Please join us for our 1st event of the New Year 2024!   
SPACE IS LIMITED TO 25, so register early!

Title:  The Shocking, Sordid, and Sometimes Tawdry History of
​Exposure Sampling Strategies"

Speaker: Paul Hewett Ph.D. CIH FIOH - Exposure Assessment Solutions, Inc. 

Date / Time:  Thursday - January 11, 2024, 9:00 - 11:30 AM

Location:  AM Health & Safety, Inc., 5177 Campbells Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA  15205 (412) 429-0560

Register online before January 8, 2024 - details are found HERE: 2024-01-11 Paul Hewett    

The students welcomed Mr. Barry Momyer, President of AM Health and Safety and President-Elect of the Pittsburgh AIHA to speak about IH Sampling on November 9, 2023.  

The Meeting was opened by the SRU AIHA Student Section President Shayla Wilkinson who updated the attendees on current events and planned tours. 

She then introduced the SRU AIHA Student Section Executive Committee members: 

• Annalyse Hoover-Vice President,
• Tanner Williams, Treasurer,
• Emily Szczesny, Secretary,
• Sophia Naugle-Social Media.  

Sophia spoke about the I AM IH project they have going on. The program encourages the SRU Safety Management Students to take selfies or videos of them using or near the IH Lab or equipment to promote IH and to hold up I AM IH stickers.  A very fun way to engage the students with the focus on IH. They then post onto the SRU AIHA Instagram and Facebook pages. The SRU ASSP group and SRU Safety Instagram reposts this for maximum distribution and followers.
 
The Spring plans for the SRU AIHA Student Section is to attend the Annual Meeting for the Pittsburgh Section and numerous tours at Berry Global and, hopefully, NIOSH.

Thank you to the SRU AIHA Student Section and Dr. Rona Smeak for providing this update!  The Pittsburgh AIHA is proud to support this amazing group of rising safety/IH professionals!   Please consider following the SRU AIHA Student Chapter on Instagram at sru_aiha.

NOW COLLECTING - Membership dues for 2024 is due December 31, 2023.   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 ckirsch@pittsburghiaha.org.   

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.
• 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.

Thank you to MaryAnn Hoff (PPG) and Andy Maier (Stantec) for their presentations at the event "The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in the Workplace" held on August 31, 2023 at PPG Industries located in Monroeville, PA. 

Pittsburgh AIHA President-Elect, Barry Momyer (AM Health and Safety, Inc.) did the introductions and local section announcements for the group of 23 attendees (both in person and remote).

Thank you to Carol Delfino, CIH, CSP (Pgh. AIHA Secretary/Delfino Health & Safety) who provided the presentation summary below.

​Reviewing New Chemicals Under the Toxic Substances Control Act:
The EPA reviews new chemicals under TSCA to ensure their safety and to protect human health and the environment. TSCA was updated in 2016 to provide the EPA with more comprehensive authority to evaluate and regulate chemicals. Their process for evaluating is summarized below (click the read more​ link):

​The Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum is dedicated to the victims of the infamous Donora Smog of 1948 that occurred in October of that year.

In their 75th Year of Remembrance of that fateful event, they are hosting an Environmental Symposium on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, in Donora just a few blocks from "ground zero" of the Donora Zinc Works that was the impetus of the deadly smog that killed dozens, sickened thousands and eventually led to clean air legislation and our moniker that "Clean Air Started Here."  Their goal on October 18th will be to remember the victims of the 1948 Smog by discussing past, current and future environmental issues. 

As a primer for the symposium, on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m., they will be doing a combination in person (at the Smog Museum) and Zoom presentation on the 1948 Smog for the Battle of Homestead group. 

A lineup of presenters for the Environmental Symposium has mostly been established and they can be found at the link below along with other details of the symposium, including registration for the Sept. 26 7:30 PM zoom presentation:

https://sites.google.com/site/donorahistoricalsociety/futurepast-historical-events/1948-smog-75th-year-of-remembrance-2023

The mission of the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum is to preserve, research, interpret and promote Donora history through cooperative continuing educational relationships with individuals and institutions, focusing on causes and effects of the 1948 "smog" tragedy and its impact on global environmental concerns and issues.

The Pittsburgh AIHA will increase membership dues to $35 for 2024.   Members that pay their Pgh. AIHA dues along with their National AIHA dues will notice this increase on the renewal form.  National AIHA will begin collecting 2024 dues in October 2023.   

Some of the valuable Pgh. AIHA membership benefits include: 

• Local networking with industry professionals.
• E-learning credits (up to $1,000+ on continuing ed.).
• Reduced meeting fees (25-30% discount).
• Catalyst access.

Corporate Sponsor membership will increase to $250 per year for 2024.  The benefits still include:

• 2 free individual Pittsburgh AIHA memberships ($70 value).
• Pittsburgh AIHA Homepage sidebar logo link. 
• 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. 

The SUMMER newsletter is posted and includes a summary of activities from the last few months!  It  has been a busy first half of the year.  Thanks to the Executive Committee for their hard work and our local section members who participate in the events and support the local section! 

Our next event will be held August 31, a TSCA presentation by MaryAnn Hoff (PPG) and Andy Maier (Stantec).  Stay tuned for more details!

Enjoy the rest of your summer! 

ALL sessions are available in the online classroom!  Don't forget to take advantage of the free e-learning resources available with your Pittsburgh AIHA membership.  You should have received an email from National AIHA E-learning with instructions to log into your online classroom.  Any questions regarding the online classroom should be directed to National AIHA E-learning at DLAssistant@aiha.org.The 2023 sessions selected include:

• AIHA University 3-Part Webinar Series: Preparing for and Controlling Biological Hazards
•  AIHA University Webinar: Research Laboratory Safety in the 21st Century
•  AIHA University Webinar: Strategies for Effective Risk Communication
•  AIHA University Webinar: Workplace Violence Primer and Update for the IH
•  Why Don't We See the Things That Can Hurt Us? (AIHce EXP 2022 OnDemand)

​The E-Learning roster has been updated with National AIHA for the 3rd Quarter of 2023 -- All 2023 members in good standing (dues paid/membership renewed for 2022) should receive an email from National AiHA with details and login steps.  If you did not receive the email, please contact Christy Kirsch at ckirsch@pittsburghaiha.org to confirm your membership status.

Take a minute to check out the Pittsburgh AIHA Historical page for a few additions (submitted by Frank Pokrywka, Pittsburgh AIHA):

• Jonas Salk Legacy Exhibit at Pitt Public Health
• Peter Josef Safar, The Father of CPR
• ​Did You Know?  ACGIH History....

​Do you have something to contribute to the Historical Page?  Please email: PittsburghAIHAhistory@gmail.com.

​This year marks the 75th anniversary of the worst air pollution disaster in U.S. history.  In an effort to learn more about this significant event, the Pittsburgh Local Section headed to the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum in Donora, Pennsylvania.  During the presentation, the chapter members learned how the town of Donora was founded, what life was like in Donora and Webster when over eight thousand people worked at the massive American Steel and Wire Company Donora Works, and most importantly what transpired around Halloween in 1948.  The 1948 Donora Smog Disaster and its aftermath had a wide-reaching effect on public health and the environment.  Its story even ties in early pioneers of industrial hygiene including Industrial Hygienist Dr. Philip Drinker and Toxicologist Dr. Mary Ochsenhirt Amdur.
 
The Pittsburgh Local Section would like to thank Mr. Brian Charlton and Dr. Dave Lonich for teaching us about the history of the 1948 Donora Smog Disaster.  We would also like to thank Mr. Mark Pawelec for coordinating the event as well as the luncheon at the Early Bird Diner that followed the tour.  Finally, we would like to thank Natalie Gaydos, CIH for suggesting this exciting event!
 
If you would like to see the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum summary of the June 14th event, please click on this link.  As part of the 75th anniversary remembrance of the event, the society has a symposium planned for October.  If you are interested in volunteering to participate in this symposium, please reach out to Mr. Mark Pawelec at donorahistoricalsociety@gmail.com. 
  
We would like to say a special thank you to all the following members for attending this event:

Here are just a few photos from inside the museum where the presentation was held -- there is so much to see! It would be easy to spend half a day (or more!) just looking through all the memorabilia and artifacts!  

​The Pittsburgh AIHA is happy to announce that Sophia Naugle from Slippery Rock University is the recipient of the Pgh. AIHA Local Section scholarship awarded through the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF).   Sophia was recognized along with all AIHF scholarship recipients at the 2023 AIHce Conference.

Sophia is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Safety Management and a minor in Leadership.  She also serves as the Social Media coordinator for the SRU Student AIHA Chapter.  Sophia is spending the summer working as an intern at DAVIS Construction.    
Congratulations to Sophia!

A big shout out to our two leaders from the SRU AIHA Student Section!

Jacob Brand (President) and Hannah Roberts (Vice-President) recently graduated from the SRU Safety Management Program on May 6, 2023. 

Jacob not only received a degree in safety, but also earned a second major in Professional Spanish. Jacob was a member of the Dean’s List his entire time at SRU and was not only the President of AIHA Student Section, but he was also the President of the Spanish Club, secretary of the Men’s Club Soccer Team, and an active member of the SRU ASSP Student Section. He is Interning in Springdale, PA with PPG Industries, as a part of the Environmental Health and Safety team. Jacob is returning to SRU in the fall to begin work on an MBA.

Hannah Roberts, who was the AIHA Student Section Vice-President/Treasurer, was also a member of the Dean's list during her academic journey and was an active member in the SRU ASSP Student Section. She assisted in the research project focusing on noise during Division II basketball games and co-presented this research at the WPA ASSP Conference. Hannah is spending the summer Interning with Bozzuto Construction Company in Alexandria, Virginia. Her future goals are to continue in the construction industry, and eventually do some environmental work.

Slippery Rock graduated approximately 40 students on May 6, 2023, and approximately 44 students will be complete August 2023. Congratulations and good luck to you all!

We are happy to announce the new and exciting group of SRU AIHA Student Section leaders for academic year 2023-2024:

• President: Shayla Wilkinson
• Vice President: Annalyse Hoover
• Secretary: Emily Sczcesny
• Treasurer: Tanner Williams
• Social Media: Sophia Naugle

Dr. Rona Smeak, PhD, CSP, Associate Professor, Slippery Rock University

Mark your calendar for our next event!!  On June 14, 2023, the Pittsburgh AIHA will head to the Donora Smog Museum for a presentation and tour.  This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the infamous Smog of 1948, which will be the focus of the presentation.  REGISTER ONLINE ---2023-06-14 Donora Smog Museum

The schedule is as follows:
Seminar – 9:15 – 11:15 a.m., Break – 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Tour – 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Lunch following the tour is optional and will be held at a local favorite, The Early Bird Diner.  The diner is less than a block away and has a private side room four our group to meet.  Lunch will be paid for by the attendee the day of the event and is not included in the registration fee.  

The Donora Historical Society was established in 1946 and incorporated in 1996 and is recognized as the oldest community historical society in Washington County of Pennsylvania. They are a non-profit that operates on a volunteer basis. Their parent historical societies are the Washington Country Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The original charter members did yeomen's work with laying the foundation for preserving Donora's history. The members that followed would continue that work for the next 70 years. As a testament to all of their hard work and dedication, they have a plethora of artifacts and documents that they use for research and presentation purposes. In 2008, they opened their present facility to showcase the artifacts and call it the Smog Museum, thus their formal title is the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum.