AIHA Connect 2024: Unveiling a New Chapter in Industrial Hygiene
This year’s annual AIHA event brings its variety of educational sessions, networking events and expo floor exhibitors to Columbus, Ohio.
- By David Kopf, Robert Yaniz Jr.
- May 01, 2024
Previously known as the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce EXP), the organization now brings its newly rechristened AIHA Connect to Columbus, Ohio, from May 22 to 24, 2024. This transformation not only signifies a fresh chapter in the history of the AIHA but also reinforces its commitment to advancing industrial hygiene and safety management.
Located at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, AIHA Connect 2024 promises to offer an enriching slate of educational sessions, networking opportunities and a chance to explore the latest innovations from leading vendors. The event’s rebranding to AIHA Connect reflects a strategic move to enhance engagement and connectivity among safety professionals.
AIHA Connect not only offers a new geographical backdrop but also a renewed focus on fostering connections and advancing the profession. Here’s what attendees can expect.
Conference & Expo
AIHA Connect 2024 combines a dynamic expo with an extensive conference program. The aim is an event that caters to a wide range of industrial hygiene interests and educational needs.
As such, the expo floor should provide a hub of innovation and networking opportunities with access to more than 150 exhibitor booths. Notably, the Exhibitor Pavilion, marked by teal carpets, will feature first-time exhibitors with groundbreaking products and services.
The event’s Innovation Stations will offer presentations on the latest in equipment and technology, and the PPE fashion show promises to spotlight cutting-edge safety solutions tailored for workforce diversity and protection.
A new addition, the Nexus Lounge, will provide a dedicated space for students and early career professionals to connect and recharge. Alongside, attendees can utilize collaboration areas for networking or enjoying meals from the food and beverage areas, with a new Dine and Dash option available for pre-purchase to maximize time at the expo.
At the heart of AIHA Connect are the educational sessions: 170 sessions spanning 34 topics, delivered by 360 speakers, designed to broaden knowledge and skills in industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety. Topics range from core IH/OEHS issues to sessions aimed at enhancing human skills like leadership and communication.
With up to 17 certification maintenance hours available, attendees have ample opportunity to prepare for CIH recertification, ensuring they stay at the forefront of industry standards and practices. Attendees will also benefit from the AIHA Educational Transcript, which provides proof of participation and updates following the event to reflect contact hours for both in-person and virtual participants.
For those unable to attend every session or looking for flexible learning options, AIHA Connect OnDemand will offer recordings of most sessions for later viewing, included with full registration. For more details on maintaining certification through AIHA Connect and to explore the full range of sessions and activities, visit the event’s website.
Keynote Speakers
AIHA Connect 2024 is set to feature two keynote speakers who will address critical aspects of workplace safety and innovation. Dr. Samuel Ramsey and Dr. Helena Boschi will share their insights, aiming to inspire industrial hygiene and safety professionals to take new approaches to their work.
Dr. Ramsey, an entomologist and researcher, has gained recognition for his work on pollinators and their population’s impact on global food security. Dr. Boschi, a psychologist with extensive experience in applied neuroscience, brings a deep understanding of the brain’s impact on behavior and organizational effectiveness.
On Monday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, Dr. Ramsey will present “The Power of Peculiar Thinking: Problem-Solving Through Creativity and Ingenuity.” Known for his groundbreaking research on honeybee health, Dr. Ramsey will discuss how unconventional thinking led to significant discoveries in bee research and how this approach can be applied to complex problem-solving and innovation in workplace safety. His work emphasizes the importance of challenging conventional ideas and fostering creativity to address complex challenges effectively.
On Wednesday, May 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET, Dr. Boschi will explore the limitations and potentials of human cognition in her talk, “The Neuroscience of Innovation – and How to Develop New Insights.” With a focus on applied neuroscience, she will explain how understanding the brain’s tendency towards distraction and its decision-making processes can enhance cognitive agility, creative thinking, and continuous learning. This session will encourage attendees to question their perceptions and biases, promoting a more open and innovative approach to their work and roles.
Both keynotes aim to provide attendees with new perspectives that will help them foster work environments that not only prioritize worker health safety but also embrace innovation and continuous improvement.
Networking and Unique Events
In addition, AIHA Connect 2024 includes a variety of events designed to offer both career development opportunities and meaningful connections with veterans and newcomers.
On the morning of May 20, the First-Timers’ Meet and Greet connects newcomers with their peers so that they can start building their professional networks right from the event’s launch. Sponsored by DuPont, this introductory event aims to help attendees make the most of the conference experience by connecting first-time participants early on.
The next day’s Career Connections Networking Event gives attendees a chance to get acquainted amid the Career Advantage Fair. The fair offers a variety of resources, including free counseling and access to job listings. The resume critiquing sessions and mock interviewing workshops specifically target guests looking to refine their job-seeking skills.
Meanwhile, the conference’s off-site Technical Tours allow attendees to explore industries around Columbus, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the real-world application of workplace safety standards. Led by experienced industrial hygienists and safety professionals, these tours aim to enhance the professional development of participants.
Personal well-being is also a key component of the conference, lending the event the chance to demonstrate its comment to worker well-being. Among the scheduled health and wellness activities, attendees can participate in yoga sessions each day of the conference. And health and wellness pop-ups will be available throughout the entire event.
Then on the morning of May 21, guests can join in on the 38th annual Fun Run, hosted by the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF). Participants can choose to run a full 5K or walk a 2.5K. In either case, they’re helping the AIHF raise scholarship money for students focusing on industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety.
Exclusively accessible to students and early career professionals, the Nexus Lounge offers an alternative to the busy exhibit hall. Attendees at the AIHA Connect 2024 can network in a more relaxed environment and participate in the “Lessons in Leadership” series. These sessions feature industry leaders offering their insight and expertise to the next generation.
Overall, the organizers behind AIHA Connect 2024 aimed to provide a holistic experience for occupational health and safety professionals. From educational tours and career advancement opportunities to wellness activities and leadership lessons, the conference is set to offer a comprehensive platform for professional development and networking.
Since 1939, the AIHA has been at the forefront of hosting industrial hygiene professionals, and in its first year as AIHA Connect, this year’s edition of the event is poised to continue this legacy.
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.