Thank you to the 30+ members and guests that attended the Pittsburgh AIHA Event on March 22.  RJ Lee Group hosted the event that included four presentations/discussion and tour of the Silica Lab at RJ Lee.  Special thanks to Keith Rickabaugh, Bob Wheeler, Thad Pajak and Del Kubeldis for their presentations / involvement in this session.  The speakers provided their presentation files to share with our members -- please see the event meeting page to download the presentations.  A few photos are included too!  Thank you to the staff at RJ Lee Group for coordinating this event and supporting the Pittsburgh AIHA as a Corporate Sponsor / Advertiser!  

The Spring 2018 Newsletter is available now!  Take a few minutes to check it out -- lots of good stuff -- a letter from Pittsburgh AIHA President, Matt Zock, member news, meeting reviews, updates, etc.  Click on the newsletter page to view / download.  You can also view the newsletter in your web browser - Click HERE.

Pittsburgh AIHA Members are invited to attend the 10th Annual Mid-Atlantic Safety and Health Alliance, Inc. (MASHA) Safety and Health Conference on April 26, 2018 at the RLA in Cranberry Twp., PA.  Visit mashasafetyconference.org for details and to register.  Conference highlights include:

• Educational opportunities in construction, general industry and oil and gas safety. 
• Continuing Education Credits. 
• Great networking and career mentoring opportunities. 
• Vendor displays. 
• Safety experts in Construction, General Industry and Oil & Gas. 
• Lunch is provided. 
• Simple online registration and payment - Discounted rate for students. 
• Limited to 300 attendees, register early!

Thursday, April 26, 2018 -- DEADLINE TO REGISTER - APRIL 24

The Pittsburgh AIHA held their annual Executive Committee election March 5, 2018 through March 12, 2018.  47 Members participated in the online election by casting their vote via electronic ballot.   Thank you to the members who participated in the election and the following newly-elected Executive Committee members who will take office this summer:

President-Elect:  Renee Cowell, CSP (Hatch, LLC)
Director:  Barbara Cummings, CIH (AM Health & Safety)
Treasurer:  Paula Sweitzer, CHMM (Duquesne University)

Performance Environmental Services has openings for Entry-Level and Experienced Industrial Hygienists.
See more details provided on our Job Postings Page.  

PPG Industries has a position functions as a Corporate Industrial Hygienist. The role has global accountability for the management of the AIHA accredited IH Lab and serve as the AIHA Lab Technical Manager.

This individual is responsible for:

• Providing day to day support in the areas of occupational health for the Performance Coatings Business Units;
• Internal hazard communication support for all PPG locations. 
• The implementation of any corrective actions performed at the lab including the authority to halt work and withhold test results along with the authority to state when work can be resumed. 
• The technical support and training for EHS users of the GPS Quick Reports, GPS Environmental Reporting and Document Manager
• Implementation of Ergonomics in the US/CA region.

The IH interfaces with SBU EHS Directors and Managers and Plant EHS Staff across the corporation and must be available during at least 50 percent of the laboratory operating hours. He/She will also function as the approved signatory. 
See more details found on the Job Postings Page.

AM Health and Safety, Inc. has a job opportunity for a Health and Safety Associate I reporting to the Director of Industrial Hygiene and Safety Services.  In this role, the employee plans, coordinates and conducts industrial hygiene and safety services for clients requiring application of engineering principles and technology to analyze and control conditions contributing to occupational hazards and diseases by performing a wide range related duties.  More information can be found on our Job Postings page.

Julie Panko, CIH is the newest Pittsburgh AIHA member to be named National AIHA Fellow -- Congratulations to Julie on this well-deserved honor.  Julie will be recognized at the 2018 AIHce in Philadelphia in May.

The Fellow designation (FAIHATM) was established to recognize members who are full members in good standing, have 15 years of continuous membership, and have made recognized contributions to industrial hygiene or related disciplines, either through research, leadership, publications, education, or service to AIHA. The Fellow designation is limited to no more than five percent of the membership. 

Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Discussion SPACE IS LIMITED TO 40 ATTENDEES -- REGISTER EARLY!

The meeting will include presentations on how to sample and analyze for RCS, the OSHA regulations and some field perspectives from seasoned IHs.  An optional walk through the silica laboratory will be made available at the end of the meeting for those that are interested.  Details are provided on the meeting page.

The Pittsburgh AIHA has purchased a National AIHA E-Learning Subscription for 2018 as an added benefit for our local section members.   An email link allowing access will be sent to all Pittsburgh AIHA Members who are current / have paid their 2018 dues.  Remember, if you are NOT a National AIHA Member, you MUST pay your dues directly to the Local Section -- please refer to the post HERE: https://www.pittsburghaiha.org/home/2017-membership-dues-collection-renew-now.

THE FOLLOWING WEBINARS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE 2018 SUBSCRIPTION -- AN EMAIL WILL BE SENT TO PAID PITTSBURGH AIHA MEMBERS ALLOWING ACCESS TO VIEW.

• That Stinks! Investigating Odor Complaints
• Developing Respirator Cartridge Change Schedules
• Enhancing Worker Protection thru Job Safety Analysis
• Worst Plant – A Virtual H&S Audit
• Graphene and Safe Nano handling

 
If you have any questions, please email ckirsch@pittsburghaiha.org.

Just added -- new job opportunity at PPG Industries, Inc. in Pittsburgh, a brief description is provided below -- View the job posting and apply online CLICK HERE.   

This position functions as a Corporate Industrial Hygienist. The role has global accountability for the management of the AIHA accredited IH Lab and serve as the AIHA Lab Technical Manager.

​This individual is responsible for:

• Providing day to day support in the areas of occupational health for the Performance Coatings Business Units;
• Internal hazard communication support for all PPG locations. 
• The implementation of any corrective actions performed at the lab including the authority to halt work and withhold test results along with the authority to state when work can be resumed. 
• The technical support and training for EHS users of the GPS Quick Reports, GPS Environmental Reporting and Document Manager
• Implementation of Ergonomics in the US/CA region.

Our very own Dr. Frank Pokrywka is set to retire this year (Congratulations Frank!!).  His job at The University of Pittsburgh was recently posted on the University website with a notice sent to National AIHA.  Please use the link below to view the job posting and online application at the University of Pittsburgh's Career Page.
 
CLICK HERE FOR THE JOB POSTING

​Our annual local section election will be held in a few weeks -- The Pittsburgh AIHA needs volunteers who would like to run for Local Section office for 2018-2019.  We are looking for candidates interested in running for President-Elect, Director, and Treasurer. 

Responsibilities of the President-Elect (1-year term as President-Elect followed by 1-year term as President) are as follows: 

• Function as President in the President’s absence; 
• Chair the Program Committee and serve as a nonvoting member of the Local Sections Council; 
• Receive the opportunity to attend the AIHA National Leadership Workshop in Washington D.C. with, all expenses paid. 
• Attend as many local section meetings and Board of Directors meetings as able, especially in the President's absence. 

Responsibilities of the Director (2-year term) are as follows– does not need to be a member of the National AIHA: 

•  Assist in setting direction and tone for the local section; and 
•  Chair various committees and assume other work as assigned by the President. 

Responsibilities of the Treasurer (2-year term) are as follows: 

• Serve as custodian of all monies due the Section and shall pay all authorized bills against the Section.
• Submit the accounts for audit to the Audit Committee.
• Transmit to the successor in office all funds and property of the Section in their possession.
• An annual financial report shall be submitted to the Section.

Please contact any of the Executive Committee for more information / to get involved.

Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Discussion 
RJ Lee Group, Inc. - 350 Hochberg Road, Monroeville, PA  15146
March 22, 2018 – 11 AM to 3 PM

The meeting will include presentations on how to sample and analyze for RCS, the OSHA regulations and some field perspectives from seasoned IHs.  An optional walk through the silica laboratory will be made available at the end of the meeting for those that are interested.

More details are listed on the Upcoming Events page -- Registration to open around March 1 - An email will be sent once registration opens.

On February 8, the Pittsburgh AIHA welcomed National AIHA President, Deborah Imel Nelson, Ph.D., CIH, FAIHA to Pittsburgh for our annual President's Luncheon held at the LeMont restaurant in Pittsburgh (Mt. Washington).  Thank you to the attendees who participated in the event and thank you to US Micro-Solutions, Inc. for sponsoring a round of drinks for our group!  Dr. Nelson's presentation titled "Journey of a 20th Century American Industrial Hygienist – Where Will Your Journey Take You?"  is available for your review / comment - Please click here to access the powerpoint presentations. 

Your feedback is requested on the presentations and any questions you may have for Deborah related to National AIHA.  Please submit questions using the form below (click READ MORE)... 

Just released -- the most recent news from the National AIHA -- February 2018 Quick Takes Newsletter