NAOSH Week 2016 Is Next Month May 1–7, 2016, marks the 14th Annual North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, which includes Occupational Safety and Health Professional (OSHP) Day on May 4. NAOSH Week occurs every year during the first full week of May and is intended to raise awareness about occupational and environmental health and safety and the OEHS profession. Through its alliance with OSHA, AIHA is a partner in NAOSH Week. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers (CSSE), and the Interdisciplinary Association of Occupational Health and Hygiene of Mexico, Civil Association (AISOHMEX), are also sponsors. For more information, visit the ASSE website. AIHA Honors 2016 Award Recipients AIHA has announced the recipients of the 2016 AIHA awards, which honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety professions. The award recipients will be recognized on Wednesday, May 25, during the second annual Mark of Excellence Awards Breakfast at AIHce 2016. This year’s AIHA award recipients are:

• Susan D. Ripple, MS, CIH, FAIHA – Edward J. Baier Technical Achievement Award
  
• Frederick W. Boelter, CIH, PE, BCEE – Donald E. Cummings Memorial Award
  
• Shannon H. Gaffney, PhD, MHS, CIH – Kusnetz Award
  
• Mary O’Reilly, PhD, CIH, CPE – Alice Hamilton Award
  
• Barbara J. Dawson, CIH, CSP – Distinguished Service Award
  
• Irvin A Fischer, CIH, CSP – Social Responsibility Award
  
• Roger Alesbury, CFFOH, and Stephen R. Bailey, CFFOH – Yant Award
  

“It’s a great pleasure to acknowledge the recipients of this year’s AIHA awards for their outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to advancing the industrial hygiene profession,” said AIHA President Daniel H. Anna, PhD, CIH. The recipient of the 2016 Henry F. Smyth, Jr. Award will be announced later this year.

AIHA’s Annual Conferences Are Almost Here AIHA’s annual conferences are fast approaching, and AIHA staff are looking forward to seeing our members on the road in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in May, and in San Antonio in late October. Below are some reminders for preparing for AIHce 2016 and AIHA Fall Conference. Notice of AIHA annual meeting. AIHA’s annual meeting will be held at AIHce 2016 in Baltimore, Md., at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, to introduce incoming officers and directors, report on the results of ballot and bylaw changes, and address other business. In order to establish a quorum for this meeting, a call for proxy votes will be made electronically later this month. Coming soon: AIHce 2016. AIHce 2016 will be held May 21–26 in Inner Harbor Baltimore, Md. Pre-conference education will be held May 21 and 22, and the main conference will take place May 23–26. The advance program for AIHce 2016 was mailed in February and can be viewed or downloaded from the AIHce website. The advance program features a list of educational opportunities, highlights of events and activities offered during the conference and exposition, exhibit information, and details on registration and hotel accommodations. For more information about the conference, see the article on page 10. To register for AIHce 2016, visit the conference website. Registration for Fall Conference to open this summer. The 2016 AIHA Fall Conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas. Pre-conference professional development courses (PDCs) will take place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23, and the main conference will take place Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 24 and 25. Post-conference PDCs will be offered Wednesday, Oct. 26. Registration and hotel information is coming soon. Please check the Fall Conference website for details. AIHA Accolades William Jones, CIH, CSP, CPE, joined Clark Seif Clark (CSC) as vice president of industrial hygiene. Jones will provide guidance and technical review of IH, health, and safety projects for clients nationwide. Jones has worked as an environmental and safety professional for more than 30 years, including experience in consulting and regulatory compliance.

James R. Thornton, CIH, CSP, is among 15 members recently appointed to the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH) by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. Through the assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, MACOSH advises the secretary of labor on issues related to working conditions in the maritime industry.

Steve Winiecki recently retired from SGS Galson Laboratories, Inc., where he worked for the last 15 years. As SGS Galson’s business development manager, Winiecki was the face of the company at national, regional, and local conferences and trade shows. In its press release, SGS Galson praised Winiecki’s work and friendly, caring disposition.

Call for Public Comment on Three Proposed ERPGs The Emergency Response Planning (ERP) Committee of the AIHA Guideline Foundation (AGF) has proposed values for Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs) for maleic anhydride, nitrogen trifluoride, and furfural. The ERP Committee develops ERPGs for responding to potential releases of airborne substances for use in community emergency planning. View the proposed ERPGs on the AIHA website. The ERP Committee welcomes comments and suggestions of additional references or resources that could be provided for consideration. The public comment period ends on April 11, 2016. Comments should be sent to AGF and addressed to Laurie Mutdosch via e-mail or regular mail: AIHA Guideline Foundation, 3141 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 777, Falls Church, VA 22042. AIHA Holds Successful Leadership Workshop The 2016 AIHA Leadership Workshop, held Jan. 29–31 in Falls Church, Va., promoted the continued success and development of the industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety professions. The event drew attendees representing AIHA local sections, volunteer groups, and student local sections. Participants included AIHA Board members, local section regional representatives, and leaders from the local sections and student local section councils. Read more about Leadership Workshop in AIHA President Daniel H. Anna’s column in the March 2016 Synergist. Dates and Deadlines May 1–7 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week 2016. May 4 Occupational Safety and Health Professional (OSHP) Day.
May 10 All-day PDC: IH Decision Making Using Bayesian Decision Analysis held by the Connecticut River Valley AIHA in Stamford, Conn.