AIHA provides free occupational health resources to freight-rail workers

The American Industrial Hygiene Association has announced free resources for rail workers that aim to help reduce health risks associated with railroading.

Occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) practitioners, often known as industrial hygienists, work alongside railroad safety experts to reduce health risks and improve health and safety, AIHA officials said in a press release. AIHA is a group of scientists and professionals that strive to preserve and improve occupational health for industrial workers

Improving worker health and safety can reduce absenteeism, decrease turnover rates and create a more efficient workforce, association officials said. It also can help mitigate heart and lung problems, cancer, emotional stress and mental illness.

While the Federal Railroad Administration regulates the industry’s safety measures, freight-rail workers still face risks of accidents in their everyday work that could lead to long-term health issues, AIHA officials said. Those hazards include exposure to diesel exhaust, coal dust particles, train noise, fires and derailments. Industrial hygienists can evaluate the exposure levels and risks, AIHA officials said.

“OEHS professionals work to protect the company’s most valuable resource — employees — by evaluating and assessing risk and keeping workers safe, which ultimately impacts the industry’s bottom line,” said AIHA Board President Donna Heidel.