We are pleased to announce our next virtual event:  Dermal Sampling Solutions on September 29, 2020 from 12:00 - 1:30 PM.  Speakers for this event are Linda Coyne and Lucinette Alvarado, CIH both of SKC, Inc.  REGISTRATION IS OPEN!  REGISTER ONLINE BY SEPTEMBER 28!

Meeting Description:
The skin is a route of exposure that we often take for granted in our work areas. Dermal exposure is trending from an occupational health and safety standpoint due to the increase in incidents and cases. In addition, surface contamination is another occupational exposure issue that we take for granted. This webinar will discuss our skin as an important route of exposure, dermal hazards, and options for how to assess and reduce potential exposures to the skin and contaminated surfaces. 

Mark your calendar for our October event!  Title: Low-level VOC detection with the Draeger X-pid 8500.  During this presentation the speaker will discuss a proven solution for the detection of a range of VOCs and low-level toxic compounds.  Speaker:  Russell Warn, QSSP of Draeger, Inc.

Abstract:  Driven by requirements to measure certain compounds at low ppm or even ppb levels, in this presentation we will explore the Draeger X-pid 8500 and its ability to measure compounds, including benzene and butadiene, for safety and industrial hygiene applications.

Registration to open early October 2020, an email will be sent once online registration opens.

The Pittsburgh AIHA held a virtual PDC via ZOOM on August 26, 2020 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.  The topic was "Returning to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic".  Speakers for this event were Frank J. Pokrywka, Ed.D., CIH and Raffie Sessa, CIH.   Thanks to all who participated in this event.  The presentation slides were posted on the Pittsburgh AIHA Catalyst site for members who were unable to attend.   If you did not receive the link, please email ckirsch@pittsburghaiha.org.  

On Wednesday, July 29, we held the local section summer business meeting via ZOOM.  Thank you to the participants who joined the meeting.  Meeting minutes are now posted on the Meetings Page and available for your review.

​The Mid-Atlantic Safety and Health Alliance, Inc. (MASHA) has decided to postpone the 2020 Safety and Health Conference until October 28, 2021 due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in place at the Regional Learning Alliance (event venue).  Any questions can be directed to Bill Bernhart at w.bernhart@comcast.net.

Our Summer newsletter is posted in multiple formats - please view here:
https://www.pittsburghaiha.org/newsletter.html.

The next Pittsburgh AIHA Newsletter is expected to be published late September 2020.  Submit any announcements, events, items of interest, etc. to info@pittsburghaiha.org.
 

Reminder to visit your ONLINE CLASSROOM -- One great benefit provided by our local section is an AIHA eLearning Lite subscription.  As a member of our local section, you can login, view, and obtain credit for up to five AIHA eLearning webinars per year.  Save time, money, and earn credit contact hours towards maintaining your certification.  AIHA webinars can cost $100-200 per individual registration.  By taking advantage of our local section subscription, you can save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on your continuing education. 

Details were sent in an email to all 2020 PAID Pittsburgh AIHA Members from National AIHA -- Each should see the following 2020 webinars in their classroom:

• An Introduction to Big Data and Data Analytics
• Asbestos and Nanoparticles: Using Benchmark Dose Methodology for Risk Assessment 
• The Ear Poisons: An Introduction to Ototoxicants 
• Heat Stress: Assessment and Control 
• Webinar selection to be determined.

IMPORTANT - YOU MUST BE CURRENT 2020 DUES-PAYING MEMBER.  Our Pgh. AIHA subscription roster includes only members current on their 2020 dues.  Pgh. AIHA 2020 Corporate Sponsors and students / retired members (dues waived) are already included in the roster.  If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact Christy at ckirsch@pittsburghaiha.org

Since 1939, the American Industrial Hygiene Association has been the premier organization serving those who work in industrial hygiene. Now, changes in our industry are inspiring changes at AIHA.
​
Although more than half of AIHA’s nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, our industry is expanding beyond IH to include EHS generalists and “technician-level” practitioners. At AIHA, we embrace this growth and evolution.

Evolving the brand. In order to enhance our member services and recruit the next generation of professionals into our ranks, we felt it was time to evolve our brand—to better reflect the evolution in the industry and remain relevant to all industry stakeholders.

On June 30, 2020, AIHA’s Board President, Lindsay Cook, CIH, CSP, FAIHA, AIHA’s CEO, Larry Sloan and AIHA’s Managing Director of Marketing and Communications, Sue Marchese, held a town hall webinar to answer questions from members about the brand evolution. The recording is now available for the public.

Find all the details related to this subject, including the recording here:  https://www.aiha.org/about-aiha/aiha-brand-evolution

The Pittsburgh AIHA is happy to announce that Nicholas Ravotti and Alina Schlichtkrull from Slippery Rock University received 2020 Pittsburgh AIHA Local Section Scholarships.  Congratulations to these deserving students!

Each year our local section sponsors this scholarship through the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF). Details of eligibility criteria and past winners can be found here:  https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/aih-foundation/aih-foundation-scholarships/pittsburgh-local-section-scholarship

Since 1982, AIHF has distributed over $2 million in scholarship funds to students pursuing a degree in industrial hygiene and/or occupational and environmental health and safety. These scholarships have enabled talented students to complete their education and have encouraged the most promising scholars to enter and remain in the industrial hygiene profession.

The Pittsburgh AIHA Spring 2020 newsletter is now available.  Follow the link below to view in your browser.  

https://static-promote.weebly.com/share/209f855f-bd69-4931-af96-9f911002e0bc
​

Thank you to our speakers Andy Maier, PhD, MS, CIH, DABT and Scott Dotson, PhD, MS, CIH, DABT of Cardno ChemRisk who gave a presentation titled: OEL Mysteries - Wait, Wait, Do Not Tell Me!  to a group of 30+ Pittsburgh AIHA members and guests.  Local Section Director, Josh Maskrey, CIH and Pgh. AIHA Member Laura Hallett coordinated this event held in the Cardno ChemRisk offices in downtown Pittsburgh.  Josh also gave a short presentation of the benefits of being a Pittsburgh AIHA Member and Corporate Sponsor before the event and distributed a Member Benefits handout to attendees (thanks Laura H.!).

See the meeting review by Pittsburgh AIHA Secretary Frank Pokrywka, Ed.D, CIH  - click HERE to go to page.

Pittsburgh AIHA Director, Josh Maskrey, has updated the Pittsburgh AIHA Catalyst User Guide -- download the file below for details on how to access this online community to share ideas, start a discussion with your community, create and reply to posts, retrieve library documents, etc.  Visit the Catalyst site at: https://community.aiha.org/home.  

Current Pittsburgh AIHA Members have access to Catalyst.  If you are unable to log in or have trouble accessing the site, please contact Janice Allen at the National AIHA by sending a message through the contact page:  https://community.aiha.org/contactus.  

We would like to welcome the following New Members to the Pittsburgh AIHA:

• David Cuscino - Slippery Rock University (Student)
• Hayley Woodside - Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Kelly Albamonti - Westinghouse Electric Company (returning Pittsburgh AIHA Member)
• Marcella Donnellan, Lead Industrial Hygienist - Bechtel
• Mary Beth Connors, Safety Manager - FlatIron Corporation
• Zane Frund, Ph.D., Engineering, CIH, MBA - Exec. Director & Global Leader - MSA (Corporate Sponsor)

Thanks to AM Health & Safety for sponsoring the January 30 Event with guest speaker Andy Teague, CIH of Analytics Corporation.  During this event Andy discussed Monitoring and Laboratory Analysis Pros and Cons of Petroleum Distillates/Hydrocarbon Multi-component, Oil Mist/Metal-working Fluids (MWF) and 3D Printing. 

Meeting review and photos by Pittsburgh AIHA Secretary, Frank Pokrywka, Ed.D., CIH are available now - CLICK HERE! 

Pittsburgh AIHA 2020-2021 President-Elect, Laura Hallet of Cardno ChemRisk prepared a presentation highlighting the benefits of Pittsburgh AIHA Membership or Corporate Sponsorship.  Some of the valuable benefits you receive as a member include E-learning credits (up to $1,000+ on continuing ed.), reduced meeting fees (25-30% discount), Catalyst access, and certification credit for EC participation.  As a Pittsburgh AIHA Corporate Sponsor, you receive website advertising, newsletter promotion, 2 local section memberships, and more.  Take a few minutes to look and share with anyone you feel might be interested to join our group!     

Registration is now OPEN for our next event to be held on Thursday, March 26 from 11:30 AM - ~2:00 PM at the LeMont restaurant located on Mt. Washington overlooking the city of Pittsburgh. 

Pittsburgh local section member and National AIHA Director, Lucinette Alvarado, CIH will be the guest speaker for this year's event.  In addition to giving us an update on National AIHA, Lucinette plans to speak on Coronavirus and the role of the IH in a pandemic.  

The 2020-2021 Pittsburgh AIHA Election has ended and results are as follows:

President-Elect:  Laura Hallett, Cardno ChemRisk who will serve a 1-year term as President-Elect followed by 1-year term as President.
Director:  Carol Delfino, CIH, CSP (SE Technologies, LLC) who will serve a 2-year term.
Treasurer:  Maureen Kelly (Transitional Services) who will continue serving the Pittsburgh AIHA for another 2-year term.

Congratulations to these newly-elected Executive Committee members who will take (or continue) office later this summer and thank you to the Pittsburgh AIHA members that cast their vote this year!