The Gateway Society of Hazardous Materials Managers is the local chapter of the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (formerly known as the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers) for the St. Louis area. Certified Hazardous Materials Managers obtain their credentials through the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management.

The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management is the sole certification body which has certified more than 12,000 professionals as Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (CHMMs). These professionals come from a range of disciplines that includes homeland security, environmental protection, engineering, heal sciences, transportation, public safety, and more. The CHMM professional is emerging as a staff solution in government, private, and corporate hazardous materials sectors. CHMMs understand hazardous materials. They know how to identify, evaluate and eliminate or reduce the risks involved. This allows them to prevent accidents, along with the embarrassment and costly legal problems that could result. CHMMs are an invaluable asset.

The Institute’s CHMM program is accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Board (CESB), an independent, voluntary organization that recognizes, through specialty certification, the expertise of individuals practicing in engineering and related fields. This course provides instruction on laws and regulations, technologies and practices in an overview fashion that highlight and emphasize what is important for a hazardous materials manager to know and provides essential information for the hazardous manager to better conduct their job.

Once certified, CHMMs are required to continue their involvement/education in hazardous materials management and to abide by the CHMM Code of Ethics in order to maintain their certification.