Synergist - February 2011

Principal ENVIRON International Corporation Chicago, Ill.

Protecting worker health is a core principle of and challenge for industrial hygienists. In our globalized world, meeting our challenge has never been more demanding or exciting.

The role AIHA plays in meeting our challenge is as important today as when our association was founded 71 years ago. Beyond good industrial hygiene practice and defensible science, we necessarily must also understand different and changing philosophical and social perspectives on acceptable risk, what it means to be safe, available resources, cultural norms, disclosures, education, and competition. Protecting people involves health, safety, the environment, and risk management in all aspects of human endeavor and interaction at work and at play. Protecting worker health encompasses not only OELs, training and contaminant control but nutrition and physical fitness as well as employer commitment and financial stability. Industrial hygienists have important roles historically rooted in public health, but today we also have important roles in behavior modification, sustainability, GHS, REACH, and larger concepts of risk management. The role that industrial hygienists play in creating value is integrated and comprehensive. Our value needs to be reinforced, measured, and sold every day in safety huddles as well as in global programs and in new controversial issues. AIHA can continue to effectively advance our profession through community outreach, legislative liaison, local section support, educational and training programs, international advocacy and recognition of certifications.

President Safex, Inc.

Westerville, Ohio I believe the primary role of AIHA in the elimination of workplace illnesses is one of education and communication. During the next two years, AIHA should develop and implement a multi-year education and communication strategy that includes current students (middle school, high school, community and technical schools and four-year colleges and universities) and business management and owners. These audiences should be made aware of the cost of workplace illnesses and be provided adequate information so that they begin to formulate an expectation that workplace illnesses must be prevented. The strategy should include measurable goals and multimedia, social media, printed and online industry magazines, printed and online newspapers, industry conferences, and classes. A grassroots approach involving local sections membership will be an integral part to maximize impact and minimize cost. AIHA should develop the supporting resources.

AIHA must continue to monitor federal and state legislation in order to provide input via written correspondence or testimony to encourage sound, cost-effective legislation.

AIHA must continue to be a conduit between the international community of researchers and regulators and AIHA members and related professions in order to assist all members with developing best practices.

Corporate Manager, Management Systems, Product Stewardship and Learning Honeywell Aerospace Tempe, Ariz.

If I am elected to the AIHA Board of Directors, there are three areas on which AIHA should focus. The first approach should be to support activities that strengthen IHs’ knowledge of and practice of risk assessment, including techniques such as control banding and mathematical modeling. AIHA should continue to support PDCs, webinars and publication of documents in these areas. Significant OSHA regulatory reform is unlikely in the near term, but AIHA must continue to support OSHA’s efforts to revise the PELs, adopt an Injury and Illness Prevention Plan standard and revise the Hazard Communication standard to align with GHS. AIHA and its members should provide testimony before Committees, develop letters of support, provide comments on proposed legislation and more fully leverage the Strategic Alliance Agreement. The third opportunity is to more fully cooperate with other professional organizations to provide or promote IH training. Organizations have limited budgets, and many of our members belong to multiple technical associations. Each year there are technical programs which were “sold out” or not selected at AIHce or PCIH, which could potentially be turned into webinars and Distance Learning programs that are cost effective for participants and revenue generators for our association. I look forward to becoming a member of the BOD and working to ensure that we make the most of each opportunity outlined above.

Global Manager, Safety, Health and Environment The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah I’m privileged to have spent three years attending AIHA Board meetings as the Local Section Council Chair. I’ve also served as the Practice, Standards, and Guidelines Committee Chair. This experience provided me with valuable insight into AIHA’s vision, strategic goals and values, which, if elected, I will use to serve the members and promote the profession.

As a young boy, I remember playing in the house next door during construction. I repeatedly jumped across the unprotected stairwell opening, which had an exposure of several feet to the basement. The contractor warned me to stop, but I didn’t listen. He nailed me to the floor through my jeans and shirt and left me there. I finally tore my clothes and went home. I often think of this lesson as I consider a better way of getting the message across of recognizing risk and taking appropriate action.

Our professional futures as industrial hygienists are defined in AIHA’s 2011–2015 Strategic Plan. AIHA can promote the strategic plan’s vision through the following actions: