News | April 9, 2009

AIHce: A Value In Any Economy

Fairfax, VA - After ten years, the premier conference and exposition for occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals is coming back to Toronto. The American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo (AIHce) will be held May 30–June 4 in the heart of what writer Ray Bradbury called "the most perfect city in the western hemisphere." Participants can earn up to 6.5 CM points by choosing from over 200 weekend professional development courses (PDCs) and weekday technical sessions.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) cosponsor AIHce.

Pre-Conference
Pre-conference offerings on Saturday and Sunday will feature a variety of PDCs, including the returning attendee-rated "top 10" courses on Bayesian statistics, noise control engineering, hearing protection, biological monitoring, exposure assessment strategies and statistics, and much more. The PDC program includes half-day, full-day, and two-day sessions.

If attendees plan to take the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) exam, they will not want to miss AIHce's advanced preparation workshop. This three-day course begins on Friday and covers the three areas of the CSP exam—engineering, management, and information management and communications. Participants will practice solving analytical problems and will review test-taking strategy, test format, scoring procedures, and recent exam results.

Other highlights of the opening weekend include a pair of two-day management courses. The introductory course "Improving Communication Effectiveness for the IH Manager and OEHS Professional" will help new managers develop their skills. For those who have some management experience, the intermediate-level "Finance for the Nonfinancial Manager" may be just what they are looking for. In today's economic climate, the ability to interpret financial information is crucial.

Focus on the Future
At the AIHce opening general session on Monday, Peter H. Diamandis, MD, will present "Challenges, Progress, Innovation: Predicting the Future by Creating It." As chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation, Diamandis helped revolutionize the way the world thinks about space travel. The $10M dollar Ansari X PRIZE was awarded in 2004 to the winner of a private space flight competition. Inspired by Diamandis' work on the X Prize, AIHA will launch its own constructive Breakthrough Thinking Prize competition to spur innovative thinking about current OEHS challenges. A new Breakthrough Thinking Track features professionally facilitated teams of attendees working on two key challenges: (1) the IH Regulatory Environment in the United States, and (2) the Practice of Global Occupational Hygiene. More details can be found on the AIHce website.

The general sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday will address two major challenges in the field: sustainability and nanotechnology. On Tuesday, Edward L. Quevedo, JD, will present "Sustainable Development Beyond Borders: Taking an Active and Meaningful Role in Advancing Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility in Your Organization." And, on Wednesday, Kristen Kulinowski, PhD, director of External Affairs at the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN), will share her extensive knowledge of issues in nanotechnology in her presentation "Taking Science Beyond Borders: Global EHS Issues of Nanotechnology." Her work at CBEN helped establish that organization as a leader in nanotechnology educational outreach.

Something for Everyone
In addition to the general sessions, AIHce offers a full week of educational opportunities that will appeal to OEHS professionals at every level of experience. Highlights of the conference include the following:

  • Technical sessions. These peer reviewed presentations are offered in a variety of formats, including podium sessions, roundtables, poster sessions, and crossover programs that provide practical information on safety and environmental issues.
  • Special tracks. Throughout the week, special tracks of sessions will cover a range of related issues. Of particular interest this year is an all-new track on Canadian OEHS issues that explores Canadian perspectives on environmental regulation, respirator use, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), and more. Special tracks on nanotechnology and stewardship and sustainability allow attendees to delve deeper into these areas.
  • Lunch workshops. The popular "Unsolved IH Mysteries" workshop has been expanded and will be offered on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Each day, a new presenter will challenge attendees with puzzling real-life case studies. Advanced registration is required and space is limited.
  • Networking. The Expo Opening Cocktail Reception from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday is an excellent opportunity to meet exhibitors and learn about new products and services. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, NIOSH researchers and AIHA committee representatives will facilitate informal lunch discussions on current issues, trends, and other topics. The MSA Reception, an AIHce institution, will gather the top names in industrial hygiene in one room for an hour-long networking session on Tuesday evening. AIHA local sections will hold events before and after the reception.
  • Student programs. Several events give students and young professionals opportunities to make the most of their AIHce experience. At the Local Section Council Student Mixer and the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) Recognition Reception on Monday, students can meet members of the Local Section Council and learn how to apply for an AIHF scholarship. Also on Monday, a special Student Luncheon Discussion led by AIHA members will cover a variety of topics, including research, career goals, and CIH certification. The CareerAdvantage Job Fair offers helpful résumé critiques; interviews for open positions and career counseling will also be available. And the 25th Annual AIHF Fun Run/Walk will give students a fun way to show their support for the Foundation.

As Canada's economic capital, Toronto offers all of the cultural attractions of a world-class metropolis.
For variety of cuisine, few cities can match Toronto's selection of more than 7,000 restaurants. AIHce attendees can begin their explorations of Toronto at the CN Tower. Reaching a height of more than 1,800 feet, the tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the Americas and offers extraordinary views of the city and Lake Ontario. Other attractions include the Distillery District, a national historical site that features art, cuisine, and events, as well as the largest, best- preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America. Queen Street West and the Yorkville section will fill every shopper's needs. Sports fans can visit the Hockey Hall of Fame and watch the Blue Jays play against two of the American League's best teams—the Red Sox and the Angels.

This is just the beginning of what Toronto has to offer. Make sure your passport is up-to-date.
Online registration is still open. The deadline to register and receive the extended early-bird rate is April 30. Conference attendees can avoid the lines at on-site registration by registering at www.aihce2009.org. In today's economy, OEHS professionals need to stay up-to-date on current topics and trends. No matter where they are in their career, AIHce will help them take the next step.

For more information regarding AIHce, please visit www.aihce2009.org.

SOURCE: American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)