Synergist - October 2009

This new, intermediate level, self-study course is designed to guide you through a series of lessons on laboratory quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures.

Three NEW chapters explore the implementation of a well-designed laboratory QA/QC program, compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 and AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs (LAP) requirements.

Gain up-to-date knowledge on:

• Concepts of quality assurance and quality control
• Basic elements required to implement and evaluate an
effective laboratory QA/QC program
• How defined principles affect analytical data
• ISO/IEC 17025 and AIHA LAP compliance requirements

Industry Information—Stay on top of the latest trends, industry standards and regulations through AIHA’s many publications and its website.

Networking Opportunities—Exchange ideas and solve challenges through a national network of OEHS professionals that’s 10,460 members strong.

Knowledge—Gain priceless information and expertise from involvement in some of AIHA’s volunteer committees, task forces, working groups or special interest groups.

AIHA has the benefits and services you need—start using them
today! For additional information, or to renew, visit www.aiha.org.

Membership renewal information will be e-mailed to you later this month. To update your e-mail address with AIHA, please contact AIHA member services at (703) 849-8888.

Available in a NEW on-demand
electronic format—Fall 2009!
To learn more, visit
www.aiha.org/SelfStudy

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2010 Board of Directors Nominations

AIHA® is currently seeking nominations for five AIHA Board positions that will be vacated in June 2010: vice president, secretary-elect and three director positions. The deadline for nominations for elected leadership positions is Nov. 1, 2009. Electronic submission forms are available on the AIHA website. The annual online election will be held the first quarter of 2010.

The Board of Directors plays a critical role at AIHA. The Board is the face of the association. It establishes the direction and goals of AIHA and monitors the progress toward reaching those goals on behalf of the membership. For more information or a nomination form, visit www.aiha.org.

DOL Cites Opposition from Public in Withdrawal
of Risk Assessment Rule

Citing opposition from worker advocacy organizations, labor unions, and risk assessment experts, the U.S. Department of Labor has withdrawn a controversial risk assessment rule that critics charged would have unnecessarily delayed rulemaking to protect workers from toxic substances. AIHA® opposed both the substance of the rule and DOL’s determination to proceed without allowing additional public comment.

In August 2008, DOL published a notice of proposed rulemaking intended to codify DOL’s risk assessment procedures for health standard rulemakings that address workplace exposure to toxic substances. The proposal would have required DOL agencies to issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) for every health standard involving toxic substances or hazardous chemicals, apart from emergency temporary standards; post documents related to a rulemaking on the Internet; and discard the assumption of a 45-year working life per worker in favor of industry-by-industry exposure data.

Opponents contended that the ANPR requirement would delay rulemaking, that a 2002 law already required department agencies to post information related to rulemaking on the Internet, and that a reliance on industry-by-industry data would underestimate worker exposures.