American Industrial Hygiene Conference Research Articles

Commentary

Dr. Michael P. Wilson of UC Berkeley delivered his keynote address before the general assembly of the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exhibition (AIHce) in Portland, Oregon, in May 2011. Here, Dr. Wilson again discusses the political and economic drivers of occupational disease in the United States and proposes a role for AIHA in helping to highlight and resolve them. He proposes that until these underlying drivers are acknowledged and ameliorated, the toll of occupational disease will persist, despite the hard work of industrial hygienists in the workplace. Among these drivers, Dr. Wilson points to the decline of labor rights and unionization; economic inequality; economic insecurity; political resistance to public health protections for workers, notably the OSHA and NIOSH programs; and weaknesses in the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). Of these, Dr. Wilson calls on the AIHA to participate in the historic effort to rewrite TSCA. He points to weaknesses in TSCA that have produced a chemicals market dominated by the function, price, and performance of chemicals, with little attention given to their health and environmental effects. Under these conditions, he argues, hazardous chemicals have remained economically competitive, and innovation in inherently safer chemicals—in green chemistry—has been held back by a lack of market transparency and public accountability in the industry. TSCA reform has the potential to shift the market toward green chemistry, with long-term implications for occupational disease prevention, industrial investment, and renewed energy in the industrial hygiene profession. Dr. Wilson proposes that, like previous legislative changes in the United States, TSCA reform is likely to occur in response to myriad social pressures, which include the emergence of the European Union's REACH regulation; recent chemicals policy actions in 18 U.S. states; growing support from downstream businesses; increasing public awareness; and a social movement that reaches across traditional boundaries. Dr. Wilson urges the AIHA to involve itself in this effort by building alliances with professional associations and other groups that share similar goals.

The challenges of chemical safety (or any) training!

This article is based on an intensive, participative, and fun train-the-trainer session at the 2008 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce). The author discussed his 12 guiding principles for being a good trainer, did a costume change, and facilitated an audience-participative discussion to problem solve many common training challenges that occur in chemical safety or any training. Training adults is both an art and a science and both were demonstrated in this animated presentation. The session operated on the training principle that many a training session (or trainer) suffers from many a training challenge (often thought of as a “problem”) and what doesn’t kill her/him or the training session makes them a better and stronger trainer.

Approaches and considerations for setting occupational exposure limits for sensory irritants: report of recent symposia.

Over the past 50 years significant strides have been made in reducing occupational exposure to airborne chemicals. To a large extent, the impetus behind the reductions has been the identification of presumably safe levels of exposure, or occupational exposure limits (OELs). Most of the reduction in exposure has been to chemicals such as hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, nephrotoxins, and carcinogens that cause frank toxic effects. Recently, however, a number of industrial hygiene and occupational medicine initiatives have sought to identify acceptable levels of exposure to sensory irritants and reduce exposure to this class of chemicals. This article presents an overview of the field with emphasis on the work presented at two symposia sponsored by the Chemical Manufacturers Association: "How Do We Set an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) for Irritation?" (1998) at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition and "Respiratory Tract Irritation and Olfaction Conference" (1997). The two symposia reviewed clinical and experimental methods used to assess odor and sensory irritation, to increase understanding of the research needed to establish OELs for sensory irritants, and to discuss how to use this information to identify appropriate values. The symposia illustrated that research in this area is evolving quickly and that there is already sufficient understanding to permit scientists to identify chemicals likely to be sensory irritants. Further, there appears to be an ample number of research methods for identification of airborne concentrations that should protect most workers. This article summarizes some of the key points raised at these symposia and suggests areas deserving of future study.

60th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition.

60th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition.

Conference summary. Oh Canada! 59th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition.

Conference summary. Oh Canada! 59th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition.

The 1998 Donald E. Cummings Memorial Award Lecture. The industrial hygiene paradox, dilemmas, and a vision for the future.

How do we move from diatribe to dialogue? Since the Donald E. Cummings Award was first established in 1943, the profession of industrial hygiene has seen many changes. The traditional hazards Alice Hamilton addressed in her 1948 Cummings lecture have been controlled. However, the advent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has changed the approach of many of today's industrial hygienists from "best professional practices" to regulatory compliance or OSHA industrial hygiene. Further, the dialogue that has existed between academia, business, government, and labor that allows industrial hygienists to identify and resolve health hazards is now threatened by lawsuits and lobbyists. Industrial hygienists have a professional responsibility to workers, employers, clients, and the public. Our vision for the future must refocus on this responsibility as we once again embrace dialogue instead of diatribe. This lecture was presented at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition in Atlanta, Ga., on May 13, 1998.

1997 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition

1997 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition

Conference Summary 57th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition

Conference Summary 57th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition

Conference Summary: The Value of Short Case Reports—56th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition

(1995). Conference Summary: The Value of Short Case Reports—56th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 10, No. 10, pp. 803-811.

Conference Summary: The Status of the Profession—55th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition

(1994). Conference Summary: The Status of the Profession—55th Annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 9, No. 10, pp. 653-670.

An Analysis of Manager Expectations for Entry-Level Industrial Hygienists

At the 1992 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition the AIHA Emerging Issues Committee discussed whether academic training in industrial hygiene was adequate to meet the current and future needs of the profession. This issue was considered from both the conceptual and applied perspectives. The broad, conceptual perspective related to how well-defined educational requirements for industrial hygienists might enhance the status of the profession. The more pragmatic question was whether graduates from present academic programs were adequately prepared to function as practicing hygienists. To pursue a more thorough examination, the authors reviewed previous demographic and educational surveys and conducted a preliminary assessment of the question. These results are presented here to promote a more interactive setting for the development of educational standards for the profession.

American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition Exhibitors' Listing

American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition Exhibitors' Listing

American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition ′93 May 15–21, 1993: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, Louisiana

American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition ′93 May 15–21, 1993: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, Louisiana

American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition: May 18–24, 1991 Salt Palace Center Salt Lake City, Utah: “Pioneering Change in the Global Environment”

American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition: May 18–24, 1991 Salt Palace Center Salt Lake City, Utah: “Pioneering Change in the Global Environment”

American Industrial Hygiene Conference May 13–18,1990 Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida: “Industrial Hygiene in the World of Tomorrow”

American Industrial Hygiene Conference May 13–18,1990 Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida: “Industrial Hygiene in the World of Tomorrow”

American Industrial Hygiene Conference St. Louis, Missouri May 21–26, 1989

American Industrial Hygiene Conference St. Louis, Missouri May 21–26, 1989

Observations on heat exposures in glass manufacture : Reissig, G. W. et al.Paper presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference, San Francisco, USA, May 14–19, 1972, No 94, 150

Observations on heat exposures in glass manufacture : Reissig, G. W. et al.Paper presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference, San Francisco, USA, May 14–19, 1972, No 94, 150

A protective headgear for coal miners : Goldberg, M. N.Paper presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference, San Francisco, California, USA, May 14–19 1972, No 65, 138

A protective headgear for coal miners : Goldberg, M. N.Paper presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference, San Francisco, California, USA, May 14–19 1972, No 65, 138

Anthropometry and design of respirator facepieces : McConville, J. T.Paper presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference, San Francisco, California, USA, May 14–19 1972, No 186, 187

Anthropometry and design of respirator facepieces : McConville, J. T.Paper presented at American Industrial Hygiene Conference, San Francisco, California, USA, May 14–19 1972, No 186, 187

1969 Conference Program: American Industrial Hygiene Conference: American Industrial Hygiene Association

1969 Conference Program: American Industrial Hygiene Conference: American Industrial Hygiene Association