Getting the 'Deep Dish' on Chicago

This year's American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo is meeting in a mainstay of architecture and design.

• May 01, 2006

Chicago is famous for its blues, pizza, and politics, but it's also the birthplace of the skyscraper. The towering buildings gracing the skyline are some of the most famous in the world. It's this latter element that makes the city the logical choice for this month's 2006 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo and its "Reaching New Heights " theme.

AIHce is being housed this year in McCormick Place in the Lakeside Center (formerly the East Building). The facility has a total of 2.2 million square feet of floor space, making it the nation's largest convention center.

AIHce 2006 Highlights
Prior to the expo, those interested in looking to the future of industrial hygiene should plan to attend the day-long symposium "Nanoparticles in the Workplace" on Saturday, May 13, at 8 a.m. Nanotechnology has quickly become a red-hot topic among safety professionals. Many naysayers fear its rapid advance will outpace safety measures and unleash a Pandora's box of health and safety problems, while supporters foresee innovations previously only dreamt of in science fiction. Form an opinion after hearing speakers discuss topics such as the nature of the nanotechnology industry and possible fugitive emission scenarios; our current understanding of the toxic properties of nanomaterials; measurement methods; government initiatives; and workplace protection. Registration costs $395.

This year's AIHce will see the addition of a new science symposium titled "Science--It Does Matter to Industrial Hygiene!" Intended to be the first in a series, this new event is intended to provide ways in which scientists can make their research more accessible and applicable; to encourage practitioners to recognize the value and importance of scientific research in their practice; and to discuss ways to improve communication and expedite efforts that will benefit the field. Special emphasis will be placed on discussing the historic role scientific research has played in the field and highlighting key areas in which the industry has benefited from improvements in scientific understanding. Mark your calendars for Monday, May 15, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For a healthy and fun way to get reenergized at the midpoint slump of the event, join the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation's 22nd annual "Fun Run/Walk," sponsored by MSA, on Tuesday, May 16. The $25 advance fee/$30 on-site fee to walk the 2K or run the 5K will contribute to the foundation's student scholarships. The race runs from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

After pumping those muscles, pump some neurons and test your industry knowledge by participating in the "Unsolved IH Mysteries" workshop presented by John Seibert, CIH, CSP, of the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C. His program will present case studies involving IH fieldwork. Groups will brainstorm solutions and present their results. Afterward, the facilitator will explain the remedies actually taken. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m., and priced at $35 for advanced tickets ($45 on site).

Chicago Attractions
As for Chicago, its annual Great Chicago Places and Spaces festival takes place May 19-21, if you're staying around a few extra days. Attendees will get an up-close look at Chicago's famous architecture and design heritage (it is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy). Presented by Starbucks Corp. and the Mayor's Office of Special Events, the event is described by the Chicago Office of Tourism as a celebration of "Chicago's architectural heritage with programs and tours of 'places and spaces' from the well known to the rare and obscure." More than 200 free tours are scheduled and will be conducted by some of the world's leading architecture and design experts.

On the other hand, have you ever wondered what happens to everything you've thrown away? Your cast-offs could be famous someday: The Field Museum offers the "Trash to Treasure: Salvage Archaeology in The Field Museum's Backyard" exhibit so visitors can see a selection of bottles, stoneware, ceramics, metal objects, and other personal effects once used in Chicago's early 20th Century hotels, restaurants, breweries, and other businesses. The items were found in the several million cubic yards of the early 1900s man-made landfill that are now the site of museum and its campus grounds. This is a chance to see what treasures have been hidden underneath the city for nearly a century--what better way is there to know what the Midwest's dynamo is made of?

Expo Hours
The AIHce 2006 expo will be open these hours:

Monday, May 15, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The following list of exhibitors was obtained March 6 from Melissa A. Hurley of the American Industrial Hygiene Association's communications department.

This article originally appeared in the May 2006 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.