Occupational safety and health has been up front and center this year and continues to be so with the unprecedented scope of the world’s worst ever oil spill. Heat, long hours, chemical exposures and working on the water are conspiring to provide complicated working conditions. These complexities are being addressed by our best minds and regulatory leaders including David Michaels, Jordan Barab, Peg Seminario and academic and union health and safety specialists, many of whom we count as section members.

Section leaders and members have been active in writing letters to legislators, planning our 2010 Annual Meeting, devising ways to recruit members, and, most importantly, planning our social venues for Denver, 2010.  I hope you all will figure out a way to participate in the Annual Meeting. I realize that finances are tight and hotels are expensive. BUT DO WHAT YOU CAN! Our business meetings are informative and designed to get members interacting. Our scientific sessions expose you to scientists, policy-makers and thought leaders in our field.  Finally, our social events are second to none, in terms of fun, food and inspiration.

Peter Dooley and his unbelievably energetic Program Planning Committee have developed another incredible program, also described below, which can be viewed at the following website:  http://apha.confex.com/apha/138am/webprogram/OHS.html.