Education Connection 2026 February
Featured Blog Post
Toward Educational and Career Enrichment
By: Larry Sloan
When AIHA plans for the future, we typically focus on a three-year time horizon, long enough to ensure continuity across our various activities but short enough to allow flexibility to address new challenges. Since 2026 marks the midpoint of our current strategic plan, now is a good time to assess the work we’ve done toward our goals and what we’re aiming to achieve moving forward.
Career Development Education & Mentoring Resources
AIHA is here to support your career growth and expand your professional community. This month's Featured Education topic, Career Development & Mentorship, highlights the resources that can help you take the next step professionally or offer guidance and resources.
Ergonomics Education & Resources
Need guidance for your ergonomics program? Optimize the well-being and productivity of your employees with cost-effective ergonomics resources from AIHA University. From recognizing risk factors to implementing best practices, we’ve got you covered.
Students: Share Your Expertise & Get Recognized
AIHA is still accepting proposals for AIHA Connect 2026!
AIHA CONNECT is the perfect setting for students and OEHS professionals of all career levels to share ideas and expand their expertise. Proposals are still being accepted for:
- Student Posters and presentations enable students to deepen their knowledge and expand their professional network as they prepare to enter the workforce. The deadline to submit is March 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Check out the helpful tips for submitting your proposal, as well as the topics being sought based on feedback from past conference attendees.
Volunteer Opportunities at AIHA Connect 2026!
Get Involved! Volunteer to be a Moderator at AIHA Connect 2026
Moderators are needed for AIHA Connect Research Roundup sessions. These sessions have two speakers presenting separate presentations. Moderators assist with a smooth transition from one speaker to the next and help speakers stay on time. As a moderator, you will also be responsible for speaker introductions, session announcements, and assisting speakers as needed. Training is provided.
This is a great opportunity to serve in a leadership role, develop relationships with fellow colleagues, and contribute to the overall success of the conference!
To volunteer as a moderator, complete the Research Roundup Moderator Form. Once processed, you will receive an email confirmation of your assignment and further instructions. A list of Research Roundup sessions needing moderators can be found here.
Moderators must plan to be in-person at AIHA CONNECT 2026.
DEADLINE: Until all positions have been filled.
Open Call for PDC Monitors at AIHA Connect 2026
As a monitor, you will be responsible for attendee sign-in, course announcements, and assisting the instructor as needed. In return for your assistance, AIHA Connect will waive your PDC registration fee. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Monitors must be current (2026) AIHA Members, attend AIHA Connect 2026 in-person and attend an on-site monitor meeting 7:00-7:30 a.m. CDT the morning of their assigned PDC.
DEADLINE: Until all positions have been filled.
Open Call for Conference Program Committee (CPC) Members
Would you like to play a vital role in reviewing and selecting education sessions for AIHA Connect? Then consider responding to the Call for CPC Volunteers. The Conference Program Committee is comprised of subject matter experts who can have an attendee perspective as they annually select relevant programming and top-quality speakers for the education program at AIHA Connect.
DEADLINE: March 12, 2026
Open Call for Continuing Education Committee Membership
Are you ready to make a bigger impact in your profession? Looking for meaningful ways to connect with fellow AIHA members and share your expertise? If you have skills and insights that can elevate AIHA’s Continuing Education programs, this is your moment!
Each year, AIHA opens the Call for Volunteers for the Continuing Education Committee (CEC)—a dynamic group of professionals who help ensure the quality and relevance of AIHA’s professional development courses (PDCs).
DEADLINE: March 13, 2026
Seeking Judges for Student Posters “Best in Show” Awards
Volunteers are needed to judge student posters for Best in Show awards. Judges will review digital student poster files online April 23 - May 6 to select first place, second place, and third place for Best in Show. Student winners will each receive a certificate and gift card. Winners will be determined before AIHA CONNECT; no later than May 6. Award winners will be featured in an issue of The Synergist after the conference.
This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the profession. If you would like to serve as a judge for the Best in Show awards, email Diana Kane.
DEADLINE: April 20, 2026
Featured eLearning
Professional development shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all approach. That's why we created Learning Pathways, AIHA's newest education format that transforms education to your learning style. Each pathway offers three progressive skill levels: technician, practitioner, and professional, so you start where you are and advance at your own pace. Learn more by checking out the Fatigue Management Learning Pathway, the first of this new type of education resource.
The Smartest Investment You'll Make This Year: Your 2026 eLearning Subscription
The 2026 AIHA University eLearning Subscription delivers up to 24 contact hours of high-quality education at an unbeatable value. Registration includes live participation and recording access to our 2026 AIHA University webinar series and brings you the best of AIHA Connect OnDemand. Don’t miss out on the latest IH/OEHS information, trends, technology, and best practices!
Featured Publications
Did you know that AIHA University has 90+ books available on the Marketplace? Browse the AIHA University Catalog for details on some of our most popular products, certification courses, and training opportunities. You can also search the AIHA Marketplace for our full suite of educational offerings.
AIHA Press is always working on new content, with new or revised publications released every year. Curious about what’s in store for 2026? The list below provides just a few examples of the books you can expect to see this year. Be sure to check the AIHA Marketplace and AIHA University’s Bookstore regularly for updates!
- Sample Collection Quality Assurance Manual
- Mathematical Models for Estimating Occupational Exposure to Chemicals, 3rd edition
- Biohazards Reference Manual, 3rd edition
Upcoming AIHA University Webinars
Hazard Recognition and Control for the Emerging North American Cannabis Industry | March 11, 2026
The legal cannabis industry continues to rapidly expand across North America. Are you struggling to navigate this complex landscape of emerging hazards, evolving regulations, and inconsistent safety practices? Presented by certified industrial hygienists with extensive experience in cannabis-related H&S programs, this webinar demystifies the cannabis sector and offers insight on applying strategic health and safety practices.
Psychosocial Hazards 101: What Every OEHS Professional Should Know | March 25, 2026
Psychosocial hazards (factors such as ineffective leadership, excessive workloads, and more that lead to employee stress responses) are becoming increasingly recognized in global standards (e.g., ISO 45003). These hazards can significantly impact employee well-being and organizational performance. Learn how to manage them effectively for sustainable performance, regulatory compliance, and workforce resilience during this webinar.
Upcoming AIHA University Webinars - Save the Date!
- Making Practical Sense of Enormous Data Logs | Wednesday, April 22, 1:00-2:00 pm ET
- The New Safety Standard: Mental Health as a Core Workplace Value | Wednesday, May 6, 1:00-2:00 pm ET
- How to Conduct a PPE Risk Assessment - Practical Considerations for Industrial Hygiene Exposures | Wednesday, May 13, 1:00-2:00 pm ET
- Controlling Silica Exposure in Stone Countertop Fabrication & Installation | Wednesday, June 24, 1:00-2:00 pm ET
- Modern Noise Dosimetry: Limits, Misreads, and Better Solutions | Wednesday, August 5, 1:00-3:00 pm ET
Featured Framework
Strategic Framework: Enterprise Risk Management - An Overview
Member Price: FREE | Non-Member Price: $19.95
The updated Strategic Technical Framework (2023) is a practical roadmap for Industrial Hygienists looking to master Enterprise Risk Management. It simplifies complex ERM concepts—like risk acceptance and strategic communication—into actionable guidance and a hands-on body of knowledge. This revised version ensures IH professionals have the modern tools needed to align their safety efforts with broader organizational objectives.
Featured AIHA Volunteer Groups' Bodies of Work
Member Price: FREE | Non-Member Price: $19.95
This white paper shows how "big data" can help construction projects protect workers more effectively. By looking at public exposure records from OSHA, the authors demonstrate new ways to predict risks and choose the right safety measures. It’s a practical guide for safety professionals that uses statistics to help decide which controls or protective gear are actually needed, particularly for unusual or high-risk jobs.
Recommended Skills and Capabilities for Silica Competent Persons
Member Price: FREE | Non-Member Price: $19.95
Designed for safety professionals and employers, this document outlines the core competencies required to manage silica hazards on-site effectively. It breaks down the knowledge areas—ranging from regulatory compliance to practical control implementation—needed to meet OSHA standards. By establishing a clear benchmark for what a "competent person" should know, this guide helps companies (particularly smaller ones) design better training and ensure their workers are genuinely protected from silica exposure.
Member Price: FREE | Non-Member Price: $19.95
Better indoor air quality isn't just a health issue; it's a performance driver. This paper examines the evidence linking clean air to sharper thinking, higher job satisfaction, and fewer sick days. It breaks down the technical steps needed to achieve these results—like reducing pollutants and managing humidity—and balances them against the financial returns of such investments. For EHS professionals and building managers, this resource offers the evidence-based guidance necessary to justify and implement IAQ improvements.
Register Early and SAVE on 2026 AIHA University Road Course Training (In-person)!
Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene Course
March 16-19, 2026 | In-Person in Westerville, OH - Limited Seating Available
June 22-26, 2026 | Virtual
September 14-17, 2026 | In-Person in Westerville, OH
32 Contact Hours
Immerse your staff in IH principles and practices with Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene, a four-day training course offering sampling and workshop sessions, hands-on lab experiences, demo sessions, and problem-solving exercises.
Join us to gain hands-on experience from industry experts. Hurry, space is filling up fast!
Exposure and Chemical Monitoring - Beyond IH Fundamentals
October 19-21, 2026 | In-person, Westerville, OH
24 Contact Hours
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.
Join us to gain hands-on experience from industry experts.
Upcoming AIHA Connect University Live Virtual PDCs - Save the Date!
This course will demystify the science behind odor detection and gain the knowledge and tools to confidently address odor concerns in the workplace. Attendees will learn how to interpret and apply odor threshold data through a comprehensive exploration of odor detection technology, terminology, and the influence of individual factors. Instructors will clarify the roles of the olfactory and trigeminal systems and explain how chemical structure relates to odor characteristics and detection limits.
Upcoming AIHA Connect University Live Virtual PDCs - Save the Date!
- Controlling SIF Risk: Incorporating Lagging and Leading Methods within a Systems Framework with ASTM Standards | Wednesday, June 17, 12:00-3:45 pm ET | 3.5 contact hours
- Authorized OSHA Outreach 10-Hour General Industry- Laboratory | Wednesday, August 19 & Thursday, August 20, 12:00-6:00 pm ET | 10 contact hours