AIHA Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Society for Total Worker Health
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (March 24, 2023)—AIHA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Society for Total Worker Health. Founded in 2022, this new organization is comprised of public health researchers, academics, practitioners, and others working to improve workplace health, safety, and well-being.
The MoU outlines a partnership that aims to advance the roles of industrial hygienists, occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals, and other allied stakeholders who have interests in advancing Total Worker Health® —defined as policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness-prevention efforts to advance worker well-being. AIHA and the Society will work together to plan, develop, and disseminate joint OEHS education programs and will promote their partner’s products and services to their respective members.
“As a leading organization for industrial hygiene professionals,” said AIHA President Donna Heidel, MS, CIH, FAIHA, “AIHA is excited to collaborate with the Society for Total Worker Health to advance the profession of OEHS and the discipline of Total Worker Health (TWH) worldwide. We look forward to identifying and pursuing joint activities that will benefit both our respective members and the communities we serve.”
The Society for Total Worker Health’s interim president-elect is Liliana Tenney, DrPH. Tenney is also an assistant professor and the associate director for outreach at the Center for Health, Work, & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health. According to Tenney, membership in the Society rests on four pillars: community building, leading, staying informed, and mentoring. “We’re building this community to connect individuals across fields and give them the tools to lead in their fields—in a way that’s fresh compared to how professional associations typically operate,” Tenney said. “People interested in TWH are curious and motivated to tackle the big problems facing today’s workplaces. The Society will be a place for conducting rich dialogue, building new relationships, and, overall, evolving the field of TWH for greater impact.”
About AIHA
AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as for the communities in which they work. For more information, visit www.aiha.org.
About Society for Total Worker Health
The Society for Total Worker Health, founded in 2022, unites members with a shared passion: advancing worker health, safety, and well-being. Its mission is to serve as a communal hub for sharing new and innovative ideas to expand Total Worker Health® research, training, education, dissemination, and real-world solutions. The Society is a place for professionals and students to engage across all disciplines. The Center for Health, Work, & Environment serves as the fiscal and program partner for the Society, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. For more information, visit www.twhsociety.org.
Total Worker Health® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Participation by the Society for Total Worker Health does not imply endorsement by HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.