During the 2022 Pittsburgh AIHA Election, Kate Crott was selected as Director for a 2-year term.  Due to a job change and relocation, Kate was unable to fulfill her duties, leaving a vacant Director position.  The Executive Committee is happy to announce that Darrick Bertig, CIH, CSP, CUSA, MS, Industrial Hygiene Representative for FirstEnergy, will fill the vacant Director position on the Executive Committee through June 30, 2024.  Darrick has been a long-standing member of the Pittsburgh AHA and currently serving on the Program Committee.     

Eighteen members of the AIHA Pittsburgh Local Section attended the “Performance of APR Cartridge/Canisters Against Airborne Contaminants” Presentation with a tour of MSA.  The technical presentation was given by Zane N. Frund, Ph.D., CIH, MBA who is the Executive Director & Global Leader of Materials/Chemical Research & Sensor Development at MSA.  Dr. Frund provided the attendees with insight only he could give.  His knowledge of the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, NIOSH Respirator Approval Process, and Respirators in general was on display for everyone to witness.  Whether you were a seasoned CIH or a current student, you walked away from Dr. Frund’s presentation with something you did not know before it.
 
Following the presentation, Marc Stempka who is the Public Relations Manager for MSA Americas gave a tour of the gas detection manufacturing area.  Attendees got to see the entire manufacturing process for these instruments as well as the different types of product lines currently being made by MSA.  These product lines ranged from fixed gas detection systems to handheld direct-reading instruments and everything in between.  The tour concluded in a museum area where current safety products and historical ones were being displayed.
 
Overall, the AIHA Pittsburgh Local Section would like to thank Dr. Frund, Mr. Stempka, and the entire MSA Team for hosting such a phenomenal event.  We would also like to thank the following members for attending:

• Timothy Beck (NIOSH/CDC)
• John Bell (Watco Companies, LLC)
• Darrick Bertig (FirstEnergy Corporation)
• Thomas Blank (BWXT)
• Barbara Cummings (AM Health and Safety, Inc.)
• Raj Dharmarajan (AM Health and Safety, Inc.)
• Robert Haushalter (Duquesne University)
• Warren Houseman (ENTACT, LLC)
• Courtney Malloy (Kennametal / PSU Grad Student)
• Rick Mason (RL Mason EHS Consulting, LLC)
• Dane Mitcheson (FedEx Ground)
• Barry Momyer (AM Health and Safety, Inc.)
• Jan Oleszewski (U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA)
• Frank Pokrywka (KTA-Tator, Inc.)
• Bailey Reggetz (WVU Student)
• Oliva Roberts (University of Pittsburgh)
• Sarmed Shareef (University of Pittsburgh)
• Rona Smeak (Slippery Rock University)

Membership dues for 2023 WAS due January 1, 2023.   If you are a National AIHA member, remember to check the box for Pittsburgh Local Section to include your LS dues of $25 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].