Channel Descriptions
AIHA University Framework
Description: Framework documents consist of complete sets of concepts, terms, and activities that make up a specific professional domain as defined by an academic or professional body. This format is useful for sharing knowledge in a particular area and how an individual is expected to master it to be considered or certified as a practitioner.
Target Audience: OEHS audience.
Right for Me? Choose this format if you are looking to create content that outlines the knowledge, skills, and abilities an individual should possess and demonstrate to work successfully in a particular field or industry.
Format Outline:
- Page count: 20 pages or less
- Lists the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to work in a particular field or industry
- Serves as the first step in the development of a registry, certificate, or training program
- Includes references in APA style to support content
Book
Description: AIHA publishes technical, educational materials (e.g., textbooks, guidelines, manuals) and does not allocate resources for the publications or marketing of books in narrative formats, such as memoirs or autobiographies. Overall, the non-technical books do not fit the content priorities or business objectives of AIHA University.*
*AIHA reserves the right to reevaluate business needs at any time and make determinations of which products to publish on a case-by-case basis. Criteria are included to streamline the submission and review process. Adherence to said criteria does not guarantee acceptance, nor does deviation from these guidelines automatically result in rejection.
Target Audience: OEHS audience.
Right for Me? Choose this format if you are looking to create content in greater depth than what is possible through a fact sheet, guidance document, or white paper, including specific knowledge and methodologies.
Format Outline:
- Page count: depends on content and format (e.g., is it a guideline, field manual, college textbook, or other specific purpose?)
- Can be released as an EPUB or as a physical, hardcover copy
- Includes references in APA style to support content
Fact Sheet
Description: Fact sheets present data in a format that emphasizes key points concisely, usually using bullet points, headings, or tables. Fact sheets often contain technical data, lists, statistics, educational material, or how-to advice. On occasion, they may summarize a longer document. Fact sheets can also be presented visually as infographics.
Target Audience: OEHS professionals or the general public audience.
Right for Me? Choose this format if you are writing on a particular topic to inform a specific audience with high-level knowledge of it.
Format Outline:
- Page count: 5 pages or less
- Should be visually appealing, comprised of tables, charts, graphs, and bullet lists of supporting facts
- Summary of most important information; should be brief and concise
- Cite sources or attributions in APA style and include links to further information
Guidance Document
Description: Guidance documents suggest best practices and provide non-binding advice that follows a prescribed procedure or process. Guidance documents should be viewed only as recommendations unless specific regulatory requirements are cited.
Target Audience: OEHS or public audience.
Right for Me? Guidance documents reflect AIHA's and its members' current thinking on a particular subject. Choose this format if you want to document the way activities should be performed to facilitate consistent conformance.
Format Outline:
- Page count: 30 pages or less
- Provides broad advice for following a procedure or process
- Includes a brief statement of purpose to clarify the reason for the document's creation, which also refers to any directly related document (e.g., a policy or regulation the document supports)
- Includes no mandatory statements; these belong in a policy, procedure, or standard document
- Sometimes may be best structured as FAQs or bulleted lists
- May provide more extensive guidance or advice for best practices
- Includes references in APA style to support content
- May include infographics
Position Statement
Description: Position statements are short statements that reflect the association's stand on a particular viewpoint or issue related to occupational and environmental health and safety.
Note: Position statements must be preceded by the development of a corresponding white paper. Once approved, the position statement may be added to the White Paper's executive summary.
Target Audience: OEHS or public audience.
Right for Me? Choose this format if you feel the association should take an official position on an issue related to a mission-critical topic.
Format Outline:
- Page count: 2 pages or less
- States the official position of AIHA
- Includes a rationale in support of the position
- Requires the approval of the AIHA Board of Directors
White Paper
Description: White papers are persuasive, in-depth reports or essays that include executive summaries, are supported by scientific research, and are written to educate the target audience on an issue or explain and promote a particular methodology. White papers are meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision.
Target Audience: OEHS or public audience.
Right for Me? A white paper is a research report or guide that helps solve a problem. Choose this format if you intend to educate readers by presenting a new or different perspective.
Format Outline:
- Page count: 30 pages or less
- Includes an executive summary that outlines the white paper's main points, including any recommendations and crucial data that supports them
- Should be visually appealing, with features like diagrams, charts, graphs, examples, case studies, infographics, and tables
- Includes reference list in APA style to support content
Videos
Description: AIHA accepts videos that provide OEHS information through a visual medium, either live-action or animation.
Target Audience: OEHS audience.
Right for Me? Choose this format if you want your topic, idea, or other content to have high exposure on various social media channels. Explainer videos are extremely effective ways to share important information on topics, processes, ideas, research, analysis, or other content and can take various forms.
Format Outline:
- Animated videos: These use infographics, characters, stock images, and visual tools to bring data to life. This format simplifies complex OEHS information, making it accessible to public audiences with limited technical knowledge.
- Length: 15-60 seconds (social media) to 3+ minutes (evergreen web content).
- Cost & Effort: Moderate cost; typically requires the longest production lead time due to the animation process.
- Live-action videos: These feature real people and locations, using visual storytelling to create a sense of intimacy and familiarity between the viewer and the subject. This format is best for communicating human-centric stories or demonstrating physical tasks.
- These feature real people and locations, using visual storytelling to create a sense of intimacy and familiarity between the viewer and the subject. This format is best for communicating human-centric stories or demonstrating physical tasks.
- Cost & Effort: High cost; requires significant lead time to coordinate people, locations, and equipment.
- Casual / Self-Recorded Videos: Typically involves an individual recording themselves sharing information via a smartphone (e.g., "selfie-style"). This format prioritizes authenticity and speed over high production value. It is best used for personal social media channels where AIHA is tagged.
- Length: 10 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Cost & Effort: Minimal cost; very short lead time, but quality is variable and content usually has a short lifespan (not evergreen).
Tools
Description: Technologically astute AIHA members are invited to create user interfacing applications that reflect a scientific method and provide practicing OEHS professionals with quick and easy access to information that helps them to evaluate and control hazards in the workplace.
Target Audience: OEHS audience.
Right for Me? Choose this format if you are looking to develop electronic tools to assist OEHS professionals in collecting, evaluating, and controlling hazards in the workplace. Consider whether funding will be necessary to develop and maintain this product.
Format Outline:
- Electronic tool formats include, but are not limited to, decision logic spreadsheets and mobile apps