In the Fall 2025 Edition of OHAO Forum:
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Greetings all,
It was a pleasure to see some of you in person at our recent OHAO Fall Conference and PDC. To those who joined virtually, I hope that you enjoy the flexibility of our hybrid conferences. As always, it was a great opportunity to see old friends and make new ones (our table was fantastic with everyone connecting via LinkedIn by the end of the Conference).
The Fall Conference this year was mainly focused on research with some very interesting findings shared. It’s always fascinating to see where Occupational Hygiene is heading in the future. Speaking of new trends and advances, I recommend that you check out, first time OHAO Forum contributor, Michael Sekenda’s ergonomics article in this issue.
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The profession of Occupational/Industrial Hygiene was coined many years ago in the 18th century. Since then, our profession has evolved and changed, but the fundamental principles of protecting worker health and preventing occupational illness has always remained the focus of our profession. We are one key element in the Occupational Health and Safety profession, helping address the H in OH&S.
As a regulator in Ontario, I have started to see things differently after having worked in the consulting side of our profession. I see workplaces and workers who are not aware of our profession, can’t afford a hygiene consultant, or just don’t understand the occupational illness risk and exposures in their workplace. In some workplaces, I pinch myself to remind me of what century and what country I am living in. I was deluded for so many years in thinking that I was living in a developed nation, where everyone knows the importance of OHS and the value of occupational hygiene. To my dismay, professionals in OHS don’t all know what occupational hygiene is.
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Recent outbreaks in London, Ontario,1a,b and New York City,2 highlight the necessity for workplace prevention and control of Legionnaires' disease (LD). The Legionella bacterium was first identified in 1976 when 34 members of the American Legion died following a conference in Philadelphia.3 A Legionella variant also causes Pontiac fever, a mild, flu-like illness.4 The Legionella genus contains over 50 species and 70 types (serogroups); Legionella pneumophilia, particularly serogroup 1, is attributed to 85-90% of confirmed cases of infection.5 Most sources of Legionellosis outbreaks are poorly maintained cooling towers.
In the US, reported LD cases steadily increased since the early 2000s, peaking in 2018, and declining during the COVID-19 pandemic.6
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The Ontario Health Care sector, like health care sectors across the country, must balance worker safety with patient care. Health care workers who have been trained as care providers are notorious for neglecting their own health and safety for the needs of the patients.
The definition of physical hazard may vary slightly across organizations. CCOHS describes physical agents as sources of energy that may cause injury or disease and provides examples of noise, vibration, radiation and extremes in temperature1. In part II of our on-going series, we begin to look at Physical Hazards in the Health Care Sector, starting with an overview of noise.
When many people (hygienists included) think about the health care sector, they immediately think about the patient care areas, which are not normally considered high noise environments. While it is easy to overlook, hospitals can be noisy.
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October marked Global Ergonomics Month, a time to spotlight the importance of designing human-centered work environments. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain one of the leading causes of workplace injuries, with sprains and strains related to the back, shoulder, and wrist being the leading causes of discomfort for Ontario workers.[1]
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Although technological advances and new ways of working have emerged, MSD risk remains. As hybrid work models and industrial demands evolve, so too, do the tools designed to protect worker health and enhance productivity. Conventional ergonomic controls continue to be beneficial, but it may be time to start incorporating new ergonomic solutions. From wearable sensors to biophilic workplaces, here is an introduction to some innovations transforming ergonomics today.
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This article was originally published in the March 2025 issue of The Synergist®, the magazine of AIHA®.
As part of the OHAO/AIHA Memorandum of Understanding, AIHA will
be sharing one article from a recent issue of The Synergist in each issue of the OHAO Forum. Thank you to AIHA for sharing this information with our members.
Ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) has been a concern of industrial hygienists, air pollution control engineers, and public health professionals since the beginning of the 21st century. But these small particles, generally defined as those with a diameter of less than 0.1 micrometers (μm) or 100 nanometers (nm), have been with us for millennia. UFPs range from woodfire smoke and airborne viruses to emissions from advanced materials and technologies such as 3D printing, plasma cutting, and engineered nanomaterials.
UFP are present in ambient air both indoors and outdoors from natural and anthropogenic sources. Particle formation mechanisms include nucleation of gas-phase compounds with low volatility—for example, ammonia, sulfuric acid, and some volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—in the upper atmosphere. UFP can also form and grow through coagulation and condensation. As our subtitle states, you can run, but you can’t hide from unidentified flying particles.
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In Ontario, if a workplace uses products containing any of the 11 designated substances (acrylonitrile, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, coke oven emissions, ethylene oxide, isocyanates, lead, mercury, silica, and vinyl chloride) and worker exposure is a risk, a written Control Program is legally required.
However, knowing you need a control program and knowing how to make one are two different things.
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The J Marc Cousineau OHAO Student Member Award was established through a donation from colleagues, friends and family of J Marc Cousineau. Marc was a long-time member and supporter of OHAO and the occupational hygiene profession and his legacy will be continued by offering support to students in occupational hygiene programs.
The J Marc Cousineau Student Award is available to OHAO Student Members only. Student members must submit a paragraph of no more than 75 words explaining why they are pursuing a career in occupational hygiene.
We are very excited to announce that there were two winners of the the 2025 Awards: Malika Scott and Ho Chung Tsang, both students at Toronto Metropolitan University. It's exciting to see the passion in some of our student members for the profession. See below for their submissions: |
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Malika Scott: Growing up, I always wanted to be part of a movement that creates positive change in my community. I originally thought that would be through nursing, but learning about occupational hygiene showed me another way to serve by protecting people and ensuring their safety where they spend much of their lives: at work. I’m passionate about contributing to a field that works behind the scenes to prevent illness and promote worker health and safety. |
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Ho Chung Tsang: As someone pursuing occupational health and safety as my second career, I am particularly drawn to the strong scientific foundation of occupational hygiene. As a current OHS student, my coursework in occupational hygiene has provided valuable hands-on experience and sparked my interest in the field. With a background in scientific research, I value how data, evidence, and analysis are applied to understand and control workplace hazards and to protect worker health through practical, science-based solutions. |
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OHAO 2025 Fall Conference and PDC
The OHAO Fall PDC and Conference took place on October 22 and 23, 2025 at the Holiday Inn Toronto Airport East and online. The Fall 2025 events saw record attendance with 50 people for the in-person PDC, 80 people for the in-person conference and 80 people taking part in the conference online!
A special thank you to all our speakers for taking the time to present.
Emanuele Cauda provided an informative and interactive PDC - The Dusty Workplace – A Toolbox for Aerosol Monitoring and Management on Wednesday.
At the conference on Thursday the following speakers all contributed to sessions: Dr. Katie Goggins, PhD, CCPE, Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH), Kate Bishop-Williams, PhD, Amin Yazdani, PhD, Marcus Yung, PhD all from the Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness, and Performance (CISWP), Victoria Arrandale, PhD, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Steve Gore, CRST, ROH, Workplace Safety North, Kimberly O’Connell, M.Sc (A), CIH, ROH, CRSP, OHCOW, Mandie Kramer, MS, CIH, CSP, ToxStrategies and Tracy Kirkham, PhD, Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC).
Thank you all for sharing your time and knowledge!
Thanks to all the OHAO members that attended including a large contingent of students from the University of Toronto. It was great to see everyone either in person or online.
The 2026 Spring PDC and Conference/AGM are scheduled for March 25 and 26, 2025. Mark the dates in your calendar now. |
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Save the Dates!
OHAO Special Meeting and Member Only Webinar:
December 10, 2025 Registration Opening Soon.
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Hugh Nelson Award Nominations
Nominations for the Hugh Nelson Award will be distributed soon via email. If you know someone who deserves to be recognized please consider nominating them. |
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2026/27 Board Nominations Nominations for the 2026/2027 OHAO Board of Directors will be open soon. If you are interested in a personally and professionally rewarding opportunity consider serving on the OHAO Board. |
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