Education Connection 2024 October
Featured Blog Post
Future Directions for AIHA’s Content Priorities: Results from a Recent Environmental Scan
By: Taylor Shockey PhD, MPH
AIHA's content priorities are concepts or themes that impact the relevance and value of AIHA's content and the association in general. Identifying content priorities benefits occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals because they are derived from trends and issues that are vital for the profession. They inform strategies for career success and lead to the development of content that helps OEHS professionals be more successful in their work.
Featured Education in Exposure Assessment
Assessing, managing, and communicating overall risk to worker health is complex, but finding the necessary resources is simple.
Tap into AIHA University to help you evaluate potential risks, interpret regulatory requirements, identify appropriate performance measurements, and more!
Opportunities to Present at AIHA CONNECT
Proposals are still being accepted for the following presentation types:
Education Pop-Ups offer an interactive and casual way to share knowledge with peers. The deadline to submit is January 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Student posters and presentations allow students to deepen their knowledge and build their network as they prepare to enter the workforce. The deadline to submit is March 12, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET.
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!
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
Member $93 | Non-Member $121
IH and OEHS professionals should recognize the importance of odor science in helping minimize or prevent significant exposures in the workplace. Because odor threshold research is an evolving science, it is imperative to have the latest tools and resources at your disposal when perceiving chemical odors and interpreting threshold data. The revised edition of Odor Thresholds for Chemicals provides IH/OEHS professionals with the insight needed to detect and interpret odors in the occupational environment.
This edition has been significantly expanded to include thresholds for compounds without established occupational exposure limits (OELs), leading to the addition of several hundred new values. The handy data tables enable practitioners to review relevant methods and literature, look up published odor threshold values, and find chemicals by description, synonym, or registry number. By including literature reviews and results, the authors have also presented the changes in testing methodology, limitations in threshold use, and advances in odor perception research. This guidance is essential for assessing and managing exposures in the workplace!
Have you ever wondered how to get published at AIHA? Or gotten a book proposal accepted but felt unsure of what comes next?
The upcoming “Instructions for Authors” website is sure to answer your questions and provide insight into the publications process at AIHA®. This comprehensive resource will describe the ins and outs of production, from proposal submission through final publication. It includes updated submission guidelines, formatting requirements, and tips and tricks for getting published in the most efficient way. Stay tuned for site launch in December!
Also, keep an eye out for these new releases in 2025:
• Chemical Protective Clothing, 2nd edition
• Mathematical Models for Estimating Occupational Exposure to Chemicals, 2nd edition
• Biosafety Reference Manual, 3rd edition
Upcoming AIHA University Webinars
- Occupational Toxicology 3-Part Series: Mechanisms of Action, SDS Communication, and Hazard Prioritization (Part 1: Tuesday, September 17 Recording Available to Participants, Part 2: Tuesday, October 22, 1:00-2:00 pm ET, & Part 3: 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)
- Ethical Insights for CIHs and CSPs: Exploring the BCSP Code (Wednesday, November 13, from 1:00-3:00pm ET)
- Nanotechnology Health and Safety Principles (Thursday, December 5, from 2:00-4:00pm ET)
Featured Frameworks
Strategic Framework: Enterprise Risk Management—An Overview
Member $19.95 | Non-Member $29.95
This newly updated Strategic Technical Framework provides OEHS professionals with a comprehensive overview of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) concepts and processes. Developed collaboratively by AIHA® and selected members, this framework assists professionals in understanding how ERM relates to organizational objectives, including risk acceptance and opportunities. The 2023 update, led by Georgi Popov, Bruce Lyon, and Tsvetan Popov, reflects the latest advancements in ERM practices, enhancing clarity and relevance for OEHS professionals. This essential resource articulates core definitions, concepts, methodologies, and communication strategies crucial for effectively integrating ERM principles into professional practice.
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 Guidance Document: Hazardous Drug Surface Contamination
Hazardous Drugs (HDs) are handled throughout healthcare organizations and in several other settings, including independent compounding pharmacies, 503Bs, infusion centers, and potentially in delivery of home health. Professionals tasked with implementing a sampling program need to consider several factors. AIHA's Hazardous Drug project team (under the auspices of the Healthcare Working Group) updated our Hazardous Drug Surface Contamination Guidance Document to address these factors for healthcare and compounding pharmacy organizations.
Updated White Paper: Electronic Cigarettes: Impact on the Indoor Environment and Sustainability Challenges
The electronic cigarette industry has changed quickly in the short amount of time the technology has been available to the public. The authors of this essential white paper have thoroughly updated this 3rd version to keep up with the new and complex issues surrounding these devices including a review of the unknowns of presumed safe ingredients, the growing environmental concerns, and current regulations.
New Fact Sheet - Noise Dosimetry
A project team of members of the AIHA Noise Committee have published the first of a series of free fact sheets. AIHA fact sheets present technical data and key points on a topic and include a list of references for readers looking for more information. This new resource provides the noise dosimetry procedural steps and considerations, exposure limits, and best practices.
Updated Technical Framework: The Keys to Effective Presentation of Your Business Case
Unlock the strategies to make compelling business cases with this technical framework. Whether you're in EHS, management, or academia, this framework helps you align your proposals with organizational goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
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.
- Improving Professional Judgments of Inhalation Exposure and Risk Assessments Using the Structured Deterministic Model (SDM 2.0) (Tuesday, November 5 & Thursday, November 7, from 12:00-3:45pm ET)
CPAG Spotlight
Environmental Scan Report Now Available!
The Environmental Scan report is now available on the CPAG webpage. It details the scanning process, key findings, and changes that have been made to AIHA’s content priorities. For more information on the modified priorities, read the SynergistNOW blog post written by CPAG Chair Taylor Shockey, Future Directions for AIHA’s Content Priorities: Results from a Recent Environmental Scan.
