Set A Course for Prevention at AIHCE

May 1, 2000
Industrial hygienists gather together to face the challenges that confront their workplaces in the 21st century.

Industrial hygiene and safety professionals, your mission if you so choose, is to learn the most effective methods of protecting workers and the public against disease and injury -- prevention -- at this year's American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHCE).

More than 200 professional development seminars, approximately 100 technical sessions and nearly 50 roundtables will be available at "Prevention -- Our Mission for the 21st Century."

The conference, sponsored by the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, is expected to draw an estimated 10,000 attendees May 22-25 to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

More than 400 safety and health companies will be represented at this year's exposition. (Stop by Occupational Hazards' Booth 1020).

Conference Highlights

Monday. Keynote speaker for the opening session at 8 a.m. will be Charles T. Morecraft, who was as an Exxon refinery worker and manager of safety for 27 years. Morecraft was critically injured in an explosion that burned more than 45 percent of his body. As he recounts his n personal tragedy, Morecraft will stress the importance of safety standards and the occupational and environmental health and safety profession.

Morning roundtable sessions start at 10 and include "Federal Lead Hazard Control Action Programs," "Hot Topics in Nonionizing Radiation," "Sampling and Laboratory Analysis" and "When the Environment Is a Safety Issue."

Afternoon roundtables begin at 1 and include "Control of Silica Exposure in Construction," featuring speakers from OSHA, the New Jersey Department of Health and NIOSH's Pittsburgh Research Laboratory. "Leadership/Management I" will focus on corporate social responsibility, safety management and global behavioral safety implementation.

Tuesday. OSHA Administrator Charles N. Jeffress begins Tuesday sessions at 8 a.m. by addressing the health and safety of the nation's workers. Also invited to speak at this general session is National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Director Linda Rosenstock.

Roundtables scheduled for Tuesday morning include "Alternative Metrics for Effective Health and Safety Programs," featuring Larry Birkner, McIntyre Birkner and Associates, and D. Woodhull and StephenNewell with Organization Resources Counselors. "Ergonomic Equipment: Issues and Specific Applications" at 10 a.m. will be about how ergonomists select and custom-design ergonomics equipment based on specific application needs. "Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment: Understanding ANSI Z358.1 -- 1998," "Forum on Ergonomic Equipment: Issues and Specific Applications" and "Gas and Vapor Detection" end the morning roundtables.

The afternoon roundtables start with a "Forum on Ergonomics: Regulations and Standards in the United States, Canada and Europe." Representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom, Washington and California will talk about the status of ergonomics standards in their areas. "Health Care Industries" will examine timely health issues such as bloodborne pathogens, latex gloves, sharps injuries and infection control.

Wednesday. The morning kicks off at 8 a.m. with Robert F. Kennedy, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper movement and senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Kennedy will highlight some of his experiences concerning the environment at all levels of the government.

Roundtable discussions start at 10 a.m. and include "Risk Assessment/Risk Management," "A Process for Selecting Ergonomics Equipment," "Evaluation of Protective Clothing Effectiveness and Its Impact on Workers" and "Health and Safety Training Tips for the Industrial Hygienist."

Afternoon roundtables begin at 1 p.m. and feature the "Glen Williamson Forum: Most Interesting OSHA Health Cases, 1997-1999." OSHA representatives from across the country will present 10 cases that depict a wide variety of exposure situations, including tuberculosis, silica, lead and crab asthma.

"Future Impact of Industrial Hygiene: How it May Affect Minorities and Low- Income Workers" will feature speakers from academia, industry and government. They will discuss how safety and health professionals can create both healthier workplaces and community environments.

New Wednesday evening sessions will take place from 6 to 10 and include "Hearing Protection Performance: The Facts and the Fiction," "Ultrafine Particles: A New IAQ Consideration," and "Psychosocial Considerations and Musculoskeletal Disorders."

Thursday. "Cumulative Trauma Disorders Issues," "Critical Review of Health Hazards from Exposure to Mycotoxic Fungi in Indoor Environments," "Gene Therapy Oversight Issues" and "Air Sampling Instrument Performance," among others, are just a few of the morning rountables.

Other morning sessions include "Dermal Hazards in the Workplace I," which will look at occupational dermal exposures to chemicals and methods for assessing risk and developing numerical guidelines for evaluating dermal exposure to surface contaminants. "Mock Trial: Brazado Native vs. U.S. Oil Inc." will contrast the rights of indigenous people against the responsibilities of multinational corporations in a global economy.

"Impact of Industry on Community Environmental Health: Science and Perception" at 1 p.m. will explore public health, risk perception and environmental justice issues associated with community environmental health.

Other afternoon sessions include discussions of "Strange and Unusual Industrial and Environmental Health Investigations" and "Meeting the Digital Information Technology Revolution: Industrial Hygiene and the Internet."

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Navigating ESG Risk in Your Supply Chain

Sept. 26, 2024
Discover the role of ESG in supply chains, from reducing carbon footprints to complying with new regulations and enhancing long-term business value.

Understanding ESG Risks in the Supply Chain

Sept. 26, 2024
Understand the critical role of ESG in supply chains, the risks for hiring companies, and the competitive edge suppliers gain by prioritizing sustainability.

Best Practices for Managing Subcontractor Risk

Sept. 26, 2024
Discover how to effectively manage subcontractor risk with unified strategies, enhanced oversight, and clear communication for consistent safety and compliance.

Building a Culture of Support: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health in the Workplace

Sept. 26, 2024
Find best practices for setting up an organizational culture that promotes positive mental health and suicide prevention.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!