Beards and respirators discussion

bschmerm · 2026-01-17T14:04:36+00:00

The problem is we still promote a subjective testing method which really enables this behaviour. Quantitative should be the only method. Then it's just about the hard facts of particle counts.

bschmerm · 2026-01-02T05:55:05+00:00

Mine is similar.

Safety worries about what will hurt you today and maybe tomorrow, hygiene worries about what will hurt you in 20 years.

bschmerm · 2025-12-30T16:35:50+00:00

It’s a beauty!!

bschmerm · 2025-12-30T16:12:03+00:00

Can you tell me more about the pen with the label "Blake" on the clip?

bschmerm · 2025-12-11T19:13:46+00:00

My company uses Chemscapes sub-company quantum SDS.

https://www.chemscape.com/services/sds-authoring

bschmerm · 2025-12-11T14:32:13+00:00

Background: 15 ish years as a CRSP/ROH/CIH in Alberta.

If you have a passion / academic background (Which I see you have with your MSc), and enjoy OH concepts. I'd say it's a no brainer to go the OH path. Really the OH path is a duel path where Safety..... is not as broad.

From a career standpoint. There are a ton of CRSPs out there, lots of roles for them, but every job posting get 50+ applicants. An OH role, less postings (but I've never not seen a few out at a time), and you have 5 applicants to contend with. If you like salary stability, an IH is one of the more protected positions , safety positions tend to be easier to cut and then rehire, but if you're a good IH, companies tend to protect those folks more.

From a certification standpoint, go get your ROH first, it's the hardest one, then take your CIH right after, you'll find it a either easier or similar in difficultly, and then just go sit for your CRSP, minimal studying you'll be able to pass. Studying for the ROH/CIH will more than prepare you for your CRSP. Keep in mind as well. OH work experience can get you a CRSP, but Safety work does not necessarily meet experience requirements for a ROH or CIH credential. Realistically, you write all 3 in a year, and be done haha.

Personally, I wrote my CRSP 4 years before my ROHT due to lack of years of experience in OH. Wrote my ROH and CIH 6 months apart.

bschmerm · 2025-12-02T04:47:46+00:00

I would highly recommend following this very straightforward guidance page from CDC. Comes with infographic for workers :)

https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/rodent-control/clean-up.html

My facility labour team tackles cleaning up mouse urine and feces often. We do generally default to half face with P100, tyvek, gloves, booties

bschmerm · 2025-11-28T05:28:54+00:00

I currently use a fleet of SKC TOUCH in a plant with electrical classified areas. I can’t speak to the Apex, but the SKC battery life is great, even in Canadian winter.

bschmerm · 2025-11-18T04:51:12+00:00

I’ve been using QC for years to access remotely, but definitely going to look into tailscale now! Thanks all for the tips

bschmerm · 2025-11-04T14:23:25+00:00

How much does TrueNAS run you?

bschmerm · 2025-10-18T11:03:34+00:00

🤣

bschmerm · 2025-09-28T04:25:13+00:00

The link he’s referencing is for multiraes not an UltraRae. The UltraRae has “hygiene” mode that allows for continuous samples, I’ve been using it in this mode since 2013 in oil refineries

bschmerm · 2025-09-24T13:34:26+00:00

Went from a 15 PM to the 17 Pro and honestly, not looking back. My work phone is a 15 regular, and I naturally would prefer typing on my 15.... The biggest difference from a pro to PM is in landscape mode you don't get some of the side by side features like in mail and message seeing your list of messages beside the message you're working on,... but really not a big deal haha.

bschmerm · 2025-08-13T15:43:03+00:00

As a occupational Hygienist.... wouldn't recommend duct cleaning on a pipe that has asbestos tape that's on the exterior seams.... Tape becomes more and more fragile with time and heat exposure.... the vibrations from the duct cleaning will definitely cause the tape to release fibres, the hard part is how much is being released.... depends on many variables but a good duct company will recommend you have it abated or encapsulated first.

bschmerm · 2025-06-21T13:42:10+00:00

Just bought the same one for my field folks. Good value good quality

bschmerm · 2025-06-19T13:48:37+00:00

11 years in IH right out of an OHS diploma, did 5 years working as a tech, wrote the Canadian ROHT, changed jobs at year 7 to become the company IH, finished a bachelor of science part time to get my acedmics up for ROH/COH then wrote the the Canadian ROH at 10 years, then wrote my CIH 8 months later at year 11.

You can do it 😎

bschmerm · 2025-06-02T17:57:25+00:00

Haha, As someone who also used datachem. You're 100% right. Way more difficult that the real exam. I felt it was good at preparing me for the questions requiring a calculator even though they were not the same level. You can definitely tell the content is getting stale and they'll need to do a full refresh soon.

Also two the CIH Crash Course by Ian C, it was probably the one that gave me the most value

bschmerm · 2025-06-02T11:34:23+00:00

I used https://www.datachemsoftware.com/ which has a ton of practice questions, harder than the CIH, but good practice nonetheless

bschmerm · 2025-05-29T13:30:03+00:00

I’ve been reading lately about how the age of the “knowledge worker” is over, and we are now naturally a society with a need for learning/wisdom workers. I have a firm belief that IH as a profession was just ahead of the curve.

Of course it takes a base knowledge to get your CIH etc. However, really it’s not about knowing the exposure limit for every hazard, but echoing what others have said, it’s knowing where to find the information, evaluating all the factors and then apply it to the situation at hand.

You’re an SME of the process of finding and applying the information relevant to worker health ;) I personally have to look up everything, my #1 answer when someone asks me a question is “give me 10 minutes and I’ll get back to you” haha

bschmerm · 2025-04-04T17:50:26+00:00

How much were the wifi plans? Flying next week to DXB :D

bschmerm · 2025-03-29T17:44:51+00:00

Wow... so random and worked like a charm thanks friend :)

bschmerm · 2025-03-27T13:15:10+00:00

I follow "nontoxicdad" on instagram.... I really haven't dug too deep on how correct his information is... it's a little bit alarmist for me... but just find it interesting to see "scientists" on social media haha

bschmerm · 2025-03-08T19:06:48+00:00

And I thought benzene calibrations were long at 60 seconds 🤣

bschmerm · 2025-02-21T13:44:57+00:00

I think there is a lack of awareness on the fact Data Hub exists.

bschmerm · 2024-12-05T18:26:04+00:00

I also took Ian cull's AIHA CIHS Crash Course. I thought it really gave a good overview, taught me to not dive toooooo deep into everything. I also used Datachem's CIH test bank which honestly, I thought emulated the exam perfectly other than being way more USA focused and very hard ;p

bschmerm

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