Industrial hygienists and environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals from around the globe will meet at the Minneapolis Convention Center May 31-June 5 to take part in the 2008 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo (AIHce). Co-sponsored by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), AIHce 2008 is slated to deliver engaging speakers, technical sessions on current issues and comprehensive professional development courses (PDCs).

Registration is now open for AIHce 2008, and attendees are encouraged to register by March 28 for early registration discounts and for first-choice hotels and PDCs.

Conference highlights

AIHce has added a host of new, innovative programming to the 2008 conference schedule. Highlights planned for this year’s conference include:

• Pre-conference courses. More than 75 two-day, one-day and half-day courses covering many topics will be available on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, before the official conference program begins. Pre-conference courses will include professional development courses, a symposium on ergonomics and various special and exam review courses.
• Weekday science symposium — linking exposure assessment to risk, the interdependence of industrial hygiene and epidemiology.
• Cutting-edge, general session keynote speakers, including Jeremy Rifkin, president, Foundation for Economic Trends, on “The Future of Work”; Jeffrey Pino, president, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, on “The IH Value Proposition”; and Robin Herbert, MD, director, World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program at the Mount Sinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center, on the “Occupational Health Impact of the World Trade Center Disaster: Lessons Learned.”
• “Ask the Expert” following the Tuesday general session, which provides an informal platform that encourages participant interaction.
• Education programming, including 62 roundtable discussions, covering topics ranging from control banding, to Bayesian statistics, mold remediation, reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) proactively, and more.
• 84 professional development courses (PDCs).
• Back by popular demand, a “mock” methamphetamine laboratory set up in the expo hall; the “Unsolved IH Mysteries Workshop”; lunchtime talks; a student and early career professionals track; an essentials of hazardous materials management course; and a certified safety professional (CSP) course.
• Technical sessions dealing with international industrial hygiene issues.
• Technical and student poster sessions.
• “Value of the Profession” study track.
• A new photographic exhibit documenting the world of child labor captured by noted photographer David L. Parker.
• A NIOSH health hazard evaluation emergency response trailer.
• An ergonomic patient-lifting demonstration.

Trade show

AIHce Expo 2008 is the focal point of the AIHce conference, according to the show sponsors. More than 300 exhibitors at the expo will display the latest OEHS products, services and technologies.

Expo hours are:

• Monday, June 2, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 3, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 4, 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

AIHA/ACGIH® offers an “AIHce Virtual Expo.” Before leaving for Minneapolis, visitors can see who is exhibiting and where, and plan their time in the expo. Go to http://www.aiha.org/aihce08/expo2008/default.htm to utilize this service.

Other expo floor activities include: daily prize drawings, cyber café, expo opening cocktail reception (Monday, 4-5:30 p.m.), daily non-compete expo time, conference-only publication discounts and prizes at the AIHA booth, the latest in ACGIH® products and services, Web and software showcase, lunch discussions, a blood drive and University Row.

Events, activities and services

AIHA has more than 50 Volunteer Groups that tackle diverse issues in the profession, provide support and expertise to AIHA, serve as a forum for exchange of information, develop guidelines, propose standards, and provide education and training. AIHA Volunteer Groups have their annual meetings each year at AIHce. Volunteer Group members and anyone interested in attending these meetings at AIHce 2008 can find meeting location and dates by visiting www.aihce2008.org as the show approaches.

At the show’s CareerAdvantage 2008 attendees can get access to the entire searchable résumé database and see which candidates will be at the job fair, and also set up interviews with selected candidates online in advance. Companies also have the option to sponsor their own computer terminal where job seekers will be searching jobs.

On Tuesday, the conference will hold its annual MSA Reception, a networking gala following Tuesday’s technical sessions that offers attendees an opportunity to meet with “anyone who is anybody” in the industrial hygiene profession.

AIHce offers a variety of tools to help attendees effectively navigate the show, including: a Shared Room Referral Program, to enable registrants to minimize hotel room costs; Network Online, which lets attendees be in touch with other registered professionals prior to the conference; online Program Planner (at www.aihce2008.org) to help visitors plan their agenda; and more. Visit the show’s Conference Services page online at http://www.aiha.org/aihce08/conference-services/default.htm for more available services.

Meet your hosts

AIHA is one of the largest international associations serving the needs of occupational and environmental health professionals practicing industrial hygiene in industry, government, labor, academic institutions and independent organizations. Founded in 1939, AIHA is a nonprofit organization with more than 75 local sections and 10,600 members.

ACGIH® is a 68-year-old organization dedicated to advancing worker protection by providing timely, objective, scientific information to occupational and environmental health professionals. ACGIH® is one of the industry’s leading publications resources, with approximately 400 titles relative to occupational and environmental health and safety, including the renowned TLVs® and BEIs® book.

Outside the conference

AIHce 2008 is being offered against the backdrop of Minneapolis, “the land of 10,000 things to do.” Minneapolis will be alive in June with outdoor festivals on the streets and spectacular natural surroundings along the Mississippi River. Frommer’s named Minneapolis to its list of “Top Travel Destinations for 2007.” Travel + Leisure magazine named Minneapolis one of five up-and-coming destinations to visit in 2006. Many hotels, restaurants and attractions are within short walking distance to the Minneapolis Convention Center, making it easy for AIHce 2008 attendees to experience and enjoy the city.

Show at a glance:

What: American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo (AIHce 2008)
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minn.
When: May 31-June 5, 2008
Hot Topic: The latest research on developing OEHS technologies

Contact info:
American Industrial Hygiene Association
2700 Prosperity Ave., Ste. 250
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 849-8888
(703) 207-3561 fax
www.aiha.org

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
330 Kemper Meadow Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45240
(513) 742-2020
www.acgih.org

How to register: Visit http://www.aiha.org/aihce08/registration/default.htm. If you’re interested in exhibiting, visit www.aiha.org/expo2008.htm for an exhibitor prospectus or contact AIHA Exhibits at (703) 846-0748 or clacey@aiha.org.

Getting there: Minneapolis St. Paul (MSP) International Airport is located approximately 16 miles from downtown Minneapolis. From the Airport Main Terminal take Hwy. 55 exit from the airport. Follow Hwy. 55 west to Minneapolis. This will become Hwy. 62 west. Follow Hwy. 62 to I-35W north to Minneapolis downtown exits. Then take the 11th Street exit. Follow 11th Street South to 2nd Avenue South. Turn left on 2nd Avenue South and go one block to the Convention Center, located at 1301 2nd Avenue South. Rail service is available to downtown Minneapolis from the Lindbergh and Humphrey Terminals at the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport. Rail travel time to downtown is 25-35 minutes.