News and Notes

the Synergist

COMMUNITY

AIHA NEWS AND NOTES

AIHce EXP 2021 Will Be Hybrid On-Site/Virtual Event AIHA announced in December that AIHce EXP 2021 will be held May 24–26 in Dallas, Texas, as a hybrid on-site and virtual event. Those willing and able to travel can attend events in person at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center under heightened safety protocols. The conference will be supplemented by a substantial virtual program. Individuals who are unable to travel can attend an entirely virtual conference, which will be held concurrently. Full registration to either the on-site and virtual or the wholly virtual experience includes access to session recordings on AIHce OnDemand, which will be available six to eight weeks after the conference. “Throughout 2020, AIHA successfully delivered a series of virtual education events, including a completely online AIHce EXP, which received glowing feedback from participants,” said Bethany Chirico, CMP, CAE, AIHA’s managing director of Global Meetings and Business Development. “Nonetheless, our members are keen to return in person if appropriate safety precautions are in place.”

The safety precautions AIHA is taking to offer a healthy and safe experience for on-site attendees, exhibitors, and staff include physical distancing within event rooms; strict room capacity limits to ensure physical distancing (for rooms that reach capacity, additional attendees may attend that session online); one-way entrances and exits from session rooms and the Expo Hall; increased distance between Expo booths; digital services to reduce touchpoints, including ticketless registration, downloadable program guides, and web previews of AIHA books and resources for sale at the AIHA booth; symptom and temperature screening upon entry to the convention center; sanitization of session rooms and audiovisual equipment before and after each session; and multiple hand-sanitizing stations located throughout the facility.

“Organizing a successful on-site conference in the wake of COVID-19 is possible, but requires careful and transparent planning, clear and active communication, and collaboration with facilities, attendees, exhibitors, and supplier partners,” said Chirico. “We are fully committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our members and partners.”

For more information or to register for the conference, visit the AIHce EXP website.

Apply for the AIHA Distinguished Lecturer Program AIHA invites new applications for its Distinguished Lecturer Program, which provides lectures on national and international occupational and environmental health issues that affect the practice of industrial hygiene.

The program is hosted by the AIHA Fellows SIG and features prominent experts in industrial hygiene who are prepared to lecture on recent research, new developments, and topics of interest that affect workplace safety and the environment.

The review process for the Distinguished Lecturer Program occurs throughout the year. Applicants will be notified by the end of each quarter regarding the status of their applications. For more information or to access the online application form, visit the program webpage.

A complete list of individuals participating in AIHA’s Distinguished Lecturer Program is also available online. Lecturers are listed together with the topics on which they’re prepared to present. These experts are located throughout the U.S. and Canada, and the Distinguished Lecturer Program enables AIHA local sections and other interested groups to connect with and learn from experts in the field of industrial hygiene by scheduling presentations at local, regional, or international meetings. Please visit AIHA’s website to learn more about the program.

Technical Frameworks Available on AIHA.org AIHA’s technical frameworks define the core knowledge and skills required from an individual for effective performance in specific practices or areas of expertise. These frameworks are widely used by professionals seeking to expand or refresh their knowledge or skills. Technical frameworks may also be used to develop new training programs within an organization. AIHA has published technical frameworks in areas such as indoor air quality and indoor environmental quality, emergency preparedness and response for the industrial hygienist, respiratory protection programs, Big Data, and the occupational exposure banding process. A newly published technical framework outlines the fundamental knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to assess Legionella sources and the risk of exposure. For more information on AIHA’s Frameworks, or to download these resources, visit AIHA's website.

CEC Accepting Membership Applications AIHA is now accepting applications for positions on the Continuing Education Committee. The CEC comprises 12 members who serve four one-year terms. The CEC’s mission is to ensure quality educational opportunities that broaden knowledge, enhance technical competencies, and provide industrial hygienists with practical tools and skills. The CEC provides one of the levels of technical peer review of AIHA’s professional development courses, or PDCs. In addition to providing review of the PDCs offered at AIHce EXP, CEC members are also asked to audit new educational offerings, which provides an opportunity for them to earn CM hours at no cost.

Selection of new CEC members will be completed in the spring, and terms will begin with AIHce EXP 2021 in Dallas, Texas.

Applications are due by March 17. Prospective volunteers are asked to provide a current resume or CV and fill out an application listing their experience, knowledge, and primary areas of interest. The application is available online. For more information, email Erin Breece, CEC staff liaison, or visit the committee webpage.

First Professionals Earn New Product Stewardship Credential The Product Stewardship Society announced in December the inaugural class of Certified Professional Product Stewards, comprising 28 product stewardship professionals who recently earned the new CPPS credential. The CPPS allows product stewardship professionals to distinguish their expertise and build professional credibility within their organizations.

The Product Stewardship Society supported the Board for Global EHS Credentialing to establish this new credential. The Product Stewardship Society offers several resources to help candidates prepare for the exam, including an online CPPS exam prep course.

For more information on the CPPS credential, visit the Product Stewardship Society website. The inaugural class of professionals who earned the CPPS is available from the society's press release.

2021 Road Courses Announced AIHA road courses offer quality training in a small group setting near Columbus, Ohio, and online. New dates for two road courses are now available.

Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene will be held twice in 2021: online March 22–26 and in person in Westerville, Ohio, Sept. 20–23. This course is designed for those who are new to industrial hygiene or who have newly acquired IH responsibilities, and will cover the basic concepts of health hazard recognition, evaluation, and control methods.

Exposure and Chemical Monitoring - Beyond IH Fundamentals, an intermediate three-day course, will be held Oct. 18–20 in Westerville. This course is designed to provide additional training and knowledge in IH chemical monitoring through group exercises and discussion. Attendees will learn how to apply the concept of similar exposure groups (SEGs), conduct a qualitative exposure assessment for a SEG, and properly calibrate exposure monitoring equipment.

More information is available on AIHA's website.

Vote in the 2021 AIHA Board Election From Feb. 12 to March 5, AIHA members will vote in the 2021 AIHA Board of Directors election. AIHA will partner with a new vendor to provide a safe, secure web-based voting system during this year’s election cycle. Instructions on how to vote in the election will be emailed to members this month. More information about the candidates for the 2021 election is available elsewhere in this issue.

Please email questions to AIHA.

Golden Seed Award Nominations Due Soon The Student and Early Career Professionals (SECP) Committee seeks nominations for its Golden Seed Award. Nominees must be AIHA members who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting the industrial hygiene profession among or providing guidance and mentorship to students and early-career professionals. This includes contributions in the areas of student development and early-career guidance.

Nominations for the Golden Seed Award will be accepted until Friday, March 12, and must be submitted via the online nomination form. Please email questions to Maggie Murphy with the subject line “SECP Golden Seed Award.”

Volunteer Opportunities Are you interested in serving as a leader within AIHA? AIHA posts volunteer opportunities for members to serve in various leadership capacities throughout the year. Please email questions about getting involved with AIHA to AIHA staff.

Dates and Deadlines Feb. 12–March 5 Vote in the 2021 AIHA Board of Directors election.

Feb. 25 AIHA webinar: “The Power of Thought – Critical Thinking for Occupational Health and Safety Professionals.”

March 17 Deadline to apply for a position on AIHA’s Continuing Education Committee.

March 22–26 AIHA’s virtual Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene course.

May 24–26 AIHce EXP 2021 in Dallas, Texas, and online.

For a complete list of events, visit AIHA's website.