AIHA  

Falls Church,  VA 
United States
https://www.aiha.org

• Booth: 427, 445

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AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors and the communities in which they work.

For more information, visit www.aiha.org.

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• Safety Matters Program Raises Awareness of Workplace Safety Among Teen Workers (Apr 06, 2023)

  Falls Church, VA (March 28, 2023)-As some states reexamine their child labor laws in light of continuing labor shortages, AIHA, the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) in the workplace and community, reminds teenage workers and their parents about workplace risks as they start their first jobs and the resources available to help keep young workers safe on the job.
  
  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the AIHA partnered to create Safety Matters, a program to raise awareness among young people about workplace safety and health and to provide an understanding of the skills they need to become active participants in creating safe and healthy work environments. Safety Matters is a free, one-hour interactive teaching module and PowerPoint presentation targeted to students in grades 7 through 12, teaching students everything from how to identify hazards at work and predict how workers can be injured or made sick to how workers can communicate with others – including people in authority – when they feel unsafe or threatened.
  
  “Recent statistics speak volumes about the risks posed to young workers and the need for proper education and training of these vulnerable workers,” says Lawrence D. Sloan, CEO of AIHA. “For many teenagers, their first job is a rite of passage – a way to save money for college or a first car, while learning real-world work skills that they can use throughout their career. Employers have a duty to protect young workers and adhere to local, state and federal child labor laws to keep them safe in the workplace.”
  
  By current estimates, approximately 1.6 million U.S. teens (aged 15-17) have jobs. Every nine minutes, a U.S. teen is injured on the job, and each year, on average, 59,800 workers under the age of 18 are sent to the Emergency Room for job-related injuries. Even more alarming, 37 workers under the age of 18 die on the job every year on average.
  
  Parents can play a role in helping teenagers advocate for their safety on the job, including encouraging them to ask questions if they feel their health or safety could be at risk. AIHA advises teenagers to consider these questions when starting a new job:

  • Does the employer have a training procedure for new staff to operate equipment?
  • Who is responsible for staff training?
  • Does the employer provide proper safety gear, or is it the responsibility of the employee?
  • What are the risks associated with the job?
  • What is the procedure to report a safety issue or injury on the job?

  Teenagers should also be familiar with the laws in their state outlining how late at night teens can work during the school year, as being tired on the job can contribute to potential injuries. “The best advice for young workers is to know your rights and not be afraid to speak up,” adds Sloan.
  
  In addition to the Safety Matters program, AIHA recently launched its new website, Healthier Workplaces. Designed as a hub of free information developed by occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals, the website provides free resources for employers and employees to safeguard worker health and well-being, including keeping workplaces safe from infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics. Consumers can also learn how to address health risks in their homes arising from natural disasters such as wildfires and floods, as well as mold.
  
  The new website also encompasses a Worker Health and Safety section, featuring industry-specific content for employers in chemical manufacturing, construction, first responders, and transportation (freight railway and trucking) industries. Resources include checklists, infographics, and guidance documents to assist employers in protecting their employees’ health.
  
  About AIHA
  AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as to the communities in which they work. For more information, visit www.aiha.org.

• New Healthier Workplaces Website Offers Free Resources to Protect Employers, Consumers from Hazards at Work and Home (Apr 06, 2023)

  FALLS CHURCH, Va.--In order to help employers and consumers manage their exposure to a variety of hazards at both work and home, AIHA – the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) in the workplace and community – announced the launch of its new website, Healthier Workplaces.

  The website provides free resources for employers and employees to safeguard worker health and well-being, including keeping workplaces safe from infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics. Consumers can also learn how to address health risks in their homes arising from natural disasters such as wildfires and floods, as well as mold.

  Designed as a hub of free information developed by occupational and environmental health and safety professionals, the Healthier Workplaces website includes three distinct sections of resources:

  • Consumer Health and Safety Resources – content-specific resources on topics including indoor air quality, disaster preparedness and response, and young worker safety training;
  • Workplace Resources – two distinct resource hubs for employers and employees offering guidance documents/expert resources by industry and job role;
  • Video Podcast Series – timely, informative topics on practical consumer and environmental health, and safety issues with new episodes dropping the first and third Wednesday of each month.

  The new website also encompasses a Worker Health and Safety section, featuring industry-specific content for employers in chemical manufacturing, construction, first responders, and transportation (freight railway and trucking) industries. Resources include checklists, infographics, and guidance documents to assist employers in protecting their employees’ health.

  “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of protecting workers – across a spectrum of industries – to not only keep them healthy on the job, but also to help keep the country up and running during a time of tremendous uncertainty,” says Lawrence D. Sloan, CEO of AIHA. “Our new Healthier Workplaces website is a one-stop shop for employers and consumers, and features a broad array of content tailored to their specific health and safety needs. It offers something for everyone – from the employer looking to enlist the support of an OEHS professional to conduct a thorough risk assessment, to the homeowner faced with the challenges of rebuilding due to a natural disaster such as a wildfire or hurricane.”

  In addition to the employer- and consumer-based resources, the Healthier Workplaces website includes a Consultants Listing to help employers and consumers find OEHS professionals in their area.

  About AIHA

  AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as to the communities in which they work. For more information, visit www.aiha.org.a

• Industry Leader L’Oréal Pledges Support to Commit To C.A.R.E. Program to Educate Employees and Their Communities on Ways to Mitigate Spread of COVID-19, Other Infectious Diseases (Apr 06, 2023)

  February 1, 2023 (Falls Church, VA) – With health experts warning of the triple threat of continued spread of new COVID-19 variants, flu and RSV this winter, the need for employers to contain the spread of various infectious diseases among employees and their communities is as important as ever. Now, a newly launched public education initiative Commit To C.A.R.E. (Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Equity) is helping employers who commit to pledge their support to this effort by providing them with free tools and resources to address this continued health threat. L’Oréal, the world’s leading beauty brand, is the latest global employer to sign on as Commit To C.A.R.E. partners under its Safe@Work-Safe@Home initiative.

  AIHA, the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community, in partnership with IBEC, The Integrated Bioscience and Built Environment Consortium, have launched Commit To C.A.R.E., a public education initiative that provides free tools and resources addressing environmental mitigation strategies, such as engineering and administrative controls, and respiratory protection for employers and their employees. The web portal encourages companies to commit to reducing the risk of infectious disease transmission in the workplace and surrounding communities by adopting practical measures, such as enhanced introduction of outdoor air and filtration measures. These best practices help protect building occupants against the aerosol transmission of the virus. The initiative is funded by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

  “Since its launch in 2021, the Commit To C.A.R.E. program has attracted a growing number of partners who recognize the value of implementing enhanced safety measures to protect their employees, their families and the greater community from preventable health risks,” said AIHA CEO Lawrence Sloan. “Our goal is to continue to attract global leaders to this program and applaud L’Oréal for pledging their commitment and recognizing the long-term value of implementing sound strategies to mitigate the transmission of these dangerous viruses.”

  Written in non-technical terms for a lay audience, the program’s comprehensive resources -- available in nine different languages -- include micro-training videos (i.e., addressing the importance of control strategies such as ventilation and respiratory protection), checklists (including HVAC Optimization, Portable Air Cleaner Optimization, and COVID-19 Vaccination Policy FAQ), a web-based interactive assessment tool, and free downloadable fliers and posters outlining simple safety tips on a range of topics specific to the workplace.

  Businesses, as well as public health and occupational health and safety organizations, continue to join the Commit To C.A.R.E. initiative. These include National Safety Council, Society for Critical Care Medicine, the Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare, ABSA International, and Indoor Air Quality Association Australia, among others. All organizations believe that we all have a responsibility to one another to keep workers safe in any workplace setting.

  Organizations interested in becoming a Commit To C.A.R.E. partner do not need to provide financial support to the program, simply their time and influence in sharing these vitally important knowledge products with their members and other appropriate audiences. Potential partners fill out a form on the Commit To C.A.R.E. website once they determine the level of support their organization will pledge to the effort. The three levels of support include endorse, endorse and share, and endorse, share and lead.

  There are several ways employers and employees can get involved, including:

  • • Share information about Commit To C.A.R.E with your employers and clients. Visit: https://commit2care.org/cdc-resources to download a tool kit of materials to get started;
  • • Request that your employer send an email to employees asking them to take the Commit To C.A.R.E. pledge;
  • • Ask your employer to include information about Commit To C.A.R.E. in the company newsletter and on social media;
  • • Tell colleagues in your company about Commit To C.A.R.E.;
  • • Ask a business owner you know to take the pledge and Commit To C.A.R.E.;
  • • Send Commit To C.A.R.E. videos, checklists, etc. that you download to friends and family via email or your social media network!

  "The science of airborne disease transmission is complex, and these complexities can create some ambiguity about how these diseases can impact the workforce when people are working side-by-side either in a boardroom or an assembly line,” said Kenneth Martinez, Chief Science Officer at IBEC. “If there’s one thing COVID-19 has taught employers it is that the spread of respiratory diseases cannot be underestimated. Employers need to continually assess the health risks posed in their workspaces, and the Commit To C.A.R.E. resources offer a tailored approach to training efforts across a spectrum of industries.”

  For more information about becoming a C.A.R.E. Partner, or accessing free multimedia resources such as checklists, posters, flyers, videos and to take the C.A.R.E. pledge, visit: Commit2Care.org.

  About AIHA

  AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as to the communities in which they work.

  In 2020, AIHA developed the “Back to Work Safely” initiative to help small businesses get back to work safely with business sector-specific guidelines and resources. AIHA’s Back to Work Safely Guidelines, 2nd Edition, are now available for small to mid-size businesses in 27 sectors. The free guidance documents, available in English and Spanish, provide clear and actionable steps towards the safe operations of a variety of workplaces through prevention, early detection, and control of COVID-19. The 2nd editions offer practical guidance for employers to implement multiple layers of risk mitigation strategies in order of most effective to least effective – through the elimination of a hazard, substitution of a hazard, use of engineering controls (e.g., increased ventilation and air filtration), administrative controls (e.g., staggered shifts), and personal protective equipment (e.g., respirators and gloves). For more information, please visit www.healthierworkplaces.org.

  About IBEC

  IBEC, the Integrated Bioscience and Built Environment Consortium, strives to bridge the gap between science and real-world applications so that people can feel safe gathering together again in indoor spaces. A membership-based organization founded in March 2020, IBEC brings together scientists, OEHS professionals, disaster response, and healthcare specialists to help accelerate the contributions of science and technology for healthily built environments. For more information, please visit www.weareibec.org.

• MEDIA ALERT: AIHA Announces Support for Fix Moldy Housing Act (Apr 06, 2023)

  What: AIHA announced its support for the Fix Moldy Housing Act (H.R.1104.), introduced by Congresswoman Haley Stevens of Michigan and Congresswoman Jennifer González-Colón of Puerto Rico. The Fix Moldy Housing Act calls for the establishment of an Environmental Protection Agency program that would assist state and tribal governments with mold remediation. The bipartisan bill also proposes a program offering $50 million in grants per year to help state and tribal governments cover costs associated with remediating mold in public buildings and severely impacted homes, prioritizing low-income communities. In addition, the bill would require the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to launch a study on safe mold remediation and the conditions in which it is necessary.

  Why: Millions of Americans are negatively impacted by mold at home and at work every year. Scientists and government agencies in the United States and around the world agree that living or working in moldy buildings increases the risk of respiratory disease, yet no national standards exist for mold investigation, evaluation, or remediation. However, several guidance documents do exist, including AIHA’s publication Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold, also known as the “Green Book.”

  According to AIHA CEO Larry Sloan, “AIHA supports and encourages the passage of the Fix Moldy Housing Act because the National Academies’ study would further our understanding of mold. Building on the results of this study, voluntary national standards could be developed for identifying and safely remediating mold.”

  Where: More information about the Fix Moldy Housing Act may be found on Rep. Stevens' website. Furthermore, AIHA’s Mold Resource Center offers a comprehensive public resource on mold and its dangers.

  Contact: To learn more about AIHA’s support for the bill, please email Mark Ames, AIHA’s director of government relations, at mames@aiha.org.

  Who: AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA’s nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors as well as to the communities in which they work. For more information, please visit www.aiha.org.

• AIHA Issues New Public Policy Priorities Addressing Noise, Thermal Stress, OEHS Professional Pathway (Apr 06, 2023)

  FALLS CHURCH, VA. (Jan. 12, 2023)—In the United States, approximately 170,000 workers suffer heat-related injuries each year, while about 20,000 workers suffer cold-related illnesses or injuries. Additionally, millions of people risk permanent hearing loss due to exposure to hazardous noise levels at or outside of work. With so many people at risk of injury, illness, and death, the need for action is clear. Part of the solution to these complex problems involves encouraging more students to pursue careers in occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) and improving school infrastructure, creating better learning environments for students and better working conditions for teachers and other school personnel.

  AIHA, building on its mission to protect workers and their communities, has announced three new public policy priorities that will guide and focus the association’s activities in 2023 and beyond. The three public policy priorities are:

  1. Protecting Workers and the Public from Hazardous Noise Exposure
  2. Protecting Workers and the Public from Thermal Stress
  3. Strengthening the Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) Professional Pathway and Improving the Learning and Working Conditions of Schools

  For other issues not covered by these public policy priorities, AIHA will continue to engage with association members and policymakers. The association’s goal is to translate as much of its members’ technical expertise into public policy recommendations as possible to protect more workers and their communities.

  “All of these issues are critical, and together, they play an important role in realizing AIHA’s vision of healthier workplaces and a healthier world,” said Mark Ames, AIHA’s director of government relations. “This is a vision shared by millions of American workers, the companies they work for, and the agencies that serve them.”

  For more information on AIHA’s public policy priorities and to access public resources for working with local, state, and federal government representatives on worker health and safety issues, please visit AIHA’s government relations and advocacy webpage.

  About AIHA
  AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors as well as to the communities in which they work. For more information, please visit www.aiha.org.

• Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Professionals Urge Trucking Industry to Protect Workers From Health Hazards (Apr 06, 2023)

  FALLS CHURCH, Va. (January 10, 2023)—Getting from one point to another on America’s roads and highways can be dangerous for even the most experienced drivers, and workers in the trucking industry face risks both on and off the road. AIHA, the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) in the workplace and community, has produced free resources to help trucking operators mitigate transportation-related hazards and protect their workforce.

  Trucking industry operators can now find resources or information about hiring OEHS professionals at a new webpage. The trucking health and safety webpage also includes fact sheets, articles, and studies that address how OEHS professionals help mitigate occupational health risks, such as potential exposures to extreme heat, noise, and hazardous materials that could lead to acute or chronic health effects.

  OEHS professionals work with trucking safety experts to evaluate and reduce health risks at all stages of transportation that affect workers performing both driving and non-driving activities, from cranking dolly legs and climbing trailer ladders to opening and closing valves and assessing chemical spills for potential human contact and environmental impact. Following this comprehensive assessment, OEHS professionals recommend risk mitigation strategies designed to prevent accidents and injuries from happening. Improving worker health and safety can reduce absenteeism and decrease turnover rates, resulting in a more efficient and productive workforce.

  “The trucking industry drives our economy in immeasurable ways,” said Donna S. Heidel, CIH, FAIHA, the president of AIHA. “OEHS professionals can work with the industry safety standards set forth by OSHA and the Department of Transportation to evaluate and assess risks in order to protect the trucking industry’s most valuable resource—its employees,” she continued. “OEHS experts have the skillset, education, experience, and training to reduce and prevent risks to drivers and non-drivers alike.”

  About AIHA

  AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, AIHA supports its members with expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as to the communities in which they work.

  In 2020, AIHA developed the Back to Work Safely initiative, which provides industry-specific guidelines and resources intended to help small and medium-sized businesses resume operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second editions of AIHA’s Back to Work Safely Guidelines are now available for 27 business sectors in English and Spanish. The free guidance documents provide clear, actionable steps towards the safe operations of a variety of workplaces through prevention, early detection, and control of COVID-19. They offer employers practical guidance for implementing multiple layers of risk mitigation strategies in order of most effective to least effective, through the elimination of hazards, substitution of hazardous materials or activities, use of engineering controls such as ventilation and air filtration, application of administrative controls such as staggered shifts, and use of personal protective equipment such as respirators and gloves. For more information, please visit www.aiha.org.

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