Over the past 30 years, the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) has awarded more than $3.1 million to students studying industrial hygiene and/or occupational and environmental health safety.  The Pittsburgh AIHA is proud to sponsor a $1000 local section scholarship each year.  The deadline to submit an AIHF application is Monday, January 26, 2026!  See application and eligibility details here:  https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/aih-foundation/aih-foundation-scholarships/aih-foundation-scholarships-application-eligibility

Registration IS OPEN for the Pittsburgh AIHA - January 21, 2026 - Virtual Event
Ethics for Health & Safety Professionals: Making the Right Choices
Presented by Mark Katchen, MS, MBA, CIH, FAIHA
 
This interactive session provides a practical, real-world look at ethical challenges faced by occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. We will review key ethical principles, examine how professional codes of conduct apply in practice, and work through case studies involving conflicts of interest, reporting integrity, confidentiality, and emerging issues such as AI. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen ethical decision-making and navigate complex workplace dilemmas with confidence.
 
Speaker:  Mark Katchen, MS, MBA, CIH, FAIHA, is Managing Principal of The Phylmar Group, Inc., where he leads several national and global roundtables for OEHS professionals. A Certified Industrial Hygienist and Fellow of AIHA, Mark has more than 35 years of experience in occupational and environmental health, regulatory strategy, and organizational ethics.

Register HERE: 2026-01-21 Ethics Mark Katchen

The National AIHA sent an eLearning update email to subscribers on November 15, 2025 – see your email for calendar links or log into your online classroom.  Please don't hesitate to reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions or need any assistance.  Note that the program runs through DECEMBER 2025!

• Log in and access the online classroom: https://learning.aiha.org
• Review the information posted on the 2025 eLearning Subscribers page

 
Webinar Recordings Available:

• Understanding OSHA’s 2024 Revised Hazard Communication Standard
• Innovative Modeling with IH Mod 2.0 and Monte Carlo Simulation Techniques
• From Risk to Safety: Implementing the Flame-Resistant Clothing Assessment Tool
• Confined Space Program Performance Metrics
• An Introduction to Harmful Algal Blooms for EHS Professionals
• Key Strategies for Unlocking CIH Exam Success 
• Everything You Wanted to Know about the New MSHA Silica Standard, but Were Afraid to Ask 
• Six Common Reasons Why Workplace Ergonomics Deployments Fail
• Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control
• Industrial Hygiene Roles in the Response to the Opioid Epidemic in the Workplace and Community 
• OEHS Ethics: Doing the Right Things Today - New!

OnDemand Sessions
Please note the following AIHA OnDemand sessions have been added to your subscription group. 

• Preventing Vector-Borne Diseases in Workers (AIHA Connect 2024 OnDemand ESUB)
• Soft Skill Development Will Attract and Retain Talented Personnel (AIHA Connect 2024 OnDemand ESUB)
• The Impulse Noise Inventory (AIHA Connect 2024 OnDemand ESUB)
• Research Roundup Emerging Digital Technologies (AIHA Connect 2024 OnDemand ESUB)
• Integrating Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches in OEHS (AIHA Connect 2025 OnDemand ESUB)
• Research Roundup Aerosols and Airborne Particulates/Standards and Regulations (AIHA Connect 2025 OnDemand ESUB)
• Research Roundup Human Capital/ESG (AIHA Connect 2025 OnDemand ESUB)
• Research Roundup Total Worker Health® (AIHA Connect 2025 OnDemand ESUB)
• Versatile Fenceline Gas Detection With Connected Safety (AIHA Connect 2025 OnDemand ESUB)

The Executive Committee of the Pittsburgh AIHA will hold the winter local section business meeting at Smokey Bones in Robinson PA.  All members are welcome and encouraged to attend!  Register online: 2025-12-16 Business Meeting

Topics typically discussed during this meeting include:

•  Welcome / Approve Minutes / Agenda
•  New items (Agenda to follow)
•  Treasurer and Secretary reports
•  Local section committee updates
•  Meeting topics / speakers / venues, etc.   
•  Student sections 
•  Corporate Sponsors/Advertisers 

Please consider joining the meeting to offer suggestions or provide input. Your participation is key to our success!

Industrial Scientific’s founders have, from the beginning, been committed to preserving human life and its vision of eliminating workplace deaths by 2050. 

Industrial Scientific Corporation began in 1976 as the Research Division of the National Mine Service Company (NMS) with a focus on developing instrumentation to detect methane gas.  In 1985, NMS sold the division to founder Kenton McElhattan, and Industrial Scientific started its operations as a private company. In 2015, Industrial Scientific moved into a new 200,000 square foot headquarters in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania, where they design and manufacture gas detection products that protect workers from hazardous conditions around the world. Besides mining, key markets include utilities, chemical production, oil and gas, steel and coke, pulp and paper, fire service, construction, military, food and beverage manufacturing, and general industry.

From the International Space Station to mines deep inside the earth, men and women around the world bet their lives on the technologies the Industrial Scientific teams have created, including the first three-gas detector, six-gas detector, and wireless gas detector. Industrial Scientific has also developed a full suite of safety resources, including:

• iNet® Exchange, a full-service gas detector maintenance and repair program.
• iNet® Control+, a data management tool to help you make smarter long-term decisions.
• iNet® Now, a live monitoring service that provides real-time visibility into worker and site safety.
• SAFER One™, a dynamic plume modeling tool to help you operate with confidence during a chemical release.

AIHA would like to thank Roni Bernardo for help in coordinating the event, along with our tour guides Nick and Jamie, and our presenters, Brittany and Jen, for an enjoyable and informative presentation.

Twenty-six members of the Pittsburgh Local Section AIHA, including 10 students from Slippery Rock University, had the opportunity to visit the Industrial Scientific headquarters on November 12, 2025, for a tour and technical presentation. Participants are pictured below:

NOW COLLECTING - Membership dues for 2026 are due December 31, 2025.   If you are a National AIHA member, remember to check the box for Pittsburgh Local Section to include your LS annual dues of $35 for your Pittsburgh AIHA membership.  All NON-National AIHA members should pay dues directly to the Pittsburgh AIHA.  See the highlighted sidebar link on this homepage to process payment through PayPal -- Note you do not need a PayPal account to pay this way.  Any questions, please contact Christy at [email protected].   

Support the Pittsburgh AIHA as a Corporate Sponsor!  The benefits of a Corporate Sponsorship contribution of $250 include:
​

• 2 free individual Pittsburgh AIHA annual memberships,
• Pittsburgh AIHA Homepage sidebar logo link (THANKS TO THE 2025 SPONSORS AT THE RIGHT!!)
• 1-year listing on the Pittsburgh AIHA Corporate Sponsors page,
• 1-year listing on the Pittsburgh AIHA Consultants List page,
• Recognition in Pittsburgh AIHA local section newsletter. 

Corporate Sponsorship is renewable on an annual basis.  Visit the Corporate Sponsors Page for current sponsors and application information - You can sign up online, or print the form to complete and mail.

The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to welcome the following students from Slippery Rock University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) who recently joined the Pittsburgh AIHA! Both universities have active AIHA student chapters, and we’re excited to see their growing engagement in the field of industrial hygiene and occupational health.

These students bring fresh perspectives, energy, and curiosity to our professional community. Whether they’re attending conferences, participating in local events, or networking with seasoned EHS professionals, their involvement strengthens the future of our industry.  We’re proud to support their journey through:

• Mentorship opportunities with experienced industrial hygienists
• Access to technical resources and educational events
• Networking connections across academia and industry
• Career development support through internships, job leads, and AIHA programming

​As they continue to build their skills and explore career paths, we look forward to collaborating with these student chapters and helping them thrive. Welcome aboard — we’re glad you’re here!

Members of the Pittsburgh AIHA enjoyed a great day connecting with safety professionals, students, and industry leaders at the 16th Annual MASHA Safety & Health Conference, held Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the RLA Learning and Conference Center in Cranberry Township, PA. With over 140 attendees, there was steady traffic at our exhibitor table from those eager to learn more about our local section, upcoming events, and how we support industrial hygiene and occupational health across the region.

Special thanks to Frank Pokrywka and Darrick Bertig for setting up the exhibit — complete with AIHA swag — and representing our section throughout the day!

Thank you to our new Pittsburgh AIHA Corporate Sponsor, RJ Lee Group, and members Keith Rickabaugh, CIH, MBA, and Brandon Wiggins.  RJ Lee Group is a leading scientific consulting and laboratory services firm headquartered in Monroeville, PA. With deep expertise in materials characterization, industrial forensics, and environmental health and safety, RJ Lee Group delivers innovative solutions to complex scientific challenges across industries—from litigation support to advanced software development.

Interested in becoming a Corporate Sponsor of the Pittsburgh AIHA?  Learn more here: ​https://www.pittsburghaiha.org/corporate-sponsors.html

Pittsburgh AIHA Local Section members had the opportunity to obtain an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and interact with scientists at a local AIHA-accredited laboratory on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The event was coordinated by AIHA and Pittsburgh Local Section Member Keith Rickabaugh, CIH, MBA, who is a Technical Director at RJ Lee Group, and his peer Manager & Forensic Scientist Allison Laneve.  Before the start of the tours, multiple presentations and lunch were provided at the Presque Isle Headquarters.
 
The Director of Operations, George Lincoln, gave the first presentation on laboratory operations and current certifications held by the laboratory.  He was followed by Mr. Rickabaugh, who covered a few unique case studies. Ms. Laneve then covered her top ten list of most common mistakes by clients, which she acknowledged was very rare for the group in attendance.  During lunch, an interactive IH trivia contest was conducted.  Our Past-President Barry J. Momyer, CIH of AM Health & Safety, Inc., won the game.
 
Following the game, the tour of the Presque Isle Headquarters began.  The attendees were broken into three groups led by Mr. Rickabaugh, Ms. Laneve, and Mr. Steve Schlaegle.  The groups toured the Concrete/Met Lab and Environmental Chambers, the PCM/PLM Lab, Forensics, SEM & TEM Wing, and IH/Field Services Areas.  Discussions in these areas were led by Mike Baker, Jimmy Marquis, Alex Cvejkus, Jon Swope, Tracy Lersch, Roger West, and Brandon Wiggins.
 
After touring the headquarters, the attendees drove to the nearby Hochberg Laboratory to continue their tour.  Mr. Rickabaugh, Ms. Laneve, and Dr. Lykourgos Iordanidis led the groups as they entered the XRD/XRF/Prep Wing, Thermal & Dissolution Area, Upstairs Wet Lab, Sample Login Area, and Hi-Bay/PFAS/ICPMS Labs.  Mr. Wiggins and Jacquelyn Runco further supported the tour by providing breakout discussions at the Hochberg Facility.
 
Overall, the presentations and tours were enjoyed by all the attendees, as many are clients of RJ Lee Group.  The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to extend a big thank you to Mr. Rickabaugh, Ms. Laneve, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Schlaegle, Mr. Wiggins, Dr. Iordanidis, and their coworkers for hosting and coordinating the event.

Pictured below are the members/guests who attended the event.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

The Pittsburgh AIHA Summer Newsletter is now available, featuring recent news and information, member articles, and more!  Take a few minutes to look!  Thanks to all who contributed content!  Click below to view!

The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to welcome the following new members who recently joined our local section:

• Caroline Groth - Assistant Professor and MS in Biostatistics Director at West Virginia University
• Joe Kulik - Manager, Environmental, Health and Sustainability, Ebara Elliott Energy, J.D. Candidate, Creighton School of Law '2027
• Kayla Flowers - Health and Safety Specialist, Industrial Hygienist, United Steelworkers (USW)

Your Pittsburgh AIHA membership includes access to a powerful National AIHA Member Center filled with tools to support your professional growth. Dive into a rich library of technical documents, join active discussion boards, and connect with peers across the country. Whether you're seeking solutions, sharing ideas, or expanding your expertise, the Member Center is your go-to resource.

New to AIHA? Don’t miss the upcoming New Member Onboarding Session from noon to 1:00 PM on Sept. 9 hosted by the National AIHA Membership Advisory Group—a great opportunity to get acquainted with all the benefits available to you and start building your professional network.

🔗 Visit the Member Center and make the most of your membership today!

The Pittsburgh AIHA Local Section was invited to tour the MSA Murrysville Manufacturing Facility on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. The tour was given by Dominic Stokes and organized by Local Section President-Elect Zane Frund, PhD, MPH, CIH, MBA, the Executive Director & Global Leader of Product Research & Development at MSA.
 
Mr. Stokes covered the illustrious history of MSA and its local impacts on the Greater Pittsburgh Region.  He also focused the tour on the various respiratory protection devices manufactured and assembled at the facility, including their industry-leading self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs).  The other manufacturing process that the tour focused on was the various areas where hard hats are made, quality tested, and logoed.
 
The tour was enjoyed by all attendees as they were very familiar with these products and often trained end users on their use, maintenance, and service life.  Not only was the manufacturing process of iconic hard hats and respiratory protection of interest to the group, but all attendees had a great appreciation for the workmanship of these products to ensure they are meeting the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) established quality parameters.  

The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to extend a big thanks to Mr. Stokes for being their tour guide.  We would also like to thank Dr. Frund for hosting and coordinating the event. 

Finally, we would like to thank the following members/guests who attended the event:

MSA Safety, a global leader in Personal Protective Technology (PPT) and gas detection solutions, proudly traces its 100+ year legacy to Southwestern Pennsylvania. With manufacturing operations around the world, MSA’s Murrysville facility serves as the hub for the manufacture of industrial head protection and cutting-edge respiratory devices.

As a Pittsburgh AIHA Member, you have access to our FULL eLearning subscription through the National AIHA.  Be sure to log into the Online Classroom to access these great webinars!

• AIHA University Webinar: Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control 08/20/2025​
• AIHA University Live Online PDC: Preventing Flash Fire and Explosion Hazards in Industrial Processes 09/11/2025
• AIHA University Webinar: Industrial Hygiene Roles in the Response to the Opioid Epidemic in the Workplace and Community 09/24/2025
• AIHA University Live Online PDC: Mastering the AIHA Ergonomic Assessment Toolkit: Practical Strategies to Reduce Musculoskeletal Disorders 10/02/2025
• AIHA University Live Online PDC: Advocate for Hearing: Key Opportunities to Advance Hearing Loss Prevention 10/08/2025
• AIHA University Live Online PDC: Understanding Exposure Variability and IH Statistics 10/22/2025
• AIHA University Webinar: OEHS Ethics: Doing the Right Things Today 10/30/2025
• AIHA University Live Online PDC: Lithium-Ion Batteries in the Workplace: A Review of Battery Types and Hazards, Fire Risk Mitigation, and Manufacturing Considerations 11/13/2025

The Pittsburgh AIHA Executive Committee hosted the Summer Local Section Business Meeting on Wednesday, July 23, at Smokey Bones in Robinson, PA.  The Summer business meeting minutes are now posted on the website: www.pittsburghaiha.org/uploads/2/6/7/0/26700671/business_meeting_minutes_2025-07-23-fin.pdf

Thank you to our Executive Committee and dedicated members who joined us to contribute valuable input and share insightful ideas. Your engagement helps drive our mission forward!

On June 19, 2025 the Pittsburgh AIHA went on a tour of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN).  What a fun event - the Alcosan staff was very gracious, accommodating, and informative! Shana Merry, Manager of Operations, Tarra Prince - Operations Training Specialist, Ash Eberle-Procurement Specialist, and Nate Arnett-Contract Admin Specialist were our guides.  Alcosan is going through a major plant expansion to increase capacity and we were able to see new facilities including East Head Works, north end expansions, and a new laboratory.  It was a great day and a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most essential environmental facilities in our area!

Alcosan is a nationally recognized wastewater treatment facility serving over 800,000 residents in 83 municipalities, including the City of Pittsburgh.  

The Spring newsletter is posted with a recent news and information, member articles and more!  Please take a few minutes to look.  Thanks to all who contributed content!