August 1, 2024

Education Connection 2024 August

Featured Blog Post

Tips and Tools for Improving Exposure Judgments

By Kent A Candee

A mainstay of occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) is professionals' need to rely on our education and experience when assessing health risks for workers exposed to environmental agents. In this process, we incorporate our professional judgment into an estimate of the workers' exposure. From this estimate, we decide whether the exposure is clearly unacceptable or acceptable or if uncertainty remains. However, an OEHS professional's judgment is only as good as their experience with the work activities and practices associated with the risk. This is why the profession needs an exposure assessment system and tools to help them make judgments with a higher degree of precision and accuracy.

Featured Education in Exposure Assessment

Exposure to indoor air pollutants or lack of fresh air can cause short- and long-term health effects. Improved indoor air quality has been shown to result in higher productivity, better cognitive performance, reduced absenteeism, less reported job stress, and increased job satisfaction.

Help keep our workspaces, schools, and homes healthy with these indoor air quality resources from AIHA University.


Be a Part of AIHA CONNECT

AIHA is now accepting proposals for AIHA Connect 2025!

Presenting at AIHA CONNECT is a fantastic opportunity for you to advance the OEHS profession by introducing your colleagues to the latest information, trends, and best practice and to boost your professional creditability by demonstrating your expertise. Consider teaching a PDC or an education session. Share your research by presenting a case study, a scientific research presentation, a pop-up session, or a poster to introduce your colleagues to the latest OEHS information, trends, technology, and best practices.

Deadlines are coming up fast, so get started on your proposal today.

  • September 11, 2024: PDCs, education sessions, and professional posters
  • January 15, 2025: Education Pop-Ups
  • March 18, 2025: Student presentations and student posters

Check out the helpful tips for submitting your proposal and the topics sought based on past conference attendees' feedback.

Help Select the AIHA Connect 2025 Education Program

AIHA is seeking active committee members to serve as PDC and/or Education Program technical reviewers. A technical reviewer serves as a subject matter expert and reviews education proposal submissions to ensure they are scientifically sound, innovative, and relevant to the profession. The technical review process occurs entirely online between September 13-27 and before the reviews by the Continuing Education Committee and Conference Program Committee. The feedback from technical reviewers assists these committees in the selection of the final AIHA Connect 2025 education program. The review process is blind, and no submitter information is shared.

Training is provided at a virtual Town Hall on Thursday, August 29.


Featured eLearning

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) & Label Authoring

Gain proficiency in Safety Data Sheet (SDS) & Label Authoring with AIHA University’s updated self-study course. So much new content has been added, you can now earn 16 contact hours and test your knowledge with interactive quizzes!


Expand your knowledge with Welding: A Case Study in Occupational Hygiene

This self-study course has been updated with fresh content, self-study materials, and knowledge checks for a comprehensive experience. Gain proficiency and earn 9 contact hours when you sign up today!

Cost-Effective Education at Your Fingertips

It’s easier than ever to invest in your professional development with a 2024 AIHA University eLearning Subscription. You’ll not only be up to date on the latest trends, but you’ll save on your education costs for the year.

Get year-long access to 24 contact hours of eLearning on the hottest topics affecting OEHS professionals for just $499. With access to included AIHA webinars and OnDemand recordings in the online classroom, it’s easy to work education into your busy schedule.

Use of Direct Reading Instruments Certificate Program
Earn 4 Contact Hours
Member Price: $300 | Non-Member Price: $350

This introductory-level certificate program is perfect for anyone who uses DRIs to monitor work environments for worker health and safety.

Featured Publication

Odor Thresholds for Chemicals, 4th edition

Recently Published! This publication provides the industrial hygiene/occupational and environmental health and safety (IH/OEHS) practitioner with insight into the variables that affect human perception of chemical odors in the occupational environment. It also offers guidance on the interpretation and use of threshold data.

Upcoming AIHA University Webinars

Save the Dates!

  • Occupational Toxicology 3-Part Series: Mechanisms of Action, SDS Communication, and Hazard Prioritization (Tuesday, September 17, 1:00-2:00pm ET, Tuesday, October 22, 1:00-2:00 pm ET, & Tuesday, November 19, 1:00-2:00 pm ET)
  • Maximizing the Effectiveness of Hearing Protection Through Fit Testing (Thursday, October 17, from 1:00-3:00pm ET)
  • Why Work Rate Matters in Respirator Selection: How Negative Pressure Respirators Affect Breathing (Tuesday, October 29, from 4:00-5:00pm ET)
  • Exploring the BCSP Code of Ethics (Wednesday, November 13, from 1:00-3:00pm ET)
  • Old Theories and New Concepts in Nanotechnology (Thursday, December 5, from 2:00-4:00pm ET)

Featured Frameworks

Competency Framework: SDS and Label Authoring Registry

This framework outlines the 8 knowledge areas in which a professional SDS author should be proficient. The latest version of the framework was updated in 2021 and is based on GHS 8th revised edition. As a competency body of knowledge, it is linked to a self-study course and a registry program.

Technical Framework: Guiding Principles for Exposure Risk Assessment and Management

Representatives from the Exposure Assessment Strategies and Risk Assessment Committees and NIOSH recently reviewed and updated this cornerstone framework. The knowledge, skills, and abilities are broken down by the seven steps in the exposure risk and management flow, and helpful resources can be found by each competency when available.

AIHA Volunteer Groups' Bodies of Work

NEW: AIHA White Paper: Hierarchy of Controls

The new white paper, sponsored by the Social Concerns Committee, debuted at AIHA Connect in Columbus, OH and the project team was awarded the President's Award for Distinguished Service to AIHA. This resource goes beyond the basics of implementing the hierarchy by emphasizing the higher levels and incorporating the business tools and concepts. The white paper on this key aspect of the profession goes hand in hand with several other current and future AIHA bodies of work and publications.


Sign up to Receive Future Resources!

AIHA volunteer project teams are continuously working on new content to enlighten OEHS professionals. Please see the list of new and updated works coming soon and sign up to receive notification, or free PDFs if applicable, once they are completed.

Register Early and SAVE on 2024 AIHA University Road Course Training (In-person)!

Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene Course - 32 Contact Hours
December 2-6, 2024 | Virtual Offering via Zoom

Immerse your staff in IH principles and practices with Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene, a five-day training course offering sampling and workshop sessions, video lab experiences, demo sessions, and problem-solving exercises.

Join us to gain hands-on experience from industry experts.


Exposure and Chemical Monitoring - Beyond IH Fundamentals - 24 Contact Hours

October 21-23, 2024 | In-person, Westerville, OH

Are you looking for interactive IH training to meet your professional development goals? Gain hands-on experience in conducting qualitative exposure assessments and learn effective communication techniques for explaining results to employees and management.

Live Virtual PDCs

Like to learn from a live instructor, but want the convenience of online? Try out a live virtual PDC.

  • CIH Planning for Confined Space Rescue Using the National Incident Management System and Incident Command (Wednesday, August 28, from 8:00am-5:00pm ET)
  • Qualitative Risk Analysis: A Tool for the IH/OS Toolbox (Thursday, September 26, from 8:00am-5:00pm ET)
  • Improving Inhalation Exposure Assessments (Tuesday, November 5 & Thursday, November 7, from 12:00-3:45pm ET)

CPAG Spotlight

Enhancing Communication Skills of Professionals in the OEHS Field

AIHA has a new resource webpage dedicated to enhancing the communication skills of professionals in the OEHS field. Members of the Communicating OEHS Concepts Working Group submitted self-recorded videos sharing personal stories where they learned a critical lesson in effective communication. Dive into the wealth of knowledge shared through videos to discover how mastering these communication techniques can significantly impact your professional interactions and career growth and elevate your skills to the next level in the OEHS profession.