Thanks to Dane Mitcheson, Matt Zock, Frank Pokrywka, and Tim Beck who represented the Pittsburgh AIHA at our booth and greeted MASHA attendees.  2024 marked the 15th annual conference held at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Twp., PA with a line-up of great speakers, exhibitors, and networking opportunities for professionals and students.  Thanks to all the Pittsburgh AIHA members that participated in the event this year!  visit mashasafetyconference.org for more information. 

The 28 attendees of the April 24, 2024 event were treated to two presentations, a fantastic lunch catered by Yoli's and a tour of the U.S. Steel Mon Valley Works - Irvin Plant!   

Speakers for the event were Marc Turina of ErgoSmart (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-turina-mpt-cpe-a0b07511/) and Dave Lewis, German Bionic (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlewisny/).  Thanks to both Marc and Dave for their presentations and participation to make this a great event! 

Special thank you to everyone who helped coordinate this event including: 

• Glen Hilliard, Safety & Security Manager, Mon Valley Works, 
• Bridget McElhinney, Assistant to VP Kurt Barshick, Mon Valley Works, 
• Dan Davis, Skelly & Loy (Pgh. AIHA), and 
• Barry Momyer, AM Health & Safety (Pgh. AIHA)

Dave Lewis/German Bionic shared a product brochure - Smart Wearable Tools / Exoskeleton & Safety Analytic Tech linked HERE:   smartwearabletoolsbrochure2023__3_.pdf and a YouTube Video Demonstration HERE:  ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV4ihlhRNyc

The Pittsburgh AIHA President's Luncheon was held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at the LeMont Restaurant on Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh.  Thank you to National AIHA President, Dina M. Siegel, CIH, CSP, CBSP, FAIHA, who provided an update on National AIHA activities as well as a technical presentation on time sensitive chemicals.  Thank you to all who attended!

See Dina's National AIHA State of the Association presentation HERE:
​    pittsburgh_local_section_-_aiha_update_march_2024.pdf

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    

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):

​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 [email protected]. 
  
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!