1939
AIHA® is founded by non-physician members of the American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons (now ACOEM).
1940
William P. Yant elected AIHA's first president along with President-elect Warren A. Cook in 1940.
First publication of the Journal of Industrial Medicine's Industrial Hygiene section, the forerunner of the JOEH.
1942
The Board establishes a committee to design an insignia, which was approved in November 1942.
1943
Alice Hamilton's book On the Dangerous Trades is published.
AIHA's Board establishes the first AIHA award, the Donald E. Cummings Award.
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®.
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) (later called the Board for Global EHS Credentialing in 2019).
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®.
Toronto becomes the first non-U.S. city to host the American Industrial Hygiene Conference.
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.
AIHA® publishes Occupational Exposure Limits—Worldwide by Warren Cook.
1989
AIHA® begins publication of The Synergist as a quarterly newsletter.
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.
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.
AIHA® and OHAO sign a memorandum of understanding.
OSHA publishes a proposal to align its Hazard Communication Standard with GHS.
2017
Women in IH Working Group formed.
2019
First Women in IH Leadership Summit held at AIHce EXP in Minneaoplis, Minnesota.
Source: The American Industrial Hygiene Association, 1939-1990: Its History and Personalities. George and Florence Clayton, eds. AIHA: Fairfax, Va. (1994).