Editor’s note: this is the fourth post in a series on AIHA’s strategic plan. The previous posts are “Where in the World Are We with Our Strategic Plan?,” “Tending Our Content,” and “Maximizing Value for Members​.” The 2016–2018 AIHA Strategic Plan is available on the AIHA website (PDF).

Our next installment of where we are with the current strategic plan focuses on strategic focus area #3, which calls for AIHA to assume a prominent leadership role in forming coalitions for the

advancement of industrial hygiene science and practice.

Examples of recent AIHA activities that demonstrate coalition building include:

• Creating the new Content Portfolio Advisory Group (CPAG, formerly the Content Portfolio Management Team). CPAG has been tasked with both evaluating and recommending new offerings aligned with our six emerging priorities​; these include sensors, exposure banding, big data, global standard of care, and business value of the profession. CPAG’s work will help AIHA identify organizations that can potentially partner with AIHA to advance our priorities.
• Partnering closely with NIOSH to advance the development of guidelines for occupational exposure limits, management and assimilation of big data in the workplace, and others.
• Hosting a sensor summit (summer 2016) and big data summit (autumn 2017) to identify timeframes for AIHA activities and programs.
• Developing a new DRI (direct read instrument) certificate (to replace the 4-gas).
• Offering new PDCs and sessions at AIHce on emerging topics.

What’s ahead in 2018? Here are a few examples:

• Building upon actions identified at the sensor summit, we’ve convened an exploratory task force to assess the business case for a new accreditation program tailored to organizations that are responsible for certifying sensors.
• Based on last fall’s big data summit, we are developing an action plan that identifies next steps. (For more information on big data, read “Predictive Purposes” in the March Synergist.)
• Ongoing environmental scanning of other groups, including academic/for-profit corporation coalitions where AIHA can add value.

Stay tuned for our next installment of the AIHA Strategic Plan. As always, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to contact me​.