Circle the days in red. The American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo (AIHce), June 1-6 at the San Diego Convention Center, will include keynote addresses, technical programs, poster sessions, professional development courses and an exhibit hall featuring the latest safety, occupational health and environmental management products and services.
Ron Hayes, founder and director of The FIGHT Project, will start the ball rolling on the conference program at 8 a.m. Monday, June 3, with the opening general session, "Powerful Partnerships! Public Awareness." In 1993, Hayes suffered the loss of his only son, Patrick, who suffocated under 60 tons of corn in a grain silo accident.
In the aftermath of Patrick's death, Hayes quit his career to establish and run The FIGHT Project, which helps families cope with workplace-related illnesses, injuries and deaths. Hayes and The FIGHT Project have forged productive alliances and recruited volunteers to lobby Congress, state legislatures and media contacts. Hear about Hayes' courageous and tenacious efforts to improve workplace health and safety.
"Powerful Partnerships! Government," the keynote address scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, will be handled by John L. Henshaw, CIH, ROH. Henshaw is the assistant secretary of labor for OSHA and a former president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, which is a co-sponsor of AIHce along with the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
Since his appointment in August, Henshaw has been outspoken in calling for an increased leadership role for OSHA. He envisions OSHA as an organization that partners with its customers to focus on the pursuit of improved job safety and health, rather than having an adversarial relationship. He will offer his plans for the future of OSHA and explain how they may affect your industrial hygiene practice.
Keynote speaker Kyle B. Olson, vice president and senior associate, Community Research Associates, Washington, will talk about "Powerful Partnerships! International" at 8 a.m. Wed- nesday, June 5. An ABC News consultant, Olson is a leading authority on high-technology terrorism, the threat of chemical and biological weapons, and the challenges of arms control. The first Western expert to investigate the 1994 terrorist use of Sarin nerve gas in Matsumoto, Japan, Olson is directing the activities of a team of experts supporting New York City response efforts in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks. A breakout question-and-answer session with Olson will follow his keynote presentation.
As part of AIHce's response to current world events, a chemical/bioterrorism learning track is included in this year's education program. Highlighted in the Technical Program section, these sessions will be presented by individuals who have direct knowledge and experience of the Sept. 11 tragedies. This is your chance to learn firsthand from occupational and environmental safety professionals what is happening as the cleanup continues at "ground zero."
A new format, "Late-Breaking Issues," will present up-to-date news and issues relative to Sept. 11, the anthrax threat and other timely and urgent topics affecting industrial hygienists.
In response to an overwhelming number of requests for more case studies and environmental safety and health crossover programs, AIHce has doubled the number of papers that will be presented. Topics include indoor environmental quality, ergonomics, mold remediation and management, risk management, and global trends in health and safety management.
If all that's not enough to keep you busy, don't forget to visit the exhibit hall, which features more than 700 booths. Nonconflicting time dedicated to visiting exhibitors has been built into the week. The exhibit hall is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 3, and Tuesday, June 4, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. While you're there, don't forget to stop by and visit Occupational Hazards at booth 1012.