January 10, 2003—Every other year the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) surveys its members to determine the top public policy issues of concern to occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals in the next two years.
AIHA has identified the following as the top public policy issues for 2003-2004:
- Emergency Response and Preparedness (Including Biological Monitoring, Hazard
- Communication, and Risk Assessment)
- Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)—Updating
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) PELs are consensus-based limits that indicate how long an individual can be exposed to a particular substance without experiencing harmful effects. However, many of these PELs have not been updated since the 1970s.
- Mold—Exposure, Inspection, and Remediation issues
- OSHA Reform Issues—Including Third Party Workplace Reviews
- Ergonomics
- Indoor Air Quality Issues (Other Than Mold)
- Professional Recognition/Title Protection Legislation and Regulation
- OEHS Small Business Assistance—Legislation and Regulation
- Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (Written)
- Laboratory Accreditation Issues
Accredited laboratories are the best way to ensure that test samples from food facilities, workplaces, and homes are analyzed accurately. Over the course of the last several years, AIHA has been working to see that the AIHA laboratory accreditation program is noted in federal and state legislation as one of the programs with national recognition.
For more information, contact AIHA.
