Occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) group AIHA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Society for Total Worker Health. Founded in 2022, this new organization is comprised of public health researchers, academics, practitioners, and others working to improve workplace health, safety, and well-being.
The MOU outlines a partnership that aims to advance the roles of industrial hygienists, OEHS professionals, and other allied stakeholders who have interests in advancing Total Worker Health — defined as policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness-prevention efforts to advance worker well-being. AIHA and the Society will work together to plan, develop, and disseminate joint OEHS education programs and will promote their partner’s products and services to their respective members.
As a leading organization for industrial hygiene professionals, AIHA is excited to collaborate with the Society for Total Worker Health to advance the profession of OEHS and the discipline of Total Worker Health (TWH) worldwide. We look forward to identifying and pursuing joint activities that will benefit both our respective members and the communities we serve.
AIHA President Donna Heidel, MS, CIH, FAIHA
The Society for Total Worker Health’s interim president-elect is Liliana Tenney, DrPH. Tenney is also an assistant professor and the associate director for outreach at the Center for Health, Work, & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health. According to Tenney, membership in the Society rests on four pillars: community building, leading, staying informed, and mentoring.
We’re building this community to connect individuals across fields and give them the tools to lead in their fields — in a way that’s fresh compared to how professional associations typically operate. People interested in TWH are curious and motivated to tackle the big problems facing today’s workplaces. The Society will be a place for conducting rich dialogue, building new relationships, and, overall, evolving the field of TWH for greater impact.
Liliana Tenney, DrPH
Find out more about AIHA and the Society for Total Worker Health on their respective websites.