AIHA Backs Vaccination as COVID-19 Control Strategy On August 16, AIHA announced via press release its support of vaccination as an important control strategy against COVID-19. AIHA also joined other organizations that advocate for public and workplace health in signing an open letter to governors across the United States (PDF), calling on them to support important public health guidance during the current stage of the pandemic.

The letter urges U.S. governors to actively promote COVID-19 vaccination and consider making vaccination a condition of employment for healthcare and government workers. The signatory organizations cite the aggressive nationwide spread of the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 and its increased potential to overwhelm hospitals and healthcare systems as the reason behind their call to action.

“As organizations dedicated to preventing the spread of infectious diseases, protecting students and communities, and treating patients when they become ill, we recommend that all state and local government entities adhere to the CDC guidance when reopening schools and businesses,” the letter says.

AIHA’s statement describes its support of employers who find ways to encourage vaccination among employees or develop workable programs to mandate vaccination in the workforce where warranted.

“The shortest path to ending the COVID-19 pandemic is through widespread, rapid vaccination,” said AIHA President John Mulhausen, CIH.

AIHA urges employers to follow every available precaution to protect the health and safety of workers. The second editions of the association’s Back to Work Safely guidance documents, which advise small businesses in a number of industries on how to operate safely during the pandemic, are now available online.

More information can be found in both AIHA’s press release and one issued by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, another signatory of the open letter.

AIHA University to Host “Hands-On” Virtual PDC Week In November, AIHA University will host a week of virtual professional development courses covering topics such as assessing exposure and risk, OEHS ethics, leadership, and the business of environmental health and safety. As described in a SynergistNOW blog post, AIHA University aims to make these virtual PDCs more interactive and “hands-on” than traditional online learning sessions through exercises, activities, and discussions that course participants will take part in as a group. AIHA Fellow Georgi Popov, who will be an instructor for two of the November PDCs, described the event’s course delivery model as “virtual live.”

“There is no big difference between an in-person live class and virtual live class,” he said. “We will cover the same course materials. Discussion, interactive exercises, and group activities are all part of the course.”

AIHA University also intends for these courses to provide participating OEHS professionals with opportunities to understand the course topics more deeply or to help professionals work toward CIH credentials or decide on their areas of specialization.

“Professional development courses have remained popular with professionals who are interested in expanding their skill set,” said Erin Breece, program director of education at AIHA. “At the end of the day, attendees leave with practical tools they can use in their day-to-day work.”

Virtual PDC Week will take place Nov. 8–12. More information is available in the SynergistNOW blog post “Making Online Training a Hands-On Experience” and on AIHA’s website.

AIHA CEO Honored as American Society of Association Executives Fellow Lawrence D. Sloan, the CEO of AIHA, has been selected as a 2021 Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Sloan was honored as one of 10 members of ASAE’s Fellows Class of 2021 at the society’s annual meeting and exposition, which was held virtually in August. The ASAE Fellows selection process includes an application describing the individual's demonstrated leadership in diversity and inclusion, foresight, and commitment to the association community. Since the program’s inception in 1986, 273 association executives have received this designation.

Prior to joining AIHA as CEO in 2016, Sloan served as president and CEO of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates. Sloan is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive through ASAE.

For more information, view AIHA’s press release.

AIHA Director of Government Relations Selected to Serve on Professional Advisory Boards Mark Ames, AIHA’s director of government relations, has been selected to serve on the American Society of Association Executives’ Government Relations and Advocacy Professionals Advisory Council. The council comprises four subcommittees that focus on content development, educational programming and events, state and community outreach, and more.

Ames was also invited to serve on the George Washington University School of Business Transformative Leadership in Disruptive Times Advisory Council, a program intended to help professionals identify the value in emerging technologies, business models, and resources at their organizations.

Since 2016, Ames has led AIHA’s government and public relations activities. His work has appeared in and been referenced by national news as well as trade publications. For more information, see AIHA’s media alert.

Coming Soon: AIHA Vendor Directory The 2021 AIHA Vendor Directory, a comprehensive resource for industrial hygiene, safety, and environmental products and services, will be mailed together with the November issue of The Synergist. Keep the Vendor Directory handy for easy access to information you need to make purchasing decisions.

Companies are listed first in alphabetical order with complete mailing addresses, website addresses, and phone numbers. The Vendor Directory also includes a listing of companies that offer products or services in specific categories and an index of articles that have appeared in this year’s volume of The Synergist.

Visit the new digital home of the Vendor Directory.

Computer Applications Committee Renamed “Emerging Digital Technologies Committee” The AIHA Board of Directors has approved the name change of the Computer Applications Committee, now the Emerging Digital Technologies (EDT) Committee. The committee has adopted the new name in recognition of the changing nature of the technologies affecting occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. The EDT Committee will provide a forum for exchanging ideas and information related to new and emerging digital technologies and advancing the use of these technologies.

For more information, visit the committee webpage. Individuals interested in joining the committee should email Janice Allen or Linda Bridges, the EDT Committee chair.

AIHce EXP 2021 OnDemand Recordings Now Available AIHce OnDemand now offers access to recorded versions of AIHce EXP 2021 educational sessions through the AIHA Marketplace. Choose your preferred topic areas and view sessions you missed at AIHce EXP 2021 on your computer, tablet, or smartphone, while earning CM contact hours. Recordings are available for purchase individually, bundled by topic, and as part of a full package containing all 94 educational sessions plus bonus content. The AIHce EXP 2021 Full OnDemand Package will only be available for purchase through Nov. 30.

To purchase or learn more about AIHce OnDemand offerings, visit AIHA's website.

Last Call: 2022 Board of Directors Nominations AIHA seeks nominations for four Board of Directors positions that will be vacated in May 2022: vice president, secretary-elect, and two at-large director positions. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 15. Visit bit.ly/aihaboard2022 to find more information about submitting Board nominations. Please email Thursa Pecoraro with questions.

Nominate a Colleague for the AIHA Fellow Award AIHA is accepting nominations for the 2022 Fellow awards through Dec. 31. The AIHA Fellows designation, which honors individuals who provide significant contributions to the industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety professions, is limited to no more than five percent of the membership. AIHA local sections, special interest groups, committees, and peers may nominate individuals for consideration as Fellows.

More information about the Fellows nomination process is available on AIHA’s website. Please email questions about AIHA Fellows to Janice Allen.

AIHA Accepting Proposals for Projects in Developing Countries The Micro-Grants Subcommittee of AIHA’s International Affairs Committee (IAC) is accepting applications for funding for international projects and training in developing countries through Dec. 31. The IAC’s Emerging Economy Projects Fund was established to increase understanding of and build capacity for occupational hygiene in developing economies around the world. Learn more on AIHA’s website.

Oct. 15 Deadline to submit 2022 AIHA Board of Directors nominations.

Oct. 18–20 AIHA road course: “Exposure and Chemical Monitoring – Beyond IH Fundamentals” in Westerville, Ohio.

Nov. 8–12 AIHA University: Fall 2021 Virtual PDC Week.

Dec. 6–8 California Industrial Hygiene Council: 30th Annual CIHC Professional Development Seminar in Long Beach, California, and online.

Dec. 31 Deadline to submit AIHA Fellows nominations and Emerging Economy Project Fund applications.

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