Support the Pittsburgh AIHA as a Corporate Sponsor!  The benefits of a Corporate Sponsorship contribution of $250 include:
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• 2 free individual Pittsburgh AIHA annual memberships,
• Pittsburgh AIHA Homepage sidebar logo link (THANKS TO THE 2024 SPONSORS AT THE RIGHT!!)
• 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.

​Welcome to the following NEW members of the Pittsburgh AIHA!

• Ian Bubb, Slippery Rock University
• Justin Doty, Slippery Rock University
• Gianna Filosi, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Marley Gardner, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Leanna Haddix, Enviro-Air Llc
• Caleb Hoffman, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Taylor Neal, ProTect-All Solutions, LLC
• Andy Wright, ProTect-All Solutions, LLC​

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. 

Thanks to Frank Pokrywka who found the booklet linked below.  Click on the image to download a PDF of the handbook.

In 1917, the Carnegie Steel Company was a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation. The Carnegie Steel Company produced Bessemer and open hearth steel in various grades.

Carnegie Steel Company was an American steel company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and founded by Scottish-born American industrialist Andrew Carnegie and a handful of associates in the late 1800s. The name Carnegie Steel Company can refer to Carnegie’s first steel plant, which opened in 1875, as well as to the vast network of steel mills he built and purchased in the late 1880s and early 1890s.

By the time the corporation was sold in 1901, Carnegie had amassed a veritable empire of steel production along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers. Each production site was supplied by Carnegie-owned mines and coke fields, and their goods were transported by Carnegie river barges. The consolidation of these steel mills and their eventual sale made Carnegie one of the richest persons in the United States at the time.

Click the image below to open the file - 

​Congratulations to Pittsburgh AIHA Member Robert (Bob) A. Nocco, DABT, CIH, CSP, CFPS, RRPT, FAIHA who was named one of eight National AIHA Fellows for 2024. Bob is a distinguished figure in occupational safety and health, renowned for his extensive contributions to the field. With expertise spanning various committees and panels, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the American Public Health Association, Nocco is committed to advancing occupational safety policies. His work in policy areas extends to membership in numerous committees and organizations, such as the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) and the National STEPS Network. Nocco’s leadership roles in technical, scientific, and management domains include involvement in standards-setting organizations like ASTM and NFPA, as well as chairing AIHA committees.

His exemplary contributions encompass teaching and professional development efforts, where he imparts knowledge on toxicology, exposure assessment, and risk management. Nocco’s direct contributions to AIHA are extensive, including presentations at conferences and active participation in committees and working groups. His dedication to the field is evident through his longstanding membership in AIHA and regular attendance at conferences since 1986, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to advancing occupational safety and health practices.  Bob was nominated by Andrew Anthony Havics, CIH, PE, FAIHA. 

The AIHA Fellow designation recognizes AIHA members in good standing with 15 years of continuous Full membership who have made recognized contributions to industrial hygiene or related disciplines, either through research, leadership, publications, education, or service to AIHA. Fellows are nominated by an AIHA local section, special interest group, committee, or peers. The Fellow designation is limited to no more than five percent of the membership.

The Executive Committee of the Pittsburgh AIHA will hold the summer local section business meeting IN PERSON at Smokey Bones in Robinson PA​.  All members are welcome and encouraged to attend!  Register online:  https://www.pittsburghaiha.org/2024-08-26-business-meeting.html

Topics typically discussed during this meeting include:

• Welcome / Approve Minutes / Agenda
• New items (Agenda to follow)
• Treasurer and Secretary reports
• Local section committee updates
• Meeting topics / speakers / venues, etc.   
• Student sections 
• Corporate Sponsors/Advertisers 

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Please consider joining the meeting to offer suggestions or provide input. Your participation is key to our success!

The Pittsburgh Section AIHA held a social gathering at this year’s AIHA conference in Columbus on Tuesday May 21 at Brewcadia in the Barley Brewing Company 467 N. High Street across from the Convention Center. Drinks and snacks were provided by the local section for this event.  We had a great turnout and enjoyed hanging out with the other Pittsburgers while at the conference!  Thanks to all who attended and to Frank Pokrywka for coordinating this event.

Congratulations to Dakota Funfer, a Safety Management Student at Slippery Rock University, who was selected as the recipient of the 2024 Pittsburgh AIHA Local Section Scholarship.  In a thank you letter to the Pittsburgh AIHA, Dakota noted that he was "Very honored and grateful to be the Pittsburgh AIHA Section Scholarship recipient."   Dakota worked as an Assistant HSE Intern at Allan Myers Inc. in Fairfax Virginia this summer and will enter his Senior year at SRU this fall.  After graduation in May of 2025, Dakota hopes to obtain his CIH and CSP.  

Dakota was recognized at this year's AIHA Connect Conference in Columbus OH along with all AIHF scholarship recipients at The AIHF Donor and Scholarship Recipient Reception held on Sunday, May 19.  

See all current and past Pittsburgh AIHA Scholarship recipients here: https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/aih-foundation/aih-foundation-scholarships/pittsburgh-local-section-scholarship

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

Click the image below to view the Spring 2024 Newsletter.

The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to welcome the following new members who recently joined.

Local section member membership provides you with a wide range of networking opportunities in the occupational health and safety field.  AIHA national membership is not required in joining an AIHA local section, but membership in both organizations is strongly encouraged to maximize benefits.  Some of the benefits of joining the Pittsburgh Local Section include:

• Meet / network with other local OEHS professionals.
• Members can attend regular educational meetings and take advantage of eLearning Subscription.
• Sharpen your skills with professional development opportunities
• Make key contacts and interact with local allied groups
• Learn or exchange best practices at local section meetings  
• Earn ABIH CM points locally for less $$!

Following the recent Local Section Election, we would like to congratulate the following Pittsburgh AIHA members who will begin their term of office this summer!  

President-Elect:  Darrick Bertig CIH, CSP
Director: Morgan Ryan, BS, MBA
Treasurer:  Frank Porkrywka, Ed.D, CIH

Thank you to current Committee members, Dane Mitcheson who will end his term as President, to be replaced by current President-elect Barry Momyer, who will serve as President through July 2025.  Carol Delfino remains as Secretary, and Rona Smeak remains as Director, each through July 2025.

A big thank you to all who participate and volunteer for the Pittsburgh AIHA!

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