AIHA, the association representing scientists and professionals dedicated to promoting occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS), is launching two key initiatives aimed at advancing the OEHS profession in developing countries.
The first initiative involves a strategic partnership between AIHA, the Occupational Hygiene Training Association (OHTA), Workplace Health Without Borders-U.S. Chapter (WHWB-US), and the Board of Global EHS Credentialing (BGC). This collaboration will support qualified OEHS professionals in developing nations. The second initiative is a delegation to Vietnam, led by AIHA President Nicole Greeson, MS, CIH, where AIHA members will meet with their Vietnamese counterparts and visit local facilities. Both efforts align with AIHA’s vision of creating a world where workers and their communities are healthy and safe.
OHTA is a global non-profit organization focused on providing high-quality training in core occupational hygiene and health and safety topics. Its certified trainers operate in both developed and underserved regions, offering courses that culminate in the International Certificate of Occupational Hygiene Training (ICertOHTA). ICertOHTA holders from developing nations with relevant bachelor’s degrees and five years of professional-level OEHS experience can apply for the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential. Through the partnership with OHTA, AIHA will support these professionals by offering discounted access to the CIH Exam Crash Course
WHWB-US, also part of this partnership, will provide mentors to guide ICertOHTA holders through the CIH certification process. WHWB-US is a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness about workplace hazard control for underserved workers and communities in both the U.S. and developing nations.
“This partnership between leading organizations in the field allows us to make a meaningful impact globally, one industrial hygienist at a time,” said OHTA Co-Chair Chris Laszcz-Davis, MS, CIH, COH, FAIHA, FAIC.
WHWB-US President Albert J. Tien, ScD, emphasized that this collaboration offers a cost-effective path for professionals seeking world-class training and the prestigious CIH credential.
AIHA’s delegation to Vietnam will take place from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, 2024, starting in Hanoi and ending in Ho Chi Minh City. The delegation will connect with local OEHS professionals to discuss Vietnam’s progress and challenges in worker health and safety. Topics will include formal worker protection processes, OEHS training and certification standards, and the growing role of OEHS technology in Vietnam’s semiconductor industry. The delegation will also explore Vietnam’s latest OEHS research initiatives.
The delegation, coordinated by Cultural Vistas’ Citizen Ambassador Program, will continue AIHA’s efforts to build leadership and foster international collaboration.
“Our delegation is part of a long tradition of advancing leadership and forming international networks,” said AIHA President Nicole Greeson.
In addition, AIHA offers discounts on membership fees and digital resources, such as reference books, to OEHS professionals in developing nations.
