Discover New Frontiers In Science And Practice At AIHce 2010

With an all-star lineup of speakers and a variety of new features, this year's AIHce will appeal to all in the OEHS industry

Fairfax, VA - Thousands of occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals will head to Denver, Colorado, for the premier conference and exposition in the industrial hygiene field. May 22–27, the Mile High City will host the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo (AIHce). Sponsored by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), AIHce 2010 provides attendees with the opportunity to receive certificate maintenance points by participating in nearly 200 technical sessions and professional development courses (PDCs).

Innovative Programming
Pre-conference weekend PDCs return and will include new and established, highly rated programming. On Saturday, PDCs on community noise, Bayesian statistics, and EHS management systems will once again be presented. Sunday's PDC lineup features courses on nanotechnology, sustainability and social responsibility, and biological monitoring. Two-day PDCs on mastering advanced communication techniques, exposure assessment strategies and statistics, and construction hazard recognition and project management for the industrial hygienist (IH) will be offered. Once again, those preparing for the certified safety professional (CSP) exam will have the opportunity to acquire the strategies they need to ace the exam by taking the three-day CSP preparation workshop.

This year's PDC schedule will also highlight a range of new topics including combustible dust safety, environmental law and regulation for IHs, and safe patient handling. Additional new weekend PDCs help conference goers earn education credits and special certifications. The two-day course "Construction Hazard Recognition and Project Management for the IH" gives attendees the chance to earn OSHA's 10-Hour Construction Safety Outreach Card (Yellow Card). "Ethics: Have You Used Yours Today?" meets new ABIH ethics requirements, while also providing the latest information in ethics codes and policies.

Examining Our Future
The opening session on Monday, May 24, will kickoff with the presentation "A Contract with Our Future" given by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. As a successful litigator and defender of the environment, Kennedy has had a numerous legal triumphs in protecting the environment, including his fight to restore the Hudson River. As a result, he is recognized by TIME magazine as one of its "Heroes for the Planet" and was named one of Rolling Stone's 100 Agents of Change."

Tuesday, May 25, will feature "The Labor Movement: Building Health and Safety Protections on the Job," presented by Cecil Edward Roberts, Jr., president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). As a sixth-generation coal miner, Roberts has spent years promoting health and safety in America's mines. He currently serves as chair of the Executive Council Committee on Safety and Health and is a member of the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO Executive Council.

David Michaels, PhD, MPH, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Assistant Secretary of Labor, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Director John M. Howard, MD, MPH, JD, will be guests during a moderated talk show format on Wednesday, May 26. Michaels and Howard will engage in a provocative discussion on current and future trends in the OEHS industry. Audience members will be given the chance to engage these prolific OEHS leaders in further discussion after their General Session lecture during the open forum "Ask the Expert."

Diverse Educational Offerings
Additional educational opportunities will be offered throughout the week. Attendees at every level of experience will benefit from these new tracks, PDCs, technical sessions, luncheon discussions, expo exhibits, and more. Conference highlights include:

• Special tracks and symposium. Special new session tracks have been added on "Green" and "H1N1," as well as expansion of Science Symposia offerings. A new symposium on Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) and green building design will also be featured. Over 40 subject tracks will be offered.
• Technical Sessions. Peer-reviewed roundtables, podium sessions, poster sessions, and crossover programs give attendees comprehensive instruction and practical information on a gamut of industry topics.
• Lunch workshops and discussions. Each day of the conference will feature luncheon discussions highlighting a different topic every day. Monday's discussion will focus on students and early career professionals. On Tuesday, NIOSH representatives will lead the discussion, and "Tech Talks" will be presented on Wednesday. The ever-popular "Unsolved IH Mysteries" workshop returns and will be offered Monday through Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Networking. Conference goers will have the chance to socialize with colleagues and exhibitors during the Expo Opening Cocktail Reception on Monday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and during the new, co-sponsored AIHA/MSA Reception on Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Students and early career professionals programming. Students and those just starting out in the industry will have plenty of chances to learn more about the field and mingle with their peers and veteran OEHS professionals. On Sunday, members of the Future Leaders Institute will hold the Future Leaders and Young Members Reception. Students and early career professionals can get with their resumes and fine-tune their interviewing skills at The CareerAdvantage Development Fair 2010 Monday through Wednesday.

Denver provides the perfect backdrop for this year's AIHce. Much like the conference, the city is eclectic, vibrant, and has something for everyone. Attendees can peruse the trendy shops and museums, or enjoy nature by taking a hike in the nearby Rocky Mountains. The city's points of interest include: the Denver Zoo and Denver Botanical Gardens; LoDo (the lower downtown district); the mile-and-a-half long 16 Street pedestrian mall, which extends through the center of the city; Colifax Avenue, the longest commercial street in the U.S.; and the gold-domed State Capitol building. Other activities such as tours of old mining towns and ranches and water sports can be found in the outskirts of the city.

Online registration is still open. Attendees can register at www.aihce2010.org until May 19 and avoid the lines at on-site registration.

AIHce 2010 combines both old and new programming, and brings top-notch speakers, along with up-to-date industry information. This year's AIHce will provide OEHS professionals with information on current industry trends and prospects for the future of the profession, and give them the tools necessary to conquer new frontiers.

SOURCE: The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)