AIHA Past President Nominated for MACOSH Reappointment
The American Industrial Hygiene Association® has submitted a letter of support for the reappointment of James R. Thornton, CIH, CSP, to the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH). Thornton has served as chairman of MACOSH and is part of that advisory committee's Professional-Government Interests section. Thornton also is a past president of both AIHA and the Academy of Industrial Hygiene.
In a letter to Dorothy Dougherty, directorate of Standards and Guidance for OSHA, AIHA President Cathy Cole, CIH, CSP, says, "The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is pleased to offer our support for the nomination of James R. Thornton to serve on the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH). Mr. Thornton is highly qualified to participate on MACOSH by virtue of his experience, knowledge, and expertise in the Maritime industry."
"We hope other stakeholders join in our support of the reappointment of Jim Thornton to be the chair of MACOSH," said AIHA's Executive Director Peter J. O'Neil, CAE. "Since 1994, including the time while Mr. Thornton was AIHA President, we have supported him for MACOSH."
Having managed Northrop Grumman Newport News for more than 30 years, Thornton has vast experience running an OSHA VPP STAR site program. At Northrop, Thornton has also worked closely with various unions. He served on the blue ribbon panel that evaluates health and safety programs in the branches of services within the Department of Defense and was awarded the OSHA IMPACT Award for his service on the predecessor of MACOSH.
"AIHA is pleased to support the nomination of Mr. Thornton, and he has committed to avail MACOSH with the necessary time to this important effort," Cole said. "Not only does AIHA support his reappointment to, but AIHA also recommends that Mr. Thornton be reappointed as Chairman of MACOSH. Based upon our conversations with various stakeholders, media, etc., there is considerable support for the leadership provided by Mr. Thornton as Chairman of this committee."
For more information on MACOSH, visit www.osha.gov/dts/maritime/macosh/index.html or contact AIHA Government Affairs Director Aaron Trippler at (703) 846-0730 or [email protected].