On Nov. 5, OSHA published an emergency temporary standard in the Federal Register that requires all companies with 100 or more employees to develop a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. Just prior to the publication of the ETS, my staff and I determined the best course of action for all face-to-face meetings that AIHA holds for the foreseeable future.

As of Nov. 8, all attendees of AIHA-sponsored meetings and events will be required to show proof of a complete COVID-19 vaccine cycle or the results of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of the event.

As the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community, we have a responsibility to set an example. In addition to aligning with our mission and meeting our social responsibility, this policy also protects staff who are working these events and helps mitigate AIHA’s risk—a perspective we hope our members and meeting attendees will respect and understand.

We are not the only association heading in this direction. The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the National Association of Broadcasters, the American Geophysical Union, and the Consumer Technology Association have all recently issued similar requirements for their annual conferences.

We respect the fact that some people may have medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs for not getting vaccinated. That is why we will allow access to AIHA meetings for attendees who alternatively present proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of the event. We feel that this approach is the most fair and equitable arrangement given the diverse demographics of our typical event attendee base.

The policy has been posted on AIHA’s website. Should you have any questions or concerns, the AIHA staff is happy to set up a discussion. Email us to share your thoughts.