The International Society for Respiratory Protection (ISRP) invites occupational health and safety professionals in the field of respiratory protection to attend its 16th Biennial Conference, which will take place in Boston, Mass., September 24 – 27, 2012. Themed “A Global View on Respiratory Protection,” the 2012 event will draw technical experts, industry professionals and academia from around the world who will lead presentations, roundtables and stimulating discussions related to nanotechnology, human physiology, filtration and adsorption, anthropometric research, and global standards harmonization, along with many other relevant respiratory protection topics.  Keynote speakers for this year’s ISRP Conference include John Howard, M.D., Director of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Richard Fairfax, Certified Industrial Hygienist, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

"This year's topic of harmonization goes to the heart of our collective mission – preparedness and response," said ISRP President Andy Capon. "The incredible technological innovation we see here at the conference and in use in the field today is only as good as our ability to universally understand, deploy, maintain and monitor the systems we depend on to prevent and respond to disasters in operational environments and protect people and assets. Harmonization and standardization go beyond theory to achieve predictable, "trainable" preparation and response, and to help create safer, more measurable outcomes for responders and the workforce at large."

The four-day Conference kicks off on Sunday, September 23, with a Welcome Reception at the Boston Park Plaza. Featuring an interactive technical program that includes podium and roundtable sessions, the ISRP Conference is designed to address the many insights, interests and points-of-view within the respiratory protection field.  Examples of this year’s roundtable session topics led by industry, academic and regulatory experts, include: ISO TC94/SC15 Respiratory Protection Standard - Government, Manufacturer and End-user Perspectives; End of Service Life Indicator - Technology and Acceptance; and Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers.

In addition to the technical program, the 2012 ISRP Conference will include a vendor exhibition, showcasing member products and services, an informal networking gathering, and an update on ISRP’s Training Program for Developing Countries, which is intended to disseminate knowledge and skills in the field of occupational respiratory protection.  

The Conference’s Gala Banquet and Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, September 26th at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Considered to be among the industry’s most coveted honors, the ISRP will present several awards on that evening, including the prestigious Hyatt Award for Outstanding Scientific/Technical Contributions in the Field of Respiratory Protection; the Revoir Award for Outstanding Leadership and Services to the ISRP Organization; the Best Paper Award; and the Best Student Paper Award. Winning technical papers also will be published in the ISRP’s internationally recognized publication, The Journal of the ISRP, which features content spanning theoretical and applied research in the field of respiratory protection.

Held every two years, the ISRP Conference brings together an impressive, international group of professionals who want the most up-to-date global perspective on protective respiratory standards, practices and equipment, including: health and safety administrators, emergency responders, researchers and scientists, safety equipment manufacturers and doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals. Attendees also have the opportunity to benefit from networking with others who, collectively, represent the many important aspects of respiratory protection.

To learn more about the 2012 ISRP Conference, including registration information and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.isrp.com/boston.