DEPARTMENTS
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
DONNA S. HEIDEL, CIH, FAIHA, is principal industrial hygienist at Amazon.
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Looking Ahead to AIHce EXP 2023
BY DONNA S. HEIDEL, AIHA PRESIDENT
As usual, this year’s AIHce will provide many opportunities for attendees to learn about important activities underway at AIHA. It is also, of course, an essential professional development experience covering the latest developments in OEHS science. Here is an early look at the highlights of the conference program. For updated times and locations, check the conference website.
Keynote speakers. The opening keynote by Poppy Crum, the chief scientist at NextSense and an adjunct professor at Stanford University, will explore the human and consumer applications of rapidly advancing technology. In Crum’s optimistic vision of the future, technology will enhance, not replace, human interactions and experiences.
The closing keynote speaker, Fredi Lajvardi, will discuss the importance of diversity to building resilient, innovative organizations. Lajvardi is a science teacher whose background as an Iranian immigrant helped him connect with his predominantly Hispanic high school students.
Advancing OEHS science and practice. In Phoenix, open forums will be held on each of our recent initiatives to advance OEHS science and practice: Defining the Science, which seeks to identify areas where OEHS practice has not kept up with scientific findings; Standards of Care, which seeks to define minimum expected standards for OEHS practice; State of the Art vs. State of the Practice, which seeks to empower practitioners to achieve best-in-class performance; and Improving Exposure Judgment Accuracy, which promotes the use of statistical tools. We will also hold a Town Hall for all volunteer group leaders and R&D officers to discuss successes, opportunities, and challenges regarding the Defining the Science initiative.
A separate session, “O10: AIHA's Exposure Decision Analysis Registry—A Critical Step in OEHS Professional Development,” will discuss the EDA Registry, a free resource that helps us develop our knowledge and validate our skills.
In Phoenix, open forums will be held on each of our recent initiatives to advance OEHS science and practice.
ESG. ESG ratings, which attempt to measure environmental, social, and governance performance, are becoming increasingly important for corporations around the world, and OEHS professionals are often tasked with integrating ESG aspects into business practices. At AIHce, a new professional development course, “PDC 602: An Overview of Sustainability, ESG, and Human Capital for OEHS Professionals,” will broaden attendees’ understanding of this emerging area. Related sessions include “F3: The Past, Present, and Future of ESG and OEHS,” “G3: The Convergence of ESG and Total Worker Health,” and “N3: ESG and the OEHS Professional.”
Content priorities. According to environmental scans, surveys, and other research, the four topics of highest priority for our profession are Big Data and sensor technology, communicating OEHS concepts, serving the changing workforce, and Total Worker Health. Each of these topics is well represented in the AIHce program. One especially interesting session is “B3: SPARKTalks: Addressing Total Worker Health Approaches to Advancing Worker Well-Being,” during which presenters will share their experiences through 20-slide presentations that automatically advance every 15 seconds.
Heat stress. Heat stress is an increasingly important and complex issue in OEHS. OSHA identifies heat as the leading cause of death among all weather-related phenomena, and a recent study suggests that every 1 C increase in temperature above reference values corresponds to a one percent increased risk of occupational injury. Several sessions at AIHce will address heat stress, including “J3: Building an Effective Heat Stress Management Plan,” “K3: Engaging and Empowering Employees with Heat Stress Assessment,” and “L3: What the New TLV for Heat Stress Means for You.”
Students and young professionals. The Nexus lounge is where students and early career professionals can interact with experienced practitioners. The schedule of presenters includes keynote speakers Poppy Crum and Fredi Lajvardi. Other planned events include “volunteer-palooza” in which AIHA volunteer groups will explain how to get involved—a great way for our younger attendees to expand their professional horizons.
Virtual option. If you can't join us in Phoenix, you can still participate in the virtual conference. Explore the conference program to learn which sessions will be available online.