mfety in the chemicol loboratory
edited by MALCOLM M. RENFREW University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho 83843
Certifications for Professional Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Kenneth E. Fischer Environmental Protection.Agency, National Enforcement Investigations Center, Building 53, Box 25227, Denver, CO 80225
The impetus provided in recent years through public concern over the environment, the ensuing federal and state passage of envinmmental regulations, m particular the Federal Hrsourcr Conrervarron and Rer w e r y Act (HCU.4)and Comprchenrivr Environmental Response ~ombensationand Liability Act (CERCLA or "Superfund" act), with amendments, and the substantial amounts of money expended on Superfund cleanups, have all givennew importance t o n class of professionals who manage hazardous materials and wastes. This article deals with the qualifications of those individuals and the growth in the number of certifications that are available that attest t o the skills and education they need to carry out their tasks. This "certification phenomenon", which parallels a similar trend in laboratories with the number of accreditation programs labKenneth Flscher has environmental compliance,health and safety, and investigation responsibilitiesat the EPA's National Enforcement Investigations Center in Denver. Colorado, and is part of the extended staff of the EPA Headquarters environmental complianceand health and safety group. He has provided assistance to local. state, national, federal, and international Organizations seeking to improve hazardous waste disposal practices. He is on the American lndustrial Hygiene Assaciation and American Conference of Governmental lndustrial Hygienists hazardous waste commihees, and chairs a subcommiltee on Industrial Hygiene certificationin hazardous wastes. He has several publications an laboratory hazardous waste disposal, contracting for disposal services. environmental auditing, and other laborstory topics. Before coming to EPP in 1976. he worked with the Western Electric Corporation In lndustrial Hygiene and engineering for chemical remanufacturing and assembly line processes. Fischer has a masters degree in physics and biomedical engineering Com Cathollc University in Washington, DC, and an undergraduatedegreein liberal arts and physics fram Fordham University in New York. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer and a Certified lndusnlal Hygienist.
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oratories may participate in for the perfarmance of certain kinds of analvses. , ..ooses a challenge toacademir institutions that wish to graduate students equipped to assume responsible positions in the fields relating tu hazardous materials and waste management. Colleges and universities must be aware of the educational prerequisites for these certifications so their students have the necessary basic instruction required t o aualifv for these orofessional certifications. Academic inrtitutroni may wish 10 wmider integrating certain basic requirements into therr curricula so students may graduate already on their way t o professional certification. The table includes educational requirements for some of these professional certifications.' ~~
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A review of the table suggests that some unification in certification reouirements ma). tend rogive greater value to the rrsulting fener rerrifirnter, and perhaps a n academrc forum could hring chis ahout. Perhaps certifying organizations would welcome a n overture from degree-granting institutions in order to foster greater quality and credibility.
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Role of Colleges a n d Unlversltles Note the proper role of an education provided by academic institutions and its difference fram orofessional certification. Cerufication attests to the experrence of indiwduals, over and abme their education, bur includes educational requirements as well. Questions thus arise f
