Saturday Professional Development Courses (PDCs)

Saturday Full Day Courses

All fees are listed as member / nonmember

Advanced | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of sampling techniques and equipment; primary knowledge of indoor environment quality (IEQ); fundamental microbiology (college introductory microbiology course); basic understanding of building structure and HVAC systems.

Learning Aids: Pen, paper, and calculator.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Establish appropriate hypotheses to be tested
• Develop a detailed sampling strategy
• Perform a building investigation
• Identify and locate causes of microbial contamination
• Provide instructions for microbial remediation
• Describe limitations of sampling equipment and laboratory analysis
• Interpret laboratory data reports
• Characterize commonly found indoor microbial contaminants and describe their preferred growing conditions

Outline:

• Introduction
• Topics
• Why is indoor environmental microbiology important?
  • Hypotheses generation and testing
  • Generating a strategic sampling plan
  • Building inspection
• What should you look for and what equipment do you need?
• How do the latest gadgets work and what do they tell us?
• How come my data appear contradictory?
  • Know the limitations of each lab service
  • Understanding the microbes means understanding building environment and history better
• What remedy should I recommend to the client for microbial removal?
• What legal concerns should I be aware of regarding the microbial evaluation and remediation process and who is responsible if something goes wrong?
• Summary

Description: In this course, participants will learn advanced level indoor environmental microbiology sampling techniques, strategies, and concepts. Participants will learn how to establish appropriate hypotheses and set up a comprehensive sampling plan to test them. Participants will be informed of the latest sampling equipment and how they can be used in a microbial evaluation. Important information about building structure, HVAC systems, airflow, bioaerosol statistics, temperature, humidity, water activity, and moisture incursion in regards to microbial contamination will be discussed. An analytical lab perspective will outline microbe characterization, growing conditions, and analyses to aid in data interpretation and help elucidate contamination issues. Mold remediation recommendations and potential legal liabilities will also be discussed. All participants should acquire enough information to conduct a successful and conclusive building inspection.

Instructors: John Neville, Ph.D., PK-Jarvis Microbiological LLC, Novi, MI; Mark Hodgson, LRSC, Clayton Group Services, Edison, NJ

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• State the foundational requirements for the admission of expert testimony
• Describe the importance of error rates and statistical sampling in the evaluation of a mold environment
• Identify the areas of their practice that may expose their expertise to challenge in a court of law
• Know the rules for the conduct of a deposition
• Be prepared to respond to questions at a deposition

Outline:

• Introduction
• Conclusions
• Philosophical basis
• Legal basis
  • Frye
  • Daubert and Progeny
• Reliability
• Fit
• Mold case law
• Mold sampling
• Preliminaries to sampling
  • Retention
  • Preparation
• What was reviewed?
• Who chose it?
• Preparation of hypothesis
• Procedure (as applies to Anderson N6, Air O Cell)
  • Is it written?
  • Is it followed?
  • Is it documented?
  • Where?
• Workplace
• Home
  • What
• Mold
• Mold components
• Other allergens
  • Calibration
  • Chain of custody
  • Laboratory
• Certification
• Analysis
• Statistical validity
• Nomenclature
• Federal reference manual on scientific evidence
• Errors
• Sources
• Measurement
• Opinions
• Levels
  • Accuracy needed depends on purposes
  • Change in rank order
• When
• Where
• What
  • Causation
  • General causation
  • Specific causation
• The report
• Mistakes
• Conclusions
• References
  • AIHA
  • ACGIH bioaerosols
  • Other
• Standards
• None: Why?
• Comparison with other regulated material:
• Legal environment
  • Retention/selection
  • Federal rule Evid. 702
  • Other testimony
  • Other courts
  • Depositions
  • Instructions
  • Objections
  • Counsel
  • In Limine motion

Description: This course is designed to introduce and develop the legal foundation from which all expert opinions must derive using air sampling for mold as the exemplar. Following explanation and discussion of the seminal cases, Frye and Daubert, participants will be informed how the opinions in an air sampling report get into or do not get into court. Specific focus will be made of error rates and statistical significance. All aspects of the opinion developing process will be examined including, for example, the taking of the site history, calibration of the sampling pump, chain of custody, and laboratory certification. The Anderson N6 and Air O Cell samplers will be specifically addressed. The instructor, a litigator with dozens of hours spent across the deposition table from air sampling professionals, will explain the mechanics and significance of depositions. Using real life testimony with attendee participation, experts and expert reports will be dissected. Finally, participants will be advised on how to respond to specific killer questions such as: "Is this your best work?"  or "You agree with me that your report was wrong?"

Instructor: J Donald, McCarter & English LLP, Newark, NJ

AIHce 2004 Top Ten PDC

Sponsoring Committee: Noise Committee

Intermediate | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 40

Prerequisites: Must be familiar with the fundamentals of noise and basic terminology, such as A-weighted sound levels, decibel addition, and octave-band frequencies; knowledge of how to use a sound level meter and octave-band analyzer is described.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the various types of federal, state, and local noise regulations
• Conduct a community noise survey and determine compliance based on the criteria specified in all applicable regulations
• Identify factors that affect outdoor sound propagation
• Predict the impact new equipment, new facilities, or plant expansion projects will have on the existing ambient noise environment and regulatory compliance

Outline:

• Introduction and course objectives
• Concepts in community noise: Federal, state, and local regulations
• Factors and conditions affecting sound propagation outdoors
• Workshop 1: Predicting sound levels at property line locations
• Measuring community noise: Instrumentation and survey protocol
• Workshop 2: Conducting a community noise survey
• Interpreting survey data and determining regulatory compliance
• Course conclusion

Description: The United States Congress intended that states and cities retain primary responsibility for control of community noise when it passed the Noise Control Act of 1972. This has resulted today in a diversity of noise regulations among local communities and states, as well as in many locations that lack any noise ordinances at all. The widely varying approaches to regulating noise in communities pose a significant challenge to companies that operate multiple facilities, and to the people charged with the responsibility to assess compliance with those regulations.

An industrial hygienist may need to evaluate community noise for several reasons:

1. Compliance of noise produced by facilities operating in regions with local ordinances

2. Determination of acceptable noise levels and noise characteristics for new equipment

3. Evaluation of site suitability for a new facility

4. Resolution of complaints from neighbors

The course material is structured to enable industrial hygienists to meet the unique survey needs described above. The instructors will also cover the various types of community noise regulation, factors, and conditions affecting sound propagation outdoors, instrumentation, and survey procedures for measuring noise, and how to interpret the data.

Instructors: Dennis Driscoll, P.E., INCE Board Certified Noise Control Engineer, Associates in Acoustics Inc., Evergreen, CO; Jim Banach, OHC, Quest Technologies Inc., Oconomowoc, WI

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 40

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of OSHA's Emergency Action Plan requirements.

Learning Aids: Participant is encouraged to bring a copy (or portions) of their organizations Emergency Action Plan. For additional reference materials, please click here.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Outline the philosophy and reasons behind emergency planning and state the consequences of not planning for emergencies
• List the categories of emergencies and cite examples of the types of emergencies encountered
• Develop basic emergency response plans (based on the different emergency categories and types) and adapt these to any given emergency situation
• Understand the operating philosophy of various local, state, and federal emergency response groups and will be able to coordinate with these organizations on effective response to their facility

Outline:

• Introduction
  • Greetings
  • Introductions: Presenter and participants 
  • Why are we each here?
  • What is an emergency?
  • Incidents in industry and the world 
• Emergency basics
  • What are the regulations around emergencies?
  • How can we categorize emergencies?
• Natural
• Man-made
• Technological 
  • What do they all have in common?
• Require quick response
• Unpredictable
• Need for communication 
  • Communication in emergencies
• A story of soap; case study in communication
• What went wrong?
• How to assure communication in an emergency 
• The types of emergencies: An in-depth look 
  • Natural 
  • Man-made 
  • Technological 
• Planning 
  • What do we plan for?
  • How do we prioritize?
• The basic plans 
  • Evacuation 
  • Internal shelter
  • Lock-down 
  • Power outage 
  • Adapting the plans to specific situation 
• Development exercises 
• Current plan review and simulation 
• Conclusion

Description: The course will outline the different types of emergencies and develop basic plans, which can be applied in most situations. It will test these plans under varying circumstances and conduct exercises to adapt plans to specific situations. Participants will examine specific emergency situations and discuss the factors that play into their resolution.

Instructor: Bob Coffey, CSP, CPEA, WRC Safety and Risk Consultants, Seven Valleys, PA

Sponsoring Committee: Confined Spaces Committee

Intermediate | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 40

Prerequisites: Introductory course on confined spaces or equivalent or working knowledge of the subject and regulations and legislation.

Learning Aids: Scientific calculator desirable.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Complete a detailed, guided protocol for hazard assessment covering hazardous conditions at time of entry, work activity, and emergency response and rescue
• Classify the level of hazard according to regulatory requirements (such as 29 CFR 1910.146) 
• Specify measures for hazard elimination or control 
• Identify potential accident situations and specify measures for emergency preparedness and response 
• Prepare a permit for entry and work activity

Outline:

• Introduction by participants and instructor
• Review of the challenges posed by confined spaces
  • Nature of accidents, causes, and contributory factors
  • Role of confinement by boundary surfaces of hazardous atmospheres, energy sources, and personnel
• Hazard management systems for confined spaces
  • Qualified person, identification, and recognition of hazardous conditions, control measures, emergency preparedness and response, classification of severity, communication to affected workers and supervision, and recordkeeping.
• Hazard assessment
  • Cyclic nature of work in confined spaces
  • Thirty-nine hazardous conditions that can exist or can develop in confined spaces and their dynamic nature
  • Exercise on hazard anticipation, recognition, and control
  • Exercise on risk assessment
  • Protocol for hazard assessment, comments on its strengths and limitations
  • Application of hazard assessment protocol to the work cycle in confined spaces: Undisturbed space, pre-entry preparation, pre-work inspection, work activity, and emergency response
• Entry permits and certificates
• Problem-solving exercises

Description: Confined spaces continue to kill workers every year despite regulatory requirements to identify and control hazardous conditions and investment of millions of dollars. Anyone, regardless of knowledge and experience, can unknowingly enter a confined space. This course focuses on use of a guided, repeatable protocol for assessing hazardous conditions that exist or can develop in confined spaces. Hazard assessment provides the basis for classifying the space (as required by 29CFR 1910.146), specifying control measures, and preparing the entry permit or certificate. It also forms the basis for anticipating accident situations, specifying measures for emergency preparedness and response, and anticipating conditions encountered by rescue services.

Instructor: T. Neil McManus, CIH, CSP, ROH, NorthWest Occupational Health & Safety, North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Intermediate | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 40

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of the main provisions of workplace health and safety legislation and safety practices in general industries.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Understand the complex nature of EHS in globalization, mergers, and acquisitions
• Develop strategies and practices to increase EHS performance
• Explore international best practices to foster an EHS culture of excellence

Outline:

• Introduction
• Overview of global EHS principles and practices
• Legislation and international standards
• Elements of effective EHS programs
• Successful strategies for globalization, mergers, and acquisitions
• Case study
• Multinational company EHS program in Trinidad and Tobago
• Austrian company expanding in Canada
• School board amalgamation in Ontario, Canada
• Course review and discussion

Description: Globalization, mergers, and acquisitions have presented many challenges for EHS professionals. As in many cases, the EHS issues are afterthoughts and the liabilities and different EHS systems of separate companies become impossible to manage and achieve results as a cohesive merged company. Language, culture, work expectations, politics, and economic incentives are a few of the challenges faced by the EHS professional. This course presents some of the successful strategies used to in Globalization, mergers, and acquisitions. Along with having a critical role in the initial stages of the mergers and acquisitions, EHS professionals need to be skilled facilitators and knowledgeable resources for both management and the workers. The success in EHS performance is by developing the culture of excellence.

Instructors: Geetram Ramsamooj, BS, MS, CRSP, Quantum Systems 2000 Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada; Bhawani Pathak, Ph.D., CIH, ROH, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Sponsoring Committee: Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels Committee

Intermediate | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of toxicology principles.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Explain the process involved in the derivation of occupational exposure limits (OELs) to industrial hygienists who may not be involved in setting OELs but are responsible for monitoring and evaluating exposure against OELs
• Set OELs based on various sample data sets. Throughout the course, emphasis will be given to OELs and how to interpret and apply the documentation

Outline:

• Introduction to limit setting
• Organization and documentation of OEL setting process
• Evaluation of data
  • Assembling a complete data set
  • Identification of the critical endpoint
• Performance-based OELs
• Procedures for setting OELs
  • Methods for setting OELs
• Analogy
• Correlation
• Low dose extrapolation
• Safety factors
  • Benchmark dose
  • Selection of uncertainty factors
  • Use of pharmacokinetic data
• Industrial Hygiene Considerations
  • Eight-hour TWA vs. STEL vs. ceiling
  • Skin notations / wipe testing
  • Alternative work schedules
• OEL setting exercise with sample data set
• OEL setting workshop
• Workshop presentations
• Interpretation of OEL documentation
• Application of OELs
• Summary

Description: Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are established by governmental authorities, consensus groups, and individual companies. In order to better evaluate the occupational risks associated with a particular exposure scenario, the industrial hygienist needs to know more about the toxicological endpoints that drive the OEL. This course will cover basic and advanced procedures used in setting OELs and the interpretation of supporting documentation to determine proper evaluation and application of OELs. The course will also include several exercises where participants will set OELs based on various sample data sets.

Instructors: Robert Sussman, Ph.D., DABT, SafeBridge Consultants Inc., Jersey City, NJ; Mike DeLorme, Ph.D., Dupont Haskell Laboratories, Newark, DE; Tony Havics, CHMM, CIH, PE, pH2 Environmental Inc., Indianapolis, IN; Paul Hewett, Ph.D., CIH, Exposure Assessment Solutions Inc., Morgantown, WV

Sponsoring Committee: Occupational Epidemiology Committee

Intermediate | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Prerequisites: Knowledge of basic epidemiology and exposure assessment required. Selected peer-reviewed articles will be posted on a webpage and must be read before attending the course.

Learning Aids: Scientific calculator.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Apply basic epidemiologic terms to typical worksite examples during general discussions
• Select the appropriate disease model based on latency, body burden, and human physiology
• Calculate basic ratios and rates used in epidemiologic studies
• Describe basic epidemiologic principles in terms related to industrial hygiene exposure assessments during general discussions
• Identify epidemiologic study types through the review of published literature through group work
• Select the proper epidemiologic study type based on the outcome of concern, available data, population at risk, and nature of exposure through group work
• Estimate relative exposure groups using surrogate worksite data

Outline:

• Review of general epidemiologic concepts and terms 
• Review of epidemiologic study types and calculations 
• Group exercise: Calculate odds ratio, incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates
• Relationships between exposure assessment strategies and measures of cumulative exposure
• Discussion of validity and reliability
• Group exercise: Review selected literature and identify study type, method for estimating exposure, and method of analysis
• Constructing surrogate estimates of exposure
• Group exercise: Construct exposure matrix based on job, hazard, and location using surrogate measures of exposure
• Discussion of IH roles in epidemiologic study design 
• A stepwise approach to designing an epidemiologic study from the IH perspective

Description: Integration of the practices of epidemiology and industrial hygiene is vital to understanding the association between workplace exposures and health status. Industrial hygienists need to be involved at the design phase of occupational epidemiology studies to ensure proper data worker and worksite collection and the application of appropriate measures of exposure to the study individuals. This course will use a combination of lecture, discussion, and basic calculations to understand and interpret the results of occupational epidemiology studies. The techniques, concepts, and terms used to determine the factors and risks of disease in epidemiology studies will be presented as they relate to the types of data industrial hygienists collect during the survey process. Individual and group exercises will be used to illustrate the disease process, calculate basic rates and ratios, design the sampling strategy to collect workplace exposure information, estimate exposure for individuals, and estimate exposure in the absence of data. Peer-reviewed studies are used to illustrate basic study types, calculations, and the estimation of worker exposure, along with important issues related to the validity of occupational studies, including chance, confounding, and bias.

Instructors: Thomas Hall, CIH, PhD, Oklahoma University, Oklahoma City, OK; Luke Naeher, PhD, University of Georgia, Athens, GA; Laura Cassidy, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 30

Prerequisites: Basic camera skills required.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to

• Manage a program for photographic documentation
• Choose the appropriate camera equipment and techniques for evidence collection and analysis 
• Prepare photographic documentation for use in legal proceedings

Outline:

• Laws regarding photographers and photographs
• Elements of an investigative photography program
• Camera equipment, film, and photograph storage
• Photographic techniques for evidence collection and analysis
• Photographer safety
• Basic photo documentation
• Photograph information maps and logs
• Labeling and marking photographs
• Questions likely to be asked in legal proceedings
• Practical exercises

Description: Investigative Photography for Safety and Health Professionals provides information that is necessary to implement and manage a program that will achieve professional results in photographic documentation. Applications of the critical skills for using cameras in evidence collection and legal proceedings will be reviewed. The course will examine both digital and film applications as they relate to the methods and skills of investigative photography.

Instructor: John Wenzel, ASP, CFI-I, CGSO, Precision Image Photography Company, Pasadena, MD

Sponsoring Committee: Safety Committee

Introductory | 1.0 Safety CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Learning Aids: A basic function calculator may be helpful.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the "hierarchy" used in determining appropriate machine safeguarding techniques for a particular machine/situation
• Develop a working knowledge of the machine safeguarding requirements found in OSHA Subpart O, ANSI B11 Series documents, and EC standards
• Perform a basic evaluation of industrial machinery to determine practical and appropriate safeguarding measures
• Calculate "safe distance" for safeguarding devices, such as light curtains

Outline:

• Introduction and overview
• Machine safeguarding principles
• OSHA and ANSI standards/guidelines
• Fixed and interlocked guarding
• Machine safeguarding devices
• Discussion and exercises
• Control reliability
• Presence-sensing device initiation
• Lockout/tagout considerations mechanical
• Power presses power press brakes
• Shop machines
• Developing a safeguarding program
• Ergonomic considerations of safeguarding
• Game

Description:  Many industrial hygienists find their job assignments now include more traditional safety areas, such as machine safeguarding. This session is designed to introduce IHs and other professionals to the basic concepts and techniques of machine safeguarding. The instructors will detail their experiences in evaluating, designing, and recommending machine safeguards for thousands of machines in diverse industries. Practical techniques will be provided to help participants in developing machine safeguards for their workplaces. Participants will learn how to identify and accommodate the needs of production, maintenance, machine operators, and regulatory officials through proper design and implementation of the machine safeguarding techniques taught in this course. OSHA, ANSI, and European Community machine safeguarding requirements will be discussed. Safeguarding of various types of machines will be addressed and special emphasis will be made on the safeguarding of mechanical power presses and other machines most likely to cause amputation injuries.  Participants in the course will be given the opportunity to practice their newly acquired safeguarding skills in a series of interactive exercises and through their participation in a "game show"-type review at the end of the course.

Instructors: Thomas Martin, CIH, CSP, Clayton Group Services Inc., Novi, MI; James Wiggins Jr., CSP, DTE Energy, Detroit, MI

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Prerequisites: A general knowledge of construction methods, building science, and architectural elements.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Assess a building envelope and list its functional components, assemblies, and systems
• Identify weaknesses in suspect envelope assemblies
• Differentiate moisture sources and prepare corrective actions
• Recognize controllable sources of moisture and design control strategies
• Realize building material strength and weaknesses and choose appropriately
• Comment on building designs to minimize moisture risks in new construction

Outline:

• What is a building: Dynamic forces on a building envelope
• Foundation-wall-roof elements
• Uncontrollable sources of moisture
• Moisture penetration: Foundation-wall-roof elements
• Controllable sources of moisture
• Building mechanical systems
• Induced moisture loads: Landscaping, drainage, architectural elements
• Occupant moisture loads
• Summary of the building envelope and moisture effects
• Final questions and discussion

Description: A thorough discussion of the elements that make up the building envelope, the science behind the envelope, and the forces acting on the envelope will be provided. This discussion is applicable to those assessing buildings for molds, IAQ, and general sick-building investigations. A building envelope is described in its three basic elements, each constructed differently to shed moisture. Moisture forces acting on the envelope will be discussed, including: controlled, induced, occupant loading, and others. Building materials, building methods, and engineering systems will be discussed as applicable to moisture control. Many photographs and drawings of buildings, building systems, and architectural elements, contributing to or resisting moisture, support this presentation. Computer modeling of moisture movement in building materials and wall assemblies will be introduced. Those attending will gain a more thorough understanding of the science within the building envelope.

Instructor: Michael Geyer, PE, CIH, CSP, SCS Engineers, Long Beach, MO

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Identify the neutral body posture and its associated health benefits
• Identify the causes of sitting-related aches and pains and associated remedies
• Identify current trends in office furniture design and identify non-healthy designs
• Develop his or her own working definition of ergonomics
• Identify the difference between active and passive ergonomics
• Distinguish between human factors, ergonomics, and industrial hygiene

Outline:

• The ergonomics of managing physical stress in the office
  • Definition of ergonomics
  • Why choose ergonomics?
  • Anthropometric design
  • Audience participation
  • Regulatory emphasis
  • Why sit and stand?
  • Neutral body posture
  • Fatigue
• Common problems: Practical solutions
  • Neck tension or tightness in the upper back and shoulders
  • Hand, wrist, and lower arm discomfort
  • Lower back pain
  • Thigh discomfort
  • General discomfort in the buttocks area
  • Lower leg and foot discomfort
  • Sources of fatigue and discomfort
• Office of 2010
  • The future office
  • Benefits of sit and stand positions
  • Ergonomics for travel
• The impact of notebook computers and other emerging technologies
  • Study description
  • Use for notebook computers
  • Problems and solutions for users break
• Self evaluation
  • Body part discomfort survey
  • Hand/wrist discomfort survey
• Anthropometics Kroemer Table
• Ergonomic program effectiveness: Ergonomic and medical intervention
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
• System overview
• Medical consultation
• Medical intervention
• Ergonomic intervention
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • References
• Best practices for office ergonomics programs
  • Purpose
  • Methods
• Assessment
• Program development
• Program goals
• Program monitoring and evaluation
• Education and training
• Workstation and job analysis
• Telecommuting
• For an effective process
• Lessons learned
• Office ergonomics
  • Introduction
  • Ergonomic office furniture and equipment
• Workstation design
• Sitting and standing
• Ergonomic chair design
• Foot rests
• Keyboard trays
• Monitors and monitor placement
  • Environmental concerns
• Lighting and glare
• Noise
• Temperature
  • Checklists and surveys
• Checklists
• Body part discomfort survey
  • Office ergonomics guidelines
• Office furniture evaluation
  • New offices
  • Offices expanding into additional space
  • Existing offices
  • Levels of risk
  • Guidelines for workstation and chairs
  • Office/computer ergonomic job analysis evaluation
• A prospective study of computer users I: Study design and incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders
  • Introduction
  • Materials and methods
• Study design
• Population
• Personal health history
• Work practice information
• Occupational psychosocial questionnaire
• Health outcomes assessment
• Analysis
  • Results
• Recruitment
• Study population
• Neck/shoulder symptoms and disorders: Unadjusted analysis
• Neck/shoulder symptoms and disorders: Multivariate analyses of incidence
• Hand/arm symptoms and disorders: Unadjusted analyses
• Hand/arm symptoms and disorders: Multivariate analyses of incidence
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
• A prospective study of computer users II: Postural risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders
  • Introduction
  • Methods
• Postural assessment
• Health outcomes assessment
• Statistical analyses
• Screening potential confounders
• Screening postural exposures
• Interaction with hours keying/week
• Adjusted effects of individual postural measures
• Final models
• Psychosocial variables
  • Results
• Unadjusted and covariate-adjusted associations between postural exposures and incident symptoms and incident disorders
• Final models of postural exposures and incident symptoms and incident disorders
  • Discussion
• Comparison to prior studies
• Strengths and weaknesses of the current study
• Recommendations
• Geer risk analysis form
• Discussion and questions

Description: This introductory course is targeted at the professional with newfound ergonomics responsibilities, or anyone looking for a refresher in the fundamentals. Participants will learn the basics of office ergonomics and how to implement an ergonomics program, including the basics of anthropometry, common ergonomics challenges, government regulations and guidelines, basic ergonomic definitions and concepts, and solution development and implementation. Issues that are addressed include neck tension or tightness in upper back and shoulders, hand, wrist, and lower arm discomfort; lower leg and foot discomfort; and general fatigue. Participants will also learn about the ergonomics of lighting, temperature, and noise. Learn to proactively address problems through an understanding of ergonomic guidelines and practical solutions. Participants will leave this session with the skills and knowledge to conduct basic ergonomic evaluations, document and prioritize workplace hazards, and implement controls to reduce ergonomic risk associated with those hazards.

Instructor: Jerome Congleton, Ph.D., PE, CPE, Texas A & M University, Bryan, TX

Sponsoring Committee: Computer Applications Committee

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 30

Prerequisites: A basic understanding of working the Windows PC operating environment.

Learning Aids: Participants must have a laptop computer with Microsoft Access XP. Other versions of Access may be used, but may limit the participants learning.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Describe what a database is
• Pre-plan a database application
• Develop tables, forms, queries, and reports for the database
• Understand simple relational database concepts and implementation

Outline:

• Introduction
• What is a database and what will it do for me?
• Why a database versus spread sheets?
• Types of databases
  • Flat file
  • Relational
• Basic database design and table creation
  • Pre-planning
  • Data types
• Basic forms for data entry
• Basic queries and reports
• Calculations within the database
• Relational database concepts

Description: The course is designed for the industrial hygienist who has a need to organize and retrieve various types of data. The course will impart an understanding of when it is appropriate to use a database, how to properly design the database, and how to implement the database. This course will teach the participant how to unlock the power of using both structured and ad hoc queries. The course will be based on working in the Access XP database environment. The course is designed for the IH whose has little to no knowledge or experience with databases.

Instructors: Stephen Wilkins, Constella Health Sciences, Durham, NC; Chuck Chen, CIH, CSP, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA; Terry Carraway, CIH, CSP, U.S. Dept. of State, Arlington, VA

Sponsoring Committee: Biological Monitoring Committee

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 30

Prerequisites: A graduate degree in industrial or occupational health and some work experience with exposure characterization and risk assessment is required.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Identify potential skin exposure hazards in workplaces
• Recognize the significant and consequences of overlooking skin exposures
• Utilize risk assessment approaches for rating potential hazards
• Select and apply methods for measuring exposures, including documenting the benefit of intervention efforts
• Formulate new ideas for creative improvements that will reduce exposures

Outline:

• The skin, its physiology and function, and the impact of its exposure to chemicals and physical agents
  • What the skin is and how it functions
  • Effect on skin (dermatitis)
  • Effect on systemic toxicity
• Government regulations and sources of information involving skin exposure
• Overview of risk assessment approaches
  • Irritants and allergens
  • Systemic intoxication
  • Qualitative and quantitative approaches: DREAM, CEB, AIHA, Risk of Derm, Perm-X, and beyond
• Introduction to exposure assessment
  • Identifying your goals and limitations, and selecting a method(s)
  • Description of specific exposure assessment methods with examples
• Biological monitoring and skin exposure
  • What is human biological monitoring?
  • How do you do biological monitoring?
  • What does biological monitoring measure relative to skin exposure?
  • What compounds/circumstances are best for biological monitoring?
  • ACGIH Biological Exposure Indices, BELs and other guidelines
• Case study exercises and discussions
  • Introduction of Cases 1-4
• Dermatitis hazard identification case
• Simiquantitative model for risk assessment
• Exposure/risk assessment using biomonitoring 1
• MSDS case-toxicological review, PPE selection, decontamination, and the Hazard Communication Standard
  • Introduction of cases 5-8
• Dermatitis risk management case
• Risk assessment: Quantitative approach
• Exposure monitoring of dermal exposure
• Exposure/risk assessment with biomonitoring 2

Description: This course is designed to enhance the ability of the occupational health and safety professional to apply the basic principles of occupational hygiene to skin exposure hazards. Four individuals who have extensive combined experience in addressing potentially hazardous skin exposure circumstances in the workplace will teach this course through a team approach. The course consists of a combination of lectures, demonstrations, case studies with group exercises, and discussions that are intended to fully develop the participant's appreciation of the consequences of excessive skin exposures and develop the skills needed for assessing and managing this exposure route. Topics include why skin exposure is important, the regulatory requirements, tools for risk assessment, where to obtain essential information, how to measure, and possible ways to control and manage skin exposures along with each of their attributes and limitations.

Instructors: Mark Boeniger, MSc, CIH, NIOSH, R12, Cincinnati, OH; Shane Que Hee, Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; Helen Packham, EnviroDerm Inc., Evesham, United Kingdom; Jennifer Sahmel, MSc, CIH, National Park Service, Denver, CO

Introductory | 1.0 Safety CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the origins of our current workers' compensation system
• Explain the workers' compensation continuum
• Calculate a manual and modified premium
• Describe the various influences on premiums costs
• Utilize premium influencers to achieve lower premium costs
• Understand workers' compensation continuum stakeholder relationships and the role of health and safety leadership

Outline:

• Overview/history of workers' compensation
• Workers' compensation statistics
• The workers' compensation continuum
• Understanding and influencing workers' compensation premiums
  • Calculating premiums
  • HR involvement in the workers' compensation continuum
  • Applicant recruitment and screening (including job candidate profile)
  • Pre-employment/post-offer evaluations examinations
  • Substance abuse programs and testing
  • New hire health and safety orientation
  • Regular job specific health and safety training
  • Modified duty programs
  • Functional capacity evaluations and work hardening simulators
• Avoiding claims through health and safety leadership management
  • CEO/CFO commitment, physical involvement, approval of metrics for accountability in performance management system, and rewards for health and safety leaders
  • Health and safety teams (committees) and employee involvement
  • Written policies-including discipline
  • Education and training-including explaining the WC system often
  • Active health & safety leadership at all levels
  • Identify hazards (job hazard analysis) and talk about them regularly
  • Hierarchy of controls
  • Incident (accident) investigation including "near hits"
  • Immediate first line supervisor injury reports to CEO/CFO
  • Behavioral based safety
  • Controlling (recognizing) WC abuse, combating WC fraud and recognizing the 95%+ who do neither
  • Immediate and intense company involvement in injured employee medical treatment and notification of employee's family
  • Review WC system with injured employees and their families
  • Ensure treating physician understands what types of modified duty is available and the physical requirements
  • Regardless of the limitations the physician describes--find a way to do it as soon as possible
  • Fully participate in claims management/coordination/return-to-work program
  • Vocational rehabilitation process
• Final questions and discussion

Description: In this course/session the instructors will introduce participants to the concept of the workers' compensation continuum and how the human resource/health/safety/workers' compensation process can be impacted to reduce injury costs and related business expenses. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how workers' compensation premiums are calculated and the factors that influence premiums. Examples will be presented throughout the course to reinforce the importance of understanding and leveraging these influencing factors. Information on avoiding injuries and associated costs through health and safety leadership will also be discussed, while placing emphasis on need for considering all aspects of the workers' compensation continuum. The role of the health and safety professional, and other key players, within the continuum, will be reviewed.

Instructors: James Peck, MSPH, Peck Enterprises, Honolulu, HI; Thomas Goob, MPH, MBA, CSP, CIH, Diagnostic Laboratory Services Inc., Honolulu, HI

Intermediate | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 40

Prerequisites: General knowledge of ventilation principles.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Describe general health and safety hazards associated with welding and cutting
• Develop an exposure assessment strategy for welding and cutting activities
• Recognize and recommend effective ventilation for confined space welding and cutting
• Identify issues that need to be addressed during welding and cutting in confined spaces

Outline:

• Introduction: Instructors and topics
• Overview and description of common welding and thermal cutting processes
• Health risks associated with common welding and thermal cutting processes
• Health and safety issues associated with welding and thermal cutting in confined spaces
• Exposure assessment and monitoring for common welding and thermal cutting processes
• Effective ventilation techniques for welding and thermal cutting in confined spaces
• Case studies in effective and ineffective ventilation
• Evaluating ventilation alternatives for welding and thermal cutting in confined spaces
• Summary and discussion

Description: This course will describe insights gained from evaluating welding and cutting processes in industrial workplaces. Discussion will be provided to help participants identify common types of welding and thermal cutting processes and the potential health and safety issues associated with these processes. Particular emphasis will be placed on welding and thermal cutting in confined or enclosed spaces where natural ventilation is not sufficient to remove welding and thermal cutting emissions and fumes without mechanically assisted ventilation. A practical approach to assessing potential exposures during welding and thermal cutting as well as developing appropriate ventilation will be discussed. Case studies of successful and unsuccessful ventilation applications will be provided.

Instructors: Stephanie Carter, CIH, University of Washington, Kirkland, WA; Michael Harris, Ph.D., CIH, Hamlin & Harris, Baton Rouge, LA; Lindsay Booher, CIH, CSP, ExxonMobil Corporation, Fairfax, VA

Sponsoring Committee: Biosafety and Environmental Microbiology Committee

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 50

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of microbiology or biology; familiarity with HAZWOPER practices and the Incident Command System.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Present IHs with the knowledge and tools to use in understanding the IH approach to responding to a WMD-Biohazard incident

Outline:

• Introduction to WMD biological hazards/types of WMD biological hazards: CDC categories A and B
  • Bacterial agents
  • Viral agents
  • Fungal agents
  • Toxins
• Modes of transmission
  • Routes of exposure
  • Chain of infection
• Delayed onset of diseases
• Symptoms, prognosis, treatment
• Psychological effects
• Case study review of 2002 anthrax outbreak in the United States
• Review of organization, federal, and state procedures if outbreak known or suspected
  • Who are the players?
• What needs to be in place?
• Have an Incident Command System in place
  • Securing an incident location
  • Collecting / preserving evidence
• Effective health communication to calm public fears: Who shouldn't talk/who should talk
• Control measures for different biological agents
• Respiratory protection for infectious diseases and specific biological agents (lecture plus hands-on)
• Levels of protection for biological agents: EPA Levels A and B
  • Level A
  • Level B
  • Level C
• Case study review: smallpox outbreaks and controls
• Evaluation and suggestions

Description: This is an introductory course covering the basic issues and IH approaches available to the industrial hygienist who may be called upon to train/respond/develop emergency plans and response options to a WMD incident.

Instructors: Philip Hauck, MS, MSHS, CIH, CBSP, SM(NRM), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY; Dan Hurley, CIH, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC

Introductory | 1.0 IH CM Point/0.8 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Fee: $305/$385 | Limit: 30

Learning Aids: Participants should come prepared with a pen, paper, and a positive attitude to learn and participate.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Identify and list Latino values, traditions, and culture and their influence in the workplace with safety 
• Select and apply new communication, coaching, and training skills in order to empower your Latino workforce 
• Develop strategies that get Spanish-speaking employees more involved with your environmental health and safety program 
• Select and apply short and simple workplace phrases and words in Spanish with your Spanish-speaking workforce

Outline:

Who are Latinos and why are they here?

• A brief history on Latino/Spanish-speaking employees: Who are they? Where do they come from? Why are they here?
• Workforce and accident statistics and the Latino population while working in the United States
• A look at Latino values, family customs, and traditions and how they intersect with safety issues in the U.S. workforce
• Case studies: A review of several case studies involving Latino employees and how communications misunderstandings about their customs, values, and traditions could have created barriers and other problems

Communication tips and techniques

• Tips and techniques for today's manages and supervisors for communicating with the Spanish-speaking workforce without having to speak Spanish
• A review and application of several short and simple Spanish phrases to be used with your Spanish-speaking workforce
• A list of do's and don'ts when training and presenting to your Spanish-speaking audience
• How to reward, promote, and motivate your Spanish-speaking employees
• Summary and concluding remarks

Description:  Are OEHS professionals clearly communicating with their Spanish-speaking employees or are there some barriers? This full-day seminar will look at the issues, challenges, tips, and strategies for overcoming communication barriers while working with the ever increasing and valuable Spanish-speaking workforce. According to census statistics, Spanish-speaking workers totaled 35.3 million or about 13% of the total population of the United States in the year 2000. Today's Latino workers make up a big part of our nation's workforce. Unfortunately, they have the highest fatality rate while on the job.

In this seminar you will learn practical insights into the Latino workforce and tips on their customs, traditions, and values. In addition, participants will review and learn new communication techniques for building trustful, productive, and lasting relationships with their Spanish-speaking workforces. The ultimate the goal is to improve quality of work, production, as well as reduce injuries, accidents, and fatalities.

Instructor: Hector Escarcega, CSP, ARM, MSIH, Bilingual Solutions Int'l, Los Angeles, CA

Saturday Half-Day AM Courses

All fees are listed as member / nonmember

AIHce 2004 Top Ten PDC

Sponsoring Committee: Safety Committee

Intermediate | 0.5 IH CM Point/0.4 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–Noon | Fee: $175/$215 | Limit: 50

Prerequisites: Basic understanding of program management.

Learning Aids: For additional reference materials, please click here.

Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Describe how an organization's loss exposures are identified and analyzed
• Describe how risk management alternatives are evaluated
• Describe how the most desirable option is selected
• Describe the implementation of selected risk management techniques
• Describe the monitoring of effectiveness 
• Suggested strategies for adapting industrial hygiene programs to the risk management organizational environment will be presented and ample time will be allotted for questions, answers, and discussion.

Outline:

• Welcome and speaker introductions
• Participant introductions and course expectations
• Introduction to risk management
• Exercise #1: Identification of risks
• Continuation of introduction to risk management-alternatives
• Exercise #2: Risk management options
• Continuation of introduction to risk management-decision basis
• Exercise #3: Calculation of risk management ROI
• Continuation of introduction to risk management-responding to a loss
• Exercise #4: Business continuity exercise
• The risk management profession, opportunities for safety professionals, and emerging issues
• Course wrap up, evaluation, questions, answers

Description: In recent years, many industrial hygiene programs have been involved in organizational re-alignments, shifting from stand-alone units to assimilation into comprehensive environmental health and safety programs. Such shifts compelled individuals to expand their professional knowledge base to better understand the roles of their new organizational colleagues. But the transformation trend has not stopped. A recent phenomenon is the creation of comprehensive risk management programs which incorporate all health and safety functions, along with other institutional loss control and insurance activities.

In recognition of this trend, it is imperative that practicing industrial hygienists become familiar with the risk management and insurance profession to ensure that issues are effectively communicated within the context of this new paradigm. This course will provide an overview of the risk management and insurance profession from the industrial hygienist's perspective, specifically addressing (1) how an organization's loss exposures are identified and analyzed, (2) how risk management alternatives are evaluated, (3) how the most desirable option is selected, (4) the implementation of selected risk management techniques, and (5) the monitoring of effectiveness. Suggested strategies for adapting industrial hygiene programs to the risk management organizational environment will be presented. Ample time will be allotted for questions, answers, and discussion.

Instructor: Robert Emery, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX.

Sponsoring Committee: Computer Applications Committee

Intermediate | 0.5 IH CM Point/0.4 CEU | Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–Noon | Fee: $175/$215 | Limit: 50

Prerequisites: Desire to enhance/augment use of PDAs in professional activities; familiarity with PDAs is a plus.

Objectives: This course is designed for the more experienced PDA user who wishes expand his or her knowledge of intermediate/advanced PDA usage. The course will provide an intensive overview for the health and safety professional.

Upon completion, the participants will be able to:

• Create and edit documents and e-texts
• Communicate more effectively via PDA
• Develop and utilize data collection and database applications
• Understand intermediate/advanced features and uses for PDAs
• Manage their complete EH&S daily regimens from the palm of their hand

Outline:

• What is a PDA?
  • Features and terminology
  • Basic uses overview
• Docum