History 

Seventy Years of Protecting Worker Health®

AIHA celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2009. Following is a timeline of key events in the history of AIHA and occupational and environmental health and safety.

 Year Event

1939 

 AIHA® is founded by non-physician members of the American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons (now ACOEM).

1940

 First publication of the Journal of Industrial Medicine's Industrial Hygiene section, the forerunner of the JOEH.

1943

 Alice Hamilton's book On the Dangerous Trades is published.

1944

 In AIHA's first attempt to affect legislation, the association advised the U.S. government to label solvents as hazardous materials. 

1945

 AIHA® member Warren Cook, editor of the Industrial Hygiene section of the Journal of Industrial Medicine, publishes exposure limits. OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are still based on Cook's work.

1946

 The Industrial Hygiene section of the Journal of Industrial Medicine becomes a separate publication, the AIHA Quarterly, which is edited by association members. 

1948

 John Wiley and Sons publishes the first volume of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, edited by Frank A. Patty, a founder and past president of AIHA®.

1948 

 An air inversion pall of toxic smog kills 20 people and sickens 7,000 in Donora, Pennsylvania. 

1955 

 AIHA® establishes its first office, in Detroit, Michigan. The first AIHA® technical committees (air pollution, analytical chemistry, noise, and radiation) are formed. 

1956 

 AIHA® creates an ad hoc Committee on Certification. 

1959 

 The Certification Committee recommends the establishment of a separate Board for certification of industrial hygienists, which becomes the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). 

1961

 For the first time, AIHA® (with ACGIH®) conducts its own annual meeting. 

1963

 The first CIH examinations are held in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

1964

 AIHA's first Canadian local sections are formed in Ottawa and Toronto. 

1970 

 The Occupational Safety and Health Act creates OSHA and NIOSH. 

1971 

 OSHA adopts its first Permissible Exposure Limits, which are based on the ACGIH® TLVs®. 

1971 

 Toronto becomes the first non-U.S. city to host the American Industrial Hygiene Conference. 

1971 

 AIHA® begins monthly publication of its journal.

1973 

 AIHA® headquarters moves to Akron, Ohio. The first AIHA continuing education courses are offered. 

1974 

AIHA® establishes its laboratory accreditation program. 

1975 

 Morton Corn becomes the first industrial hygienist to lead OSHA. 

1976 

 The Toxic Substances Control Act is passed.

1977

 AIHA® establishes the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF). 

1978 

 AIHA® publishes the first Workplace Environmental Exposure Level (WEEL) Guides. 

1980 

 The U.S. Supreme Court establishes limits on OSHA's standard-setting authority by overturning the agency's attempt to lower the benzene PEL. 

1982

 The Ontario Local Section changes its name to the Occupational Health Association of Ontario (OHAO). 

1984

 The OHAO withdraws from AIHA and incorporates as a not-for-profit association in Ontario. 

1986 

 OSHA passes its Hazard Communication Standard. 

1987 

 The International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) is founded during the American Industrial Hygiene Conference in Montreal. 

1987

 AIHA® publishes Occupational Exposure Limits—Worldwide by Warren Cook.

1989

 AIHA® begins publication of The Synergist as a quarterly newsletter.

1989

 In a single rulemaking, OSHA updates more than 200 existing PELs and establishes new PELs for 160 additional substances.

1991

 By a mere handful of votes, a ballot initiative to change AIHA's name to the American Industrial and Environmental Health Association fails to achieve the necessary two-thirds approval of eligible voting members.

1992

 U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reverses the 1989 OSHA rulemaking, returning PELs to their 1971 levels.

1992

 AIHA® headquarters moves to Fairfax, Virginia.

1994

 AIHA®, ACGIH® and ABIH adopt a joint code of ethics for industrial hygienists.

1996

 First issue of The Synergist as a magazine.

1999

 A second bylaws amendment that would change AIHA's name fails to achieve approval from two-thirds of eligible voters.

2003

 The United Nations Economic and Social Council endorses the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

2004

 AIHA® and ACGIH® begin joint publication of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.

2006

 The European Union passes the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.
2007 AIHA creates the International Affiliate category of membership.

2008

 AIHA's Laboratory Quality Assurance Program is reorganized as the AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs, LLC.

2009

 AIHA® and ACGIH® announce plans to develop a strategic alliance.

2009

 AIHA® and OHAO sign a memorandum of understanding.

2009

 OSHA publishes a proposal to align its Hazard Communication Standard with GHS.

Source: The American Industrial Hygiene Association, 1939-1990: Its History and Personalities. George and Florence Clayton, eds. AIHA: Fairfax, Va. (1994).