AIHce Addresses Public Health In The Workplace
Fairfax, VA - Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH, sparked the passions of those attending the Tuesday general session at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce) presentation covering the challenges facing industrial hygienists and occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals. Murray shared expertise and insight regarding the impact of social, economic, and political changes on worker health and safety, including the graying of the profession, funding issues government agencies are facing, health care challenges, special needs of immigrants, the decline of labor unions, and more.
"We as a field must not only think about the four walls of the factory or the office," Murray said. "We have to look beyond that and understand that when we come together to address the critical issues of our society that we in fact are solving problems of occupational health and safety."
Murray, the chief medical officer of the primary care and community health at the Ambulatory and Community Health Network of Cook County in Chicago, is an occupational physician, public health leader, author, professor, community activist, and a member of corporate and nonprofit boards with more than 30 years' experience in occupational and environmental health.
Speaking to the attendees on the source of workplace health and safety, she said, "Modern environmental science is not rooted in our farms or forests … it's rooted in this room." Murray talked about the roots of industrial hygiene, how the profession began, and the progress that has been made protecting worker health and safety. She said that understanding the roots of industrial hygiene was key to facing the challenges of today and tomorrow.
"If we really understand the traditions of our field and particularly the traditions of industrial hygienists, I think we will be in a good place to really tackle the overwhelming problems we face today."
She went on to challenge the audience with thought-provoking ideas on current issues seen in the media today, such as immigration, the changing work force, and health care. "The fact that we live in a nation, the only industrialized nation, where health care is not a human right should disgust all of us as health professionals."
She challenged the audience to look beyond the science of industrial hygiene but to look into the social context of work. "Understanding not just what chemical is in the workplace but understanding the entire context of work is critical."
An "Ask the Expert" session immediately followed the general session and allowed attendees to address their concerns with Murray in depth. Detailed conference information is available at www.aihce2007.org. For more information, contact AIHA at (703) 849-8888.
SOURCE: AIHA