using a management-system approach will ensure that membership receives what they deserve as members of ACHMM:  appropriate products of high quality.

The Board of Directors has appointed me as the BMS Management Representative until our executive director becomes fully trained and ready to assume this role.  This is a two-year project and I will be forming a seven-person BMS Implementation Task Group to support the planning and implementation effort. Individual members who have already committed to serving on this task group are Scott M. Sylvester, CHMM, chairperson of the Management Systems Technical Committee; Laureen A. McMurray, CHMM, past president; A. Cedric Calhoun, CAE, executive director; Karen L. Rider, CHMM, Board director; and Ray Davis, Professional Development Committee member.

I believe this is the next logical step for achievement of the organization’s Mission-Vision-Strategy statement, which calls for ACHMM to be “the recognized leader and resource for those practicing environmental, health and safety management.” More to come later as the BMS development and implementation process advances.

back to top

Former EPA Chief To Speak at ACHMM National Conference

Christine Todd Whitman, the first administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for President George W. Bush, will deliver the keynote address at the 2008 ACHMM National Conference in September.

The ACHMM National Conference—themed “Navigating the Future of EHS&S”—is scheduled for September 7 through 10 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis at Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Whitman will speak about “Shaping the Future: America’s Environment Today” in her remarks to 1,000 EHS&S professionals at the opening general session Sept. 8.

Make sure you don't miss this ACHMM event—the premiere gathering of the environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) industry. Mark your calendar for conference dates and for the March 7 opening of registration. Online registration will be available beginning that day on the ACHMM Web site at www.achmm.org.
  
Whitman served as EPA administrator from January 2001 until June 2003. As the leader of the EPA, Whitman promoted environmental improvements such as watershed-based water protection policies, championed regulations requiring non-road diesel engines to reduce sulfur emissions by more than 95 percent, and established the first federal program to promote redevelopment of "brownfields"—previously contaminated industrial sites.

Immediately prior to that, she was the 50th governor of New Jersey, serving as the state's first woman chief executive from 1994 until 2001. While governor, Whitman preserved a record amount of New Jersey land as permanent green space and was recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council for instituting the nation's most comprehensive beach monitoring system.

Today, Whitman is president of The Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in government relations, energy and environmental issues.

The 2008 ACHMM National Conference will feature top-notch industry, regulatory and government speakers; an unmatched exhibit hall; numerous continuing-education workshops and training seminars; and countless networking opportunities. Attendees will learn about the newest EHS&S regulations, advances, technologies and best practices.

To register online for the 2008 ACHMM National Conference, visit www.achmm.org starting March 7. The early-bird discounted rate is available until August 4.

ACHMM also has reserved a block of rooms at a special rate of $170 per night (for single and double rooms). Click here to view the hotel's Web site and to make a room reservation online or call a Hyatt Hotel reservations associate at (800) 223-1234. This rate is available to National Conference attendees until August 14; thereafter room availability and rates cannot be guaranteed.

For additional information, visit the “2008 National Conference” section at www.achmm.org where ACHMM will be posting updates as speaker, workshop, seminar and other event announcements are made. For more information about sponsorship and exhibit opportunities, contact ACHMM's Leonore Jordan, CMP at (800) 437-0137 or ljordan@achmm.org.

back to top

ACHMM Seeks Award Nominations

The ACHMM National Awards Committee is accepting nominations for the 2008 National Awards Program. If you know an individual or local chapter that is deserving of being honored for special achievements over the past year, the committee would like to hear from you.

Each year at its National Conference ACHMM recognizes select members and chapters for their innovative and exceptional work to promote the organization, the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager® (CHMM®) credential and the EHS&S profession.

Awards are presented to individuals in eight categories and to chapters in five categories. More information about the different awards categories and the application process can be accessed by clicking here.

The deadline for nominations is April 30. All nominations must include a photo (JPEG digital format) or video. These materials will be used as part of the award ceremony presentation.

The number of awards nominations and the quality of the nominees’ efforts has increased each year. This trend demonstrates the growth and development that ACHMM is achieving in the U.S. and globally. Last year more than 50 individuals and 20 chapters were honored with ACHMM awards.

back to top

ACHMM and RABQSA Announce Agreement

ACHMM and Milwaukee-based RABQSA International, Inc. (RABQSA) have signed a letter of agreement that brings the organizations’ expertise together for personnel certification, membership and professional development.

RABQSA EMS- and OHS-certified auditors will now have the opportunity to receive many ACHMM membership benefits internationally at a reduced rate.  Likewise, ACHMM certified members who meet specific requirements are eligible for reduced fees for RABQSA EMS and OHS management systems auditor certification applications. 

Additionally, ACHMM certified members who apply for RABQSA certification will be recognized as meeting part of the qualification-based requirements in EMS and OHS certification schemes.

“This agreement is important to ACHMM because it effectively positions the organization to continue meeting the changing educational, training and professional development needs of our growing membership base and those professionals who will join in the future as ACHMM continues to expand globally,” said ACHMM Executive Director A. Cedric Calhoun, CAE. “It is an important new knowledge-sharing exchange that will benefit ACHMM's robust membership, which was the primary objective for us when we entered these discussions with RABQSA.”

“We are excited about the benefits and added value this partnership will bring to our certified auditors as well as the ACHMM certified members,” stated Michael K. Carmody, RABQSA president and CEO. “ACHMM and RABQSA recognize the importance of contributing to the improvement of national and international trade, industry and the performance of organizations.  This agreement demonstrates both organizations are willing to work together toward ensuring such improvement is achieved.”

More information on this recognition can be obtained by visiting the RABQSA Web site at www.rabqsa.com or via e-mail at info@rabqsa.com or by visiting the ACHMM Web site at www.achmm.org or via e-mail at academy@achmm.org.

back to top

ACHMM Seeks Leadership Workshop Sponsors

ACHMM is seeking sponsors for its upcoming 2008 Leadership Workshop, which will be held April 23 through 25 in Milwaukee. Is your company or organization interested in supporting ACHMM and its members?

If so, you can sponsor this powerful and sold-out leadership training session. You can get in-depth information about available sponsorship opportunities and related benefits as well as a copy of the sponsorship reservation form by clicking here to download the event sponsorship brochure.

By sponsoring the 2008 ACHMM Leadership Workshop your company or organization will be promoted to workshop attendees as well as more than 4,000 ACHMM members in the U.S. and abroad through an array of tools and mediums. There are a number of excellent opportunities available, ranging from “Event” to specific function sponsorships. For as little as $500 your company or organization could get:

• Public recognition by an ACHMM official at the opening session;
• Its name and logo displayed on the workshop program, handouts and signage;
• Its name and logo displayed on pre-workshop promotional materials (for select sponsorships);
• Its name and logo, with a hyperlink, on ACHMM's Web site (for select sponsorships);
• One or more complimentary workshop registrations (for select sponsorships);
• And so much more.

To date, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Veolia Environmental Services and WI CHMM Chapter/Federation of Environmental Technologists, Inc. are 2008 Leadership Workshop sponsors.

To secure your company or organization’s sponsorship, act today by completing the sponsorship reservation form and sending it to ACHMM. For additional information, contact Leonore Jordan at (800) 437-0137 or ljordan@achmm.org.

back to top

March 7 Webinar: Minimizing Incidents in an Aging Workforce

ACHMM has recently launched its Webinar Series as another way to provide high-quality professional development at a fraction of the cost of a face-to-face meeting. This way you can learn without ever having to leave your office or home. Most courses are eligible for Certification Maintenance Points (CMPs) and will allow CHMMs to gain valuable re-certification points in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. No more sub-zero rooms and uncomfortable chairs!

Webinars typically will be about an hour to two hours long and are similar to conference calls, but with a Web-based component. Presenters will guide attendees through presentations, discuss topics, and answer questions directly, just as they would in a traditional live course. A certificate of completion will be provided for each participant. Participate on your own or as a large group for the same price.

The next ACHMM Webinar—"Minimizing Incidents in an Aging Workforce"—is scheduled for March 7 at 1 p.m. (EST) to review the current trend of aging in the workplace and identify key areas where problems may surface.

This Webinar topic was one of the highest-rated workshops at the 2007 ACHMM National Conference. If you missed the workshop last year now you can acquire the same helpful insight during this informative session. Also, you can earn .06 CMPs toward CHMM recertification.   

The aging of the American population is a social phenomenon that is affecting many aspects of our culture, including the workplace. For many SH&E professionals this trend presents new and relatively unchartered challenges to reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.

During this Webinar you will learn a variety of basic and advanced strategies that you can apply in your workplace. Specifically, you will learn:

• five statistical measures that demonstrate the aging of the American workforce;
• four key functional areas where the challenges of an aging workforce become apparent; and
• five strategies to modify the workplace for an aging workforce.

Pamela Ferrante, CSP, CHMM, president of JC Safety & Environmental, Inc., a health and safety consultancy, will lead the Webinar. The firm specializes in the review and/or design of corporate health and safety programs, customized training programs for OSHA compliance, site-specific health and safety plans as well as jobsite audits.

Any EHS&S professional who works in a company or organization where the workforce is aging and is concerned about the safety of his or her coworkers will benefit from this Webinar.

Click here now to register for the "Minimizing Incidents in an Aging Workforce" Webinar. Cost is $85 for ACHMM members and $105 for nonmembers. For more information or to suggest other Webinar topics, contact Cedric Calhoun, CAE, ACHMM executive director, at (800) 437-0137 or ccalhoun@achmm.org.

Be sure to mark April 16, 1 p.m. EST on your calendar for the April Webinar: To Test or Not To Test.

back to top

ACHMM Career Center: Opportunities for Employers & Job Seekers

The online ACHMM Career Center is available to ACHMM members and nonmembers alike. We are striving to build this site as the go-to job resource for ACHMM members and other EHS&S professionals who manage or interact with hazardous materials as a part of their job responsibilities.

Employers: Find quality candidates for your job openings through the ACHMM Career Center—a quality source of potential employees. Learn how ACHMM and the use of the Career Center site can help in your human resource responsibilities.

Job Seekers: Gain valuable advice and guidance on your career strategy by using the ACHMM Career Center—a quality source of EHS&S resources and positions brought to you by your professional organization. Check out the services available to you in the ACHMM Career Center.

back to top