AIHA Hires New Executive Director, Renews Alliance with OSHA
The American Industrial Hygiene Association announced yesterday that its executive director Steven H. Davis, CAE, IOM, will depart AIHA on March 31, 2009, after eleven years of service, the last six as executive director. On tap to replace him, the AIHA Board of Directors has retained Peter J. O'Neil, CAE, IOM. O'Neil joined AIHA in 2000 as director of marketing and member services, and was promoted in 2005 to assistant executive director.
According to AIHA President Lindsay E. Booher, O'Neil has worked closely with Davis and the association's volunteer leadership throughout his nine years with AIHA. "[O'Neil] has been instrumental in strategic planning and special project development and management. We believe that Peter's skill-set, energy, and management style will continue the momentum Steven has developed and take AIHA to new heights," Booher said. In addition to being a Certified Association Executive, O'Neil is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives and both a Fellow and board member for The Center for Association Leadership. He has earned the Institute for Organization Management Certificate from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
On the same day AIHA announced this impending leadership change, it also joined OSHA in announcing a renewal of the alliance the two have shared since 2002. Citing a lucrative six years of achievements benefiting workplace safety, especially in the areas of general industry, construction, and emergency response, OSHA and AIHA vowed to continue developing resources together. Their alliance has resulted in products and resources addressing issues ranging from ergonomics and hazard communication to personal protective equipment and noise and hearing conservation, the groups noted.
Specifically, AIHA said that through the alliance it has developed several compliance assistance products, including five AIHA QuickTips sheets that provide occupational safety and health professionals with at-a-glance information on specific hazards such as noise and laboratory ergonomics. Alliance Implementation Team members delivered presentations on occupational safety and health issues at two AIHA Conferences and Expositions, and AIHA supported the 2007 and 2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health Week.
"As one of the first professional associations to enter into an alliance with OSHA more than six years ago, AIHA is pleased to have this opportunity to continue working with OSHA to protect the health and safety of employees," Booher said. "We look forward to continuing and increasing collaboration with our colleagues at OSHA, many of whom are longtime members of AIHA."
AIHA, founded in 1939, is a nonprofit organization working with the American Board of Industrial Hygienists to promote the certification of industrial hygienists. The association operates several laboratory accreditation and educational programs and has approximately 12,000 members in more than 75 local sections.