By Dave Kotelchuck

In December, the OHS Section of APHA was approached by ACGIH (the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) to consider joining ACGIH in its efforts to transform itself from a membership organization to an alliance of professional organizations. In ACGIH’s words:

“ACGIH seeks to transform itself from an organization of individual dues-paying members to an alliance of the key professional organizations that utilize its guidelines and guidance documents. Our goals are to ensure that: 1. Occupational Exposure Guidelines (OEGs) survive; 2. Funding for OEG development is adequate; and 3. The quality and scientific integrity of OEGs are maximized.”

Following the Section’s December leadership conference call, Section Chair Kate McPhaul replied to ACGIH Chair Steve Reynolds that “In concept the Occupational Health Section feels a strong alliance with the important work of ACGIH. The details of the alliance must be better understood before we, as a Section, or APHA as an organization can enter into a formal alliance. Both Bob Harrison and Dave Kotelchuck have volunteered to be our liaisons with you and this project.” 

Bob and Dave, both former Section chairs, held an initial discussion with Reynolds, ACGIH Chair-Elect Lisa Brosseau and ACGIH Executive Director Tony Rizzuto in a conference call on Monday, Jan. 18. ACGIH officers laid out their ideas in greater details, and the group discussed both practical and policy issues from potential costs to APHA to maintain such an alliance to concerns many OHS members might have about the long-term value of lists of specific OEGs in protecting workers’ health and safety. We all agreed that such discussions should continue, and ACGIH expects to call a dedicated conference of various OSH organizations in the spring to further discuss this proposed alliance. Bob and Dave will report back on their talks to Section leaders in future leadership conference calls, and urge our Section to participate in the Spring Alliance Conference, along with representatives from the APHA national organization.

ACGIH is a venerable health and safety organization, founded in 1938, which for many years has published an annual list of recommended exposure limits for various chemical, physical and biological hazards, called TLVs (Threshold Limit Values) and BEIs (Biological Exposure Indices) – both are registered trademarks of ACGIH.