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Industrial Hygienists Urge Businesses to
Prepare for Potential Flu Pandemic Now |
AIHce 2009
Register Today! |
As health experts raised the threat level of the swine flu to five, indicating "a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent," some U.S. businesses are just now beginning to look at ways to prepare for the potential health, social and economic impact of a flu pandemic.
“Planning for pandemic influenza is critical, and the business community must not delay in considering the impact of a pandemic and to adjust their company’s employee health and safety plans accordingly,” says AIHA President Lindsey Booher, CIH, CSP. “Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees, and by following guidelines based on traditional infection control and industrial hygiene practices, employers can play a key role in protecting their employees from influenza and other communicable illnesses.”
For more information on how to assist business leaders in their efforts, click here.
Frequently asked questions – Swine Influenza and Air Travel
To view and purchase the AIHA-published "The Role of the Industrial Hygienist in a Pandemic," click here. |
Swine Flu Update
AIHce 2009 is still accepting registrations. AIHA and ACGIH® staff are continuously monitoring recent developments regarding the swine flu outbreak and abiding by the recommendations from the CDC, World Health Organization and Health Canada. We are participating in the daily briefing teleconferences being held by the CDC/Health and Human Services Office for the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program. We are obtaining the latest and most direct information and are prepared to handle any new developments should they arise.
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AIHA Crisis Communication Resources |
Upton Sinclair Award Recipient Wins Pulitzer Prize |
Epidemics, pandemics, influenza and flu...NOW more than ever, knowing how to communicate and deal with a fearful constituency during a crisis is as important as having the skills to deal with the crisis itself. It determines whether you build trust and encourage cooperation or sow the seeds of skepticism, denial and panic. Arm yourself with
AIHA's DVD Crisis Communication: Guidelines for Action—Planning What to Say When Terrorists, Epidemics, or Other Emergencies Strike, by Dr. Peter Sandman, and get 25 key crisis communication points, real-life examples, suggestions and solutions for everyone caught in the midst of handling an organization's crisis management plan.
It is critical that you know how to utilize effective crisis communication in order to save lives! Check out all of AIHA's communication resources today:
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The 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service was awarded to the Las Vegas Sun, and the courageous reporting by Alexandra Berzon, for the exposure of the high death rate among construction workers on the Las Vegas Strip amid lax enforcement of regulations, leading to changes in policy and improved safety conditions.
The Upton Sinclair Memorial Lecture at AIHce features Berzon. Her presentation, “When Safety Systems Don’t Work: A Reporter Explores the Toll of Las Vegas’s Boom Years,” will offer the back story to this reporting and discuss how those involved in workplace health and safety can help journalists understand and call attention to such concerns.
The Upton Sinclair Memorial Lecture on outstanding occupational health, safety, and environmental investigative journalism is hosted by the AIHA Social Concerns Committee. Berzon will be speaking at AIHce in Toronto on Tuesday, June 2, at 10:30 a.m.
AIHce has a number of construction related programming this year. For a complete list, visit www.aiha.org/aihce09/education/program-by-topic.aspx. |
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Federal Regulators Urged to Accept AIHA-Accredited Labs as Third Party Testing Labs |
AIHce Expands Certification Options &
Enhances Educational Offerings |
| AIHA recently submitted written comments to the FDA and the CPSC urging both regulatory agencies to develop (or amend in the case of CPSC) requirements, so that AIHA-accredited labs can become third party testing labs. AIHA maintains that AIHA-accredited labs have more than demonstrated compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 and AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs, LLC has demonstrated compliance with ISO/IEC 17011. AIHA comments also make the association's position clear that it continues to support a recommendation espoused in its October 22 written comments to CPSC that third party testing labs should be compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 and be accredited by an accreditation body that is either an “ILAC MRA signatory or recognized by the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation.” |
AIHce 2009 is pleased to offer an unprecedented five types of certification maintenance options and new electronic features for the majority of pre-conference professional development courses. For more information, read the official press release or for a full listing of course offerings, features and other value added benefits, click here. |
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