Synergist - April 2010

President’s Message
Our Global Focus

In September 2009, my Synergist column updated readers about the progress of AIHA’s international outreach. Recent developments have given me another opportunity to address this topic.

Tragically, these developments include the earthquakes that struck Haiti in January and Chile in February. On behalf of the AIHA Board of Directors, I express my deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the earthquakes.

In response to the immense human suffering that resulted from the Haitian earthquake, AIHA made a donation to official relief agencies and compiled a list of industrial hygiene resources and contact information that agencies could refer to for assistance. Representatives from our Incident Preparedness and Response Working Group kept up with official briefings and informed the Board and staff about new developments.

Several of our members lent support to Haiti in their official capacities as part of government and charitable assistance efforts. Many members made individual donations and helped in other ways. If you’d like to contribute, please visit www.interaction.org to make a monetary donation and www.cidi.org to offer technical assistance or donate supplies.

Strategic Commitments

In February, AIHA Executive Director Peter O’Neil and I traveled to Hyderabad, India, to participate in the national conference of the Indian Association for Occupational Health (IAOH). Founded in 1948, IAOH has nearly 2,000 members and is dedicated to making Indian workplaces healthy and safe.

During the visit, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with

IAOH President Shyam Pingle that pledges AIHA and IAOH to collaborate on efforts to advance the profession and conduct an open dialogue (see page 16 for more information). The MOU represents validation of AIHA’s longstanding commitment to the growth of industrial hygiene worldwide.

Efforts to establish international growth have been a priority at AIHA for many years. We continue to support our International Affairs Committee, which promotes awareness of industrial and environmental practitioners worldwide and assists international organizations on professional matters. In 2008, AIHA created a standing committee of the Board of Directors that focuses exclusively on international program development. Under the leadership of Board member Kevin Gara, this committee recommends strategic priorities and is the focal point for all international activities.

Our strategic focus identified Mexico, China and India as countries where our international outreach has the best opportunity for successful collabration. Our outreach in these countries has already accomplished much.

In December 2007, we partnered with
Chinese organizations to hold the first
Sino-U.S. occupational health workshop
in Beijing. Last year, AIHA followed that
achievement with a successful Fundamen-
tals of Industrial Hygiene (FIH) course in
Beijing. Now we are on the cusp of repeat-
ing our successes in India. This October,
AIHA and IAOH will conduct a four-day
FIH course in Mumbai. We are also col-
laborating with the National Safety
Council of India to present a two-day
forum on occupational health for super-
visors and managers. Finally, AIHA Vice
President Elizabeth Pullen and member
Tom Fuller recently participated in the
Pan-American Industrial Hygiene confer-
ence in Acapulco, Mexico. We look for-
ward to further collaborations with our
Indian, Chinese and Mexican counterparts.

Why International?

Some readers might question the need for AIHA to engage in international development. Why should we spend our resources on educational programming abroad? Shouldn’t we concentrate on the professional needs of industrial hygienists closer to home?

Of course we should, and do, hold a variety of high quality educational events for our North American members. AIHA courses, symposia, webinars and conferences provide tremendous value and are recognized throughout the profession as essential for career development. But translating those successes to an international audience will help bring our expertise to professionals—and workers—who sorely need it, and will help position AIHA as a global leader in protecting worker health. In short, international development is about nothing less than the long-term sustainability of AIHA.

Developing good relationships takes time and effort. Developing effective international relationships takes even longer and requires even more dedication. We have strategically cultivated international programs that provide maximum value for both international OEHS professionals and for AIHA. Now we’re starting to reap the rewards.