On Aug. 27, 2015, representatives from the American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) attended the 4th Annual United States - China Workplace Safety and Health Dialogue meeting in Seattle, Wash. AIHA Executive Director Peter J. O'Neil, FASAE, CAE, and President Daniel H. Anna, PhD, CIH, CSP, represented AIHA-the only U.S.-based association invited to participate-and engaged in dialogue about important industry areas, including the roles of professional organizations and other non-governmental organizations in promoting worker safety and health.
During the meeting, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health (MSHA) Joseph Main led a discussion regarding recent technological advancements that have contributed to improved safety and health in mines, including proximity detection systems, a type of sensor technology. Proximity detection systems use electronic sensors on both mining machines and miners to detect motion or the location of one object relative to another, and can be programmed to send warning signals and stop mining machines before they injure or kill workers in underground coal mines. Sensor technology is one of AIHA's main focus areas, and the association recently conducted research to map the current sensor technology landscape, reaching beyond the technology's current usage in industrial/occupational hygiene practice into emerging areas and other applications.