FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Release No. SPR-08-812-01   

Kim Bacon, AIHA Academy Relations       
(703) 846-0780; kbacon@aiha.org
      
Melissa Hurley, AIHA Communications
(703) 846-0740; mhurley@aiha.org

Energizing the Academy of Industrial Hygiene

New approach will be implemented to streamline structure and operations of AIH

FAIRFAX, VA (August 12, 2008) - The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Board of Directors and the Councilors of the Academy of Industrial Hygiene (AIH) recently discussed ways to further support, engage, and energize Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH).
To better recognize and build on successful efforts, the AIH Councilors and AIHA Board are moving toward a more effective approach to collaboration and integration of the AIH within AIHA. 

“As we have reviewed our collective activities more closely, we recognize that many of the activities AIHA undertakes are either directly or indirectly on behalf of our CIH members or members working toward the CIH,” said Lindsay E. Booher, CIH, CSP, AIHA president.

“While many activities are conducted directly by the Councilors as the leadership of the AIH, we are looking to engage all members in future endeavors,” said AIH President, Brad T. Garber, PhD, CIH, DABT, CSP.

This new approach will streamline the AIH’s structure and operations, ensure that the AIH is directly represented in AIHA Board meetings, and provide a better leadership forum for considering future activities to recruit, promote, and support CIHs. 

The first step in this restructuring is to update and restate the AIH’s strategic priorities. The AIHA Board recently endorsed the following strategic priorities developed by the AIH Councilors:

• Build a sense of community among professional industrial hygienists
• Define and raise the level of core competencies
• Build wide recognition of the need for and value of high quality industrial hygiene practice
• Advance the professional practice of industrial hygiene

AIH will remain focused on advancing these strategic priorities, including leveraging the broader activities of the AIHA in their support.   

The next step is the review and update of the structure and operations of the AIH leadership – the Councilors. The AIH and AIHA have identified several opportunities to better leverage their activities and to streamline operations. “As we move forward, the AIH Council will be restructured,” said Garber. “The new Council will include the four elected AIH officers (president, president-elect, vice president, and past president). A vice president will be elected each year and follow the succession to the offices of president-elect, president, and finally past president. In additino to this AIH leadership group, the restructured Council will include officers from the Boards of Directors of AIHA, ABIH, and ACGIH®.”

Booher continued, “This will broaden the perspective of the Councilors group, leading to more effective efforts toward the AIH’s strategic priorities. It also will directly promote more collaboration between the IH organizations.”

Working with the AIHA Board, the AIH Council will take a more active role in overseeing high- value projects and activities consistent with the AIH’s strategic priorities. This will necessitate more fully engaging the more than 4,800 AIH members in working on short-term and long-term projects that directly benefit the profession. To set the pace for this important change, the AIH Councilors will now oversee AIHA’s continuing efforts to demonstrate and promote the value of industrial hygiene. A working group is being formed to lead this important effort.

The AIH will also continue the following major efforts:

• Oversight of accreditation of academic programs through its Academic Accreditation Committee
• Sponsorship of the Professional Conference on Industrial Hygiene through the work of the AIH Conference Team
• Involvement with promoting high standards of ethical conduct as secretariat of the Joint Industrial Hygiene Ethics Education Committee

The AIH includes all AIHA members who are certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. Almost half of AIHA’s members are AIH members, including all current members of the AIHA Board of Directors. AIH members are also represented on AIHA technical committees and local sections.

For more information regarding the AIH, please contact Kim Bacon, AIHA’s member services and academy relations manager, at (703) 846-0780 or kbacon@aiha.org, or visit http://www.aiha.org/academy.htm.

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Founded in 1939, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is the premier association of occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. AIHA’s 10,600 members play a crucial role on the front line of worker health and safety every day. Members represent a cross-section of industry, private business, labor, government, and academia. For more information, go to www.aiha.org.