Northwest Convergence
The city of Portland, Ore., has a number of claims to fame, not least of which are its timbered views, savory foods, and bounteous brews. But for about a week this month it also will be ground zero for the largest industrial hygiene show of the year when AIHce 2011 puts down stakes at the Oregon Convention Center, May 14-19.
Billed as "the must-attend event for occupational & environmental health & safety professionals," the conference, now celebrating its 72nd anniversary, represents a return to the Pacific Northwest for co-sponsors AIHA and ACGIH, which first held their gathering in this City of Roses in 1981.
The IH industry has evolved dramatically in the 30 years since, and this show has kept pace, annually adding to its offerings and making use of the latest technological tools.
This year, in addition to providing 115 technical sessions, 69 professional development courses, and a three-day expo with more than 300 companies on hand, the conference will feature a "virtual expo," which allows registrants to search for companies, products, and services; an enhanced "eProgram Planner," with which users can build a custom itinerary; a number of "eAbstracts" and "eHandouts," which are electronic materials that can easily be transferred, stored, and retained; and "AIHce ON DEMAND," which allows registrants to download multimedia technical sessions to their computers, laptops, iPods, or iPads. In addition, organizers have installed an onsite "Laptop Lounge" and multiple cyber/message centers with complimentary Web access.
Dust Cause
As an added bonus to this year’s conference, the 2nd International Symposium on Wood Dust will take place concurrently at the convention center May 17-18. According to organizers, a possible 45 million workers worldwide are exposed daily to wood dust, and it has increasingly been implicated in workplace respiratory issues and diseases.
Sponsored by AIHA, NIOSH, the American Forest & Paper Association, the Center for Construction Research and Training, and others, the symposium will feature experts discussing the latest developments in the wood dust domain, including risk assessment and management, controls, particle characterization, sampling and analysis, and exposure assessment. The symposium is offered as an optional, stand-alone event at AIHce and is included in the general conference registration fee. A separate registration is available for those who would like to attend the wood dust symposium only. More details on the event are available at www.WoodDust2011.org.
For complete information about AIHce 2011, including registration forms, a schedule and description of courses, CM point availability, a hotel locator, and a rundown of social and technical tours, visit www.AIHce2011.org.