The 3rd Annual Professional Conference of the Association of Industrial Hygienists in Lagos, Nigeria (AIHN) will take place in Port Harcourt from November 7–9, 2024. The seminar, which is approved for continuing Professional Development (CPD), will highlight a number of occupational health hazards that Nigerian workers face. Among the subjects covered are industry cooperation, worker well-being, legal compliance, and sustainable practices. There will be accredited courses that grant Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Distinguished keynote speakers include Nicole Green, the current president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHN), and seasoned physician Dr. Nsikak-Abasi Ntia.
In addition to “The President’s Panel,” the conference will conclude with a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) session that aims to inform local welders about health risks and personal protective equipment (PPE). The Nigeria Oil & Gas Industrial Hygiene Forum gave rise to AIHN, which was founded in 2019 and currently represents industrial hygienists in Nigeria’s several industries. The third annual professional conference of the AIHN builds on the success of earlier conferences, which have gradually grown in size and influence since their founding.
There will be specialised seminars on regulatory compliance.
Raising awareness of industrial hygiene in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry was the main goal of the first conference, which took place in 2021. While only a small number of experts attended, it laid the groundwork for further in-depth conversations in the years that followed. Occupational health hazards in other industries, such as Manufacturing and energy, as well as in-depth discussions on regulatory compliance, were among the topics covered in the second conference in 2022, which saw a major increase in both attendance and content.
International collaborations and engagement have increased as a result of these changes. The conference this year will include a wide range of workshops and sessions aimed at giving professionals useful skills and information. Sessions on subjects like efficient danger identification, sustainable workplace practices, and management techniques specific to Nigeria’s distinct industrial environment are anticipated for attendees. Additionally, there will be specialised seminars on regulatory compliance and practical workshops on how to properly use and maintain personal safety equipment (PPE).
This outreach attempts to promote long-term behaviour change.
Also, in the UK, they will provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that have been approved by the CPD Group. The purpose of these seminars is to equip occupational health and safety professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to apply best practices in their industries. Regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR), AIHN has shown how its efforts have a real effect. For example, in 2022, the association collaborated with a large Lagos-based Construction company to offer training on preventing noise exposure, which, within six months, greatly decreased the number of workers reporting hearing injury.
Port Harcourt welders will be the focus of this year’s CSR session, which will also include hands-on PPE training and education on health risks including as exposure to metal fumes. In industries where health hazards are high but knowledge is low, AIHN’s outreach attempts to promote long-term behaviour change. Increased legitimacy and worldwide importance of the conference have been made possible by the AIHN’s collaborations with international organisations like the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).
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Nigerian professionals have benefited from these organisations’ insights and worldwide best practices, which have helped them conform to international norms. Through AIHA’s participation, for instance, Nigerian participants now have the chance to network with international colleagues and gain access to state-of-the-art industrial hygiene research and methodology, promoting professional development and knowledge sharing. By broadening its purview, the AIHN is significantly raising occupational health and safety standards throughout Nigeria, which benefits not only professionals but also employees in high-risk industries.