Cours de perfectionnement professionnel (PDC)

The mining sector is facing a severe mental health crisis, with suicide rates, anxiety, and depression reported to be significantly higher than general population averages, locally and globally. The elevated risk for poor mental health for miners is driven by operational factors such as remote work, long work shifts, intense labour, and fly-in, fly-out rotations as well as a masculinized culture. Effective mental health support and the prevention of harm are required at mines everywhere, as mining relies heavily on a healthy, diverse workforce to meet the needs of society and global economic growth. With several inherent risks of mental health challenges for miners, there is pressing need for structured mental health programs, services, assessments and systems to provide support, demonstrate caring, prevent harm, and advance worker well-being. Shared course content will set the context for discussion and learning by outlining psychosocial risk factors for mining and highlighting recent research defining the mental health challenges and opportunities for mining today. A holistic and integrated psychological health and safety (PHS) tool that has been developed based on five international standards, guidance and leading practices will be presented and explained. The PHS tool will be discussed with regards to purpose (e.g., readiness determination, program evaluation, system gap analysis, PHS performance audit, other), integration, application and potential learning outcomes. Working groups will closely examine criteria within the cited tool and work together to identify potential evidence for each criterion level. The facilitators and instructors will share from practical applications and experience to support learning and challenge examination of opportunities to prevent harm and support the mental health of miners. This session is applicable for all sectors, not just mining.

Accurate exposure assessment is critical in protecting worker health and ensuring a safe workplace. Understanding whether a group is compliant with the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL), identifying individuals at higher risk, and evaluating the impact of interventions on exposure levels are essential questions for industrial hygiene practitioners.

Are the groups compliant with the OEL? Are individuals within these groups likely to experience higher risks than the group average? What effect does an intervention have on the underlying exposure distribution? What do the measurements collected tell us about all other days when monitoring exposure levels was not possible?

The answers to these questions are paramount to the practice of industrial hygiene. Unfortunately, the variability observed in occupational exposure levels represents a considerable challenge to obtaining reliable answers. Despite well-described theoretical approaches, such as the AIHA monograph "A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures," current European guidelines, and the upcoming new NIOSH recommendations, there is a lack of practical tools to support day-to-day decision-making when analyzing exposure measurement data. Even fewer tools address frequent methodological issues, such as the presence of non-detects, or present results in an easily communicable format.
Since 2015, the Expostats platform, a freely available web application developed at the University of Montreal, Canada, has aimed to support IH practitioners in interpreting occupational exposure measurements through Bayesian statistics.
This PDC addresses the challenge of exposure variability and the current theory underpinning the interpretation of workplace exposure levels. It also provides a primer in Bayesian statistics and demonstrates how decision-making can be conducted using the Expostats tools, as well as the newly released IHSTAT_Bayes, a version of the well-known IHSTAT program infused with the Expostats calculation engine.
At the end of the session, attendees will

• Discuss the impact of workplace exposure variability on the uncertainty surrounding IH risk assessment.
• Describe the most common metrics used to define overexposure and their applications in industrial hygiene practice.
• Explain the basic principles underlying Bayesian statistics and how they can be leveraged in IH data analysis to improve data interpretation.
• Apply recent state-of-the-art sampling and data interpretation strategies guidelines proposed in the U.S. and in Europe.
• Utilize the Expostats platform tools to:
  • Perform risk assessment for a Similar Exposure Group.
  • Quantify the association between exposure levels and a categorical variable such as evaluating the effect of an intervention.

Participants will be able to perform an aligned, reproducible, state-of-the-art exposure assessment based on the EN 689 (2018), BOHS-NVvA (2011/22), and AIHA (4th ed., 2015) strategies.
Basic Characterization covers: (1) mapping exposure and gathering data on substance health hazards and physicochemical properties, and selecting the most applicable occupational exposure limit value (legal, health-based, DNEL/DMEL, or kick-off) and PAS (Publicly Available Specification) measurement methods; (2) zero-tier hazard and risk potential ranking using IHEST and the DOHSBase RAS; and (3) first-tier quantitative assessment to distinguish safe, unsafe, and unknown exposure profiles requiring further monitoring, using mathematical models such as AIHA IHMOD and the hybrid models in the Swiss TREXMO hub (ECETOC TRA, Stoffenmanager, ART).

Where exposure measurements are needed to analyze exposure patterns and confirm (non)compliance, the NVvA Excel tool IH-Aligner converts lab sampling results to time-weighted average (TWA) exposure levels compatible with the OELV reference period. It constructs uncertainty-based confidence intervals for individual and small-sample screening against the OELV, and uses a likelihood ratio to distinguish normal from lognormal distributions within a Similar Exposure Group (SEG) sample series. NIOSH, EN 689, and AIHA exposure metrics are then calculated and plotted, with TWA values exported directly to recognized statistical tools including EXPOStats, NDExpo, IHSTAT-Bayes, IHDA-AIHA, BWSTAT, and HYGINIST.

Participants need a laptop capable of running Windows applications. IH-Aligner, download links for the other apps, instructions, and example datasets will be provided in advance. If time permits, participants' own exposure profile datasets will be discussed.

Learning Objectives — by the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Perform an aligned, reproducible exposure assessment integrating the EN 689, BOHS-NVvA, and AIHA strategies.
• Select the most applicable occupational exposure limit value for a given substance and exposure scenario.
• Rank hazard and risk potential at the zero-tier level using IHEST and the DOHSBase RAS.
• Apply first-tier quantitative exposure models (IHMOD, ECETOC TRA, Stoffenmanager, ART) to classify exposure profiles.
• Convert laboratory sampling results into OELV-comparable TWA exposure levels using IH-Aligner.
• Construct uncertainty-based confidence intervals to screen exposure data against an OELV.
• Distinguish normal from lognormal exposure distributions within a SEG using likelihood-ratio testing.
• Interpret NIOSH, EN 689, and AIHA exposure metrics to support defensible compliance decisions.
• Export TWA exposure datasets to recognized statistical platforms for further analysis.

This simplified Business Case (BC) in the Occupational Environmental, Health, and Safety (OEHS) course provides the participants with a framework and interactive tools. BC in OEHS can be defined as a structured method for justifying a project (intervention) to decision-makers. It captures the effects of implementing programs or activities on employee health and safety (injuries or illnesses), risk management, and business processes. The effects include customary financial business metrics, such as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), return on investment (ROI), and payback period (PBP), which are meaningful to business management. This tool also includes non-financial measures (NFB), those that cannot be directly or easily monetized. In reality, the Business Case answers the question: What's in it for the company?
The facilitators will discuss how to assess OEHS risks and align them with key business objectives. Participants will learn how to use the "elevator speech" to communicate the benefits of OEHS interventions.

Learning objectives:

• Describe and align the current risk management model with an OEHS Business Case model
• Establish a context, scope, and objectives for an OEHS business case project
• Identify OEHS Hazards and Risks
• Analyze identified OEHS risks
• Evaluate OEHS risks using the ALARP concept
• Suggest beneficial OEHS risk reduction projects using the Hierarchy of Risk Treatment (HoRT) model
• Communicate OEHS risks using the five-minute "elevator speech" template
• Perform monitoring and review of an OEHS Business Case project
• Demonstrate proficiency using various OEHS Business Case templates and case studies

This one-day course will provide an overview of the fundamental principals of NIR generation, propagation, measurement, health effects hazard assessment, and exposure control. The class will cover the information needed by industrial hygienists to recognize potential hazards in operational environments in a variety of industries such as healthcare, education, research, communications, manufacturing, and transportation.

Discussion of nonionizing sources of radiation will include;

Microwaves
- Manufacturing, communications

Radiofrequencies
- Communications, power generation, industrial operations, law enforcement

Optical light
- General industry, semiconductor fabrication, construction, agriculture

Ultraviolet
- Water treatment, healthcare, ventilation systems, research, construction, agriculture

Infrared
-Metals production, industrial settings, law enforcement

LASERs
- Healthcare, universities, communications, entertainment, law enforcement, construction, manufacturing

Electromagnetic fields
- Healthcare, research, power generation/transmission

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to recognize occupational and environmental sources of different types of NIR.
• Participants will list what health hazards may exist with various sources of NIR.
• Attendees will apply useful methods available to measure, analyze, and quantify worker exposures to hazardous NIR.
• Once exposure levels have been calculated the students will compare the results and select appropriate exposure limits from recommended international standards and guidelines for occupational and public exposure.
• Participants will determine which engineering, administrative, or personal protective equipment controls should be implemented to reduce exposures to workers and the public.
• Graduates will demonstrate confidence and knowledge necessary to educate workers and the public about potential NIR hazards and controls through completion of the course post-test at the end of the session.

This Professional Development Course provides a practical, hands-on approach to the safe handling of potent and highly toxic substances, designed for occupational hygiene professionals in any industry where these materials are present. Moving beyond a purely pharmaceutical focus, the course translates proven principles from decades of experience at MSD into scalable, cross-industrial solutions. The session will delve into critical topics such as Occupational Exposure Banding (OEB), containment hierarchy, work practices, and selecting appropriate engineering controls. Participants will gain a deep understanding of how to build a comprehensive safety program that combines robust engineering solutions with effective work practices and a strong safety culture.

Based on the presentation, participants will be able to:

• Recognize potent and highly toxic compounds and understand their occupational exposure risks.
• Understand and apply the containment hierarchy, including the roles of engineering controls such as isolators, ventilated balance enclosures, and downflow booths.
• Implement good work practices and effective cleaning techniques for potent compounds.
• Understand the critical importance of containment verification (exposure monitoring and surrogate testing) to objectively validate control performance.
• Evaluate and establish appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and potent compound zoning.
• Describe the correct sequence of actions for an effective emergency response.
• Identify common failure modes and lessons learned from real-world case scenarios.

How do we protect workers when their exposure extends beyond the workplace? In modern life, individuals persistently contact chemicals from multiple environmental, dietary, and consumer sources. Yet, chemical safety is historically fragmented across distinct regulatory silos (like REACH, cosmetics, or biocides), often leading to inconsistent risk conclusions where a substance is deemed safe in one sector while its total aggregate pressure exceeds health limits. This course tackles this complex reality through the scientific lens of the exposome and the European PARC project ((Task T6.2 on Integrative Exposure and risk Assessment). Moving beyond simplistic formulas, we address data scarcity and the lack of FAIR data to build realistic, person-oriented (receptor-oriented) exposure profiles that avoid unscientific worst-case combinations. Participants will explore tiered decision trees and learn to integrate environmental background and dietary intake and other behaviors such as smoking habits into occupational hygiene. Using key PARC case studies (such as PFAS or metals), we will demonstrate how to connect external exposure modeling with internal doses from human biomonitoring (HBM) across lifetime using data from physiologically based kinetic (PBK) models. This course aligns with the One Substance One Assessment (1S1A) initiative and aims to equip hygienists with frameworks to identify dominant drivers and implement proportional, evidence-based risk mitigation.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define and apply the core principles of aggregate exposure assessment across multi-source and multi-route pathways.
• Implement the tiered decision strategy to determine when an aggregate assessment is required or when a simpler approach suffices.
• Identify and select appropriate models from the PARC toolbox and inventory for consumer, environmental, and occupational routes.
• Analyze and apply the worker-based approach to combine professional exposure with background dietary and environmental intake.
• Evaluate aggregate modeling results by comparing simulated internal doses against real-world human biomonitoring (HBM) data using physiologically based kinetic (PBK) – based data.
• Integrate variability and uncertainty in exposure and risk assessment
• Formulate science-based risk management and mitigation recommendations based on identified dominant exposure drivers

Proposal Description
This workshop is designed for OEHS professionals who have basic knowledge of industrial ventilation for contaminant control. It is designed to summarize the importance and primary function of each component in every LEV system; and review basic theoretical concepts, such as Static and Velocity Pressures, V and Q estimation, hood entry coefficient, and fan affinity laws; to set a common ground between attendees in preparation for several hands-on lab practices. The PDC allows participants to apply the theory of industrial ventilation into practice, through hands-on activities conducted with a fully operational classroom size multi-hood ventilation system. Several practices are held where attendees, with pitot tubes and manometers, practice SP and VP measurements; estimate duct and capture velocity as well as flow rate based on VP traverse measurements; estimate the coefficient of entry of at least one hood in the system; commission the system as set by the instructor; develop a system and a fan curve for the system as set by the instructor; and finally go through a troubleshooting demonstration exercise. All lab practices are conducted in groups, and all students are expected to actively participate in each exercise making measurements of their own.

Learning Outcomes:

1) Describe the basic principles under which a ventilation system operates and the important parameters to consider in its design.
2) Conduct correct measurements of Static Pressure and Velocity Pressures.
3) Estimate duct and capture velocity as well as flow rate based on VP traverse measurements.
4) Estimate hood entry coefficient based on VP and and hood SP measurements.
5) Estimate hood flow rate, face and capture velocities based on the hood entry coefficient and a hood static pressure measurement.
6) Identify the locations where to tap a ventilation system to measure performance.
6) Understand basic troubleshooting skills pertaining to industrial ventilation system.
7) Understand the relationship between flowrate and system static pressure in a ventilation system
8) Understand how a fan works

Control banding is a simple process to communicate and prioritize risks, focus efforts, and control exposures to chemical and other hazards in the workplace. Workplace Health Without Borders (WHWB) International have continued to promote control banding (CB) methodology for many years. We believe that by educating Health Safety and Environmental Health practitioners, generalists, health care providers, and promoting its application globally will prevent numerous occupational diseases and fatalities from occupational exposures.
By providing this professional development course, we expect that the knowledge and skill set delivered will “snowball” and reach those operations where exposure control is badly needed.
The training will be based on Patty's and incorporate Chun-Yip Hon, Kevin Hedges, Krista Thompson, Chris Bentley; Evaluation of a Novel Risk Assessment Tool for Hazardous Chemicals in Academic Laboratories: An Exploratory Study. ACS Chem. Health Saf. 23 March 2026; 33 (2): 211–217. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00177
The control banding PDC proposed for ICOH 2027, will incorporate control banding for skin exposure and integrate elements from BS EN ISO 13977-1:2026 into the training.
“Workplace air — Assessment of dermal exposure Part 1: Framework for dermal exposure assessment”.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course participants will be able to:

• Explain the history, principles and evolution of control banding (CB).
• Differentiate between quantitative risk assessment and CB approaches.
• Apply hazard banding and risk banding concepts to workplace scenarios.
• Use simplified risk matrices to determine risk levels and control priorities.
• Apply CB to chemicals, silica, lead, noise, construction and SMEs.
• Integrate CB into occupational health and safety management systems.
• Use CB as an effective worker-centered risk communication tool.
• Develop a simple CB implementation strategy for their own country, organization or sector.

1) Articulate the difference between the qualitative occupational exposure banding process and the quantitative occupational exposure limit process and identify where one method is superior to the other for a particular data set.
2) Distinguish the Point of Departure from a toxicological data summary and assign (and defend) uncertainty factors used to calculate an occupational exposure limit.
3) Apply non-proprietary data schemes to perform NIOSH Tier 1 and NIOSH Tier 2 banding assessments for chemicals and apply non-proprietary data schemes to assign an occupational exposure band for pharmaceuticals.
4) Identify and implement methods/tools for assigning an occupational exposure band to data poor compounds

Exposure to particulate matter, also known as aerosols, is a widespread issue in workplaces around the world. The many different constituents that make up workplace aerosols can make them difficult to evaluate. A clear exposure assessment framework is needed to prioritize the most important components and ensure the correct protocols for assessing worker exposure are chosen.
This PDC aims to provide such a framework for assessing exposure to aerosols and their elemental compositions. It covers the general exposure assessment framework based on toxicological endpoints. The following aspects are considered within the framework:
1. The importance of standardization, particularly the impact of international standards on exposure risk assessment frameworks.
2. Information and application of tools such as prioritization, hazard banding, and modeling will be provided.
3. The history of particulate sampling, its impact on exposure risk assessment, and the choices that must be made when taking measurements to evaluate worker exposure.
4. The requirements for sampling aerosols and their constituents (sampling train, workplace assessment, etc.)

Banding strategies - hazard banding, control banding and occupational exposure banding - offer an alternative approach to assessing and managing chemical hazards in the workplace. This professional development course will explore the logistics of using banding strategies to manage risk, supported by real-world examples and free e-tools.

Participants will examine the principles of banding and learn simple strategies to assess chemical hazard profiles and risk. The course will also address how these strategies relate to traditional exposure assessment methods and explore their potential future applications in an evolving chemical hazard landscape.

Participants will leave the course with practical tools, resources, and skills that can be applied immediately to workplace chemical risk assessment and exposure management programs.

Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Define each type of banding approach.
• Identify 2 benefits of each approach.
• Identify 2 limitations of each approach.
• Determine which banding approach applies to a particular situation.
• Examine appropriate input sources for each banding approach.
• Complete basic hazard banding and qualitative risk assessments using available resources and e-tools.
• Communicate the results of each banding approach.
• Provide examples of banding concepts in their professional practice, including those areas which may benefit from their application.

Did you know that research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center found that 85 percent of workplace success is attributed to people skills (also called soft skills), and only 15 percent of job success comes from technical (hard) skills? (Ref: https://stlpolished.com/eight-essential-soft-skills-for-career-success/). This professional development course (PDC) will help you hone your leadership people skills, with special emphasis on emotional intelligence and managing conflict.

Using a combination of lecture, group discussion, case studies, and role playing, attendees will get the opportunity to compare optimal and less optimal leadership people skills, help each other solve work issues and develop a leadership people skills action plan.

Attendees will be invited to submit one or more problems/questions prior to the course, but this will not be required. Input will be sanitized for confidentiality, as appropriate.

While the focus will be on two people skills -- Managing Conflict and Emotional Intelligence -- attendees will find that other skills, such as effective communication, problem solving, managing teams, time management, adaptability, creativity, working well under pressure, etc., will be woven into the course.

A team from the IOHA Community of Practice (COP) on Sensor Technologies for Particulate Matter (PM) are proposing a Professional Development Course (PDC) designed to provide participants with practical knowledge on the selection, adoption, and management of PM sensor technologies in occupational hygiene.

PM sensor technologies are being used by an increasing number of occupational hygienists around the world to support the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and confirmation of workplace hazards in various workplaces. However, there is still uncertainty about exactly how this technology should be adopted. The purpose of this PDC will be to share knowledge and experiences on the use of PM sensor technologies from experts within the COP. The COP was formed in 2024, and its members are actively involved in practice and research using PM sensor technologies.

The PDC will provide training on the theoretical and practical aspects associated with the selection, adoption, and management of PM sensor technologies and particular focus will be placed on the practical implementation. Theoretical aspects include basic principles and limitations of PM sensors, monitoring objectives, and indicators of accuracy and performance. The practical aspects include selecting the right sensor for the application, field validation and correction against reference methods, maintenance considerations, data analysis and interpretation, ethical aspects and risk communication strategies. The PDC will also provide participants with a practical checklist and decision framework they can take away and use in their environments.

Following completion of this PDC, participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of PM sensor technologies;
• Show an understanding of the limitations of PM sensor technologies and strategies to compensate for those limitations;
• Define various applications (monitoring objectives) for the use of PM sensor technologies; e.g., risk communication, exposure information gathering, control evaluation or comparing against a threshold;
• Select the right sensor for a specific application;
• Describe methods to validate sensors and correct them against reference methods;
• Describe requirements for maintenance and quality control of PM sensors, and the role of equipment suppliers;
• Identify the relevant performance requirements for various applications;
• Select action trigger limits for specific applications;
• Describe methods to analyze sensor data;
• Formulate an exposure-control decision based on a case study;
• Explain how PM sensor data can be used during risk communication procedures;
• Discuss the ethical aspects to be considered when using PM sensor technologies.