COMMUNITY

AIHA NEWS AND NOTES ​​

In online voting conducted in August, AIHA members approved amendments to the association’s bylaws that redefine the organization’s categories of membership. The AIHA Board of Directors had sought the changes to make membership criteria more inclusive and to appeal to a broader base of potential members. The changes remove educational requirements for the Full membership category, by far the largest of AIHA’s membership classifications. The bylaws now define Full membership as open to anyone who “has a business interest in or supports the industrial hygiene, occupational and environmental health and safety, or allied professions.” Full members can participate in AIHA elections and serve on AIHA committees. The approved changes also eliminate the Affiliate and Associate membership categories. Members who belonged to these categories are now considered Full members and have the right to vote on association matters and join AIHA committees. International membership is now open to individuals from all countries outside Canada and the United States. Members in this category can vote in AIHA elections and serve on AIHA committees. The new International membership replaces the International Affiliate category, which was restricted to members from developing countries as defined by the World Bank. A change to Student membership requires applicants to submit transcripts or similar proof of their status as a full-time student. Amendments to AIHA’s bylaws must be approved by two-thirds of voting members. The changes to membership categories passed by a vote of 87 percent to 13 percent. Members also approved minor administrative changes to the bylaws, including the removal of language related to the functions of Board-level committees, as recommended by AIHA’s legal counsel. These changes were approved by a vote of 91 percent to 9 percent. On Sept. 6, AIHA submitted comments to OSHA on its proposal to amend its recordkeeping regulation by rescinding the requirement for employers with 250 or more employees to electronically submit information from OSHA Forms 300 and 301. A of the agency’s action in the states that OSHA is amending its recordkeeping requirements “to protect sensitive worker information from potential disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.”  AIHA’s comments include two recommendations: first, that OSHA should not rescind this requirement, and second, that the agency should temporarily suspend further action on this rulemaking until a study is conducted on the benefits of information collected from Forms 300 and 301. Download AIHA’s full comments as a . AIHA’s is IH and OEHS consulting professionals’ link to building a larger network. The features an online layout and search function that allows consumers searching for an IH or OEHS consultant to quickly and easily find the expert they need in their zip code. Every year, AIHA distributes the nationwide to thousands of decision makers in a variety of industries, including legal, real estate, trade associations, academia, healthcare, and agencies at all levels of government. Federal agencies such as EPA, FEMA, and OSHA regularly refer consumer inquiries to consultants listed in AIHA’s for assistance. For one price, consultants can display their company logo in both the online and the print version. The deadline to submit order forms for next year's printed is Dec. 14, 2018. To learn more or download the form, visit the AIHA . Please or call (703) 846-0782 with questions. AIHA invites new applications for its Distinguished Lecturer Program, which identifies experts within the association who are willing to provide lectures in their area of expertise to the industrial hygiene community and to AIHA's outreach partners. Applications are reviewed by the Fellows SIG Review Committee during the first and fourth quarters of each year. Applicants will be notified of their application status by the end of the first and fourth quarters, and an approved listing will be posted on AIHA.org. Inclusion in the Distinguished Lecturers’ List is for two years from the date of acceptance. To remain active, Distinguished Lecturers must resubmit their applications for review by the Fellow SIG Review Committee every two years. Individuals interested in being Distinguished Lecturers should apply . Visit the Distinguished Lecturer for additional information and answers to frequently asked questions. The Asian Conference on Indoor Environmental Quality will be held Feb. 1–2, 2019, in New Delhi, India. Presenters at the conference will discuss research and innovation in practice in the field of indoor environmental quality. Conference tracks will include IAQ for urban settings, adaptive thermal comfort, and occupant performance and behavioral studies. The conference is being organized by the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers in collaboration with the Society for Indoor Environment and the Indoor Air Quality Association – India Chapter. For more information, visit the conference . The IEQ Global Alliance is a partner of the Asian Conference on Indoor Environmental Quality. AIHA is a partner in , which seeks to provide acceptable IEQ to occupants in buildings and places of work around the world. AIHA is seeking nominations for four Board of Directors positions that will be vacated in May 2019: vice president, treasurer-elect, and two at-large director positions. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 1, 2018. Electronic submission forms are available for all positions on AIHA's . The 2019 AIHA will be mailed together with the November issue of . Keep the handy for easy access to information on products and services that you need in your daily work. The is also available . The Center for Safety and Health Sustainability, whose member organizations represent more than 100,000 workplace safety and health professionals around the world, is helping to push forward a new global protocol that aims to improve the measurement and value of human capital in corporate decision making and government policy. The protocol is driven by the Social and Human Capital Coalition.  CSHS contributed expert viewpoints in June during a three-month public consultation period, and the coalition is now pursuing next steps to bring the protocol to life. First proposed in April 2017, the social and human capital protocol is designed to provide foundational guidance to bring human capital into the mainstream of business decisions. Read more in CSHS's press release (). AIHA webinar: “.”

AIHA road course: “.” AIHA webinar: “.” in Ann Arbor, Mich. For a complete list of events, visit the AIHA .