MEMBERSHIP & QUALIFICATIONS COMMITTEE ,AUG 2018 ... · professional competence’ for Full Membership OR Rule 6.2.2(d) demonstration of ‘ an acceptable level of understanding of

BASIC PRINCIPLES IN OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE

MEMBERSHIP & QUALIFICATIONS COMMITTEE ,AUG 2018

Author/Reviewer: AIOH® | Approver: M&Q Committee| Revision: 3 | Operative Date: Aug 2018

©2016 Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Inc (“AIOH”). Copyright in this information and material is vested in the AIOH ® under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), the laws of other countries and international treaties. The AIOH ® reserves all intellectual property and other rights in relation to this information and material.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

- GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS,

REFEREES & MENTORS

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Contents of this Guide

1. Background 1. Purpose and Grades of Membership 2. Membership Application Process

2. Application Guidance 1. Academic Qualifications 2. References 3. Reports 4. Interviews 5. Special Case Applicants 6. Full Member Application Process Flow 7. Provisional Member Application Process Flow

3. Unsuccessful Applications 1. Appeals and Mentoring

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THE PURPOSE OF AIOH MEMBERSHIP

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The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) is• a not-for-profit organisation• incorporated and governed by Victorian laws and• established for reasons outlined in its Rules and

Statement of Purpose as:

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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS

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• The application process for Provisional and Full Membership is administered by: • AIOH Membership Coordinator (one staff member) • Membership & Qualifications (M&Q) Committee

Chair (one volunteer) • M&Q Committee and Panel (several volunteers).

• M&Q Committee members are Full or Fellow Members who act as a Panel to conduct the detailed assessment of applicants against Rule 6.2.1 (for Full Members) and 6.2.2(for Provisional Members)

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PROFESSIONAL GRADES OF

MEMBERSHIP

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• The purposes of the AIOH are served by recognising the increasing ‘knowledge and competence and standing’ of its Members who progress through the 3 Professional Membership grades, being:

1. Provisional2. Full (denoted by Member AIOH or MAIOH) and 3. Fellow ( denoted by FAIOH).

• The Fellow grade of Professional Membership is AIOH Council appointed and is out of scope of this Guide.

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CERTIFIED MEMBERS

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• Under AIOH Rules, Certified Occupational Hygienist ® is not an AIOH membership grade but a status conferred by AIOH Council where recommended by the independent AIOH Certification Board.

• Full Membership is one of a number of pre-requisites to sit the COH® exam.

• Applicants intending to progress to Certification, are advised to lodge their Full Membership application by April 30 if they hope to sit that year’s COH Exam -typically only offered at annual AIOH Conference in Dec .

Hot Tip

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MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

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ALL applicants should familiarise themselves with Rule 6.2 that stipulates the qualifications for membership.

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QUALIFICATIONS

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All applicants must supply transcripts or other academic records to prove they meet Rules 6.2.1(a) or 6.2.2(a) • Both Provisional and Full Members must “have a first

degree or diploma in Science or Engineering … or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the Council”.

• Qualifications acceptable to Council include:• Physical sciences, applied sciences, or engineering qualifications meeting Australian

Qualifications Framework Level 7 and above. Social sciences are not qualifying sciences.• Any internationally recognised qualification that is equivalent to AQF Level 7/above.• A Certification provided by a ‘NAR Accredited IOHA society or organisation e.g. Certified

Industrial Hygienist (CIH) • AIOH Accredited Course e.g. RMIT, Edith Cowan and Wollongong accredited courses• OHTA International Certificate in Occupational Hygiene (ICertOH).

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REFERENCES • Along with qualifications, two (2) strong references may be

sufficient of themselves to satisfy Rule 6.2.1(d) or 6.2.2 (d) and demonstrate to AIOH Council that the applicant has • The applicant has achieved ‘satisfactory level of professional

competence ‘ for Full Membership • The applicant has an ‘acceptable level of understanding of basic

principles of occupational hygiene ‘ in the case of Provisional Membership

• The reference template from AIOH website is most useful as it ensures referees attest to the above standard

• Applicants should choose referees who can confidently • attest to their personal knowledge of applicants hygiene experience • lend their name and Membership status in support of the applicant.• declare any Conflict of Interest in the application

• Referees from AIOH Full or Fellow Members are most valued. Without this, reports WILL be required .

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Hot Tip

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REPORTS

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• When reports are required, a M&Q Panel of 3 will assessall applicants reports for ‘professional competence’ in• Hygiene principles of Recognition, Evaluation and Control (REC)• To the standard described in Rule 6.2.1(d) or 6.2.2 (d)

• Applicants are advised to submit reports that de-identifyworkers and workplaces, are recent within 4 years andstructured per the AIOH Report Writing Guideline

• Applicants are advised not to submit reports• Without interpretation of sampling results• Without discussion of the range of potential controls• Such as policy documents, management plans or hazardous

materials surveys unless they specifically demonstrate REC

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SPECIAL CASE APPLICANTS

• ADF personnel are a special case and their applications are assessed in a specific assessment process which acknowledges that for reasons of national security, Defence personnel cannot release workplace reports.

• Applicants working in ‘one of the specialist branches’ of OH are also assessed as special cases as they have depth of technical knowledge in areas such as epidemiology, acoustics or analytical chemistry but may not actively practice general occupational hygiene.

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FULL MEMBER INTERVIEWS

• Full Member Interviews are mandatory only if theapplicant cannot demonstrate the ‘satisfactory level ofprofessional competence’ to the satisfaction of M&QChair

• If a face-to-face interview is required, the applicant willbe contacted by the AIOH Membership Co-ordinator andthe interview time and place will be agreed to suit bothapplicant and interviewers where possible.

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FULL MEMBER INTERVIEWS

• From 2017, there are 2 types of Full Member interviews: 1. Confirmatory (phone) Interview

• required where M&Q Panel or Council identify minor gaps. • allows M&Q to contact referees and/or applicant, resolve

minor issues and avert need for Detailed Interview

2. Detailed (face-to-face) Interview • required where references or reports are inadequate or

unavailable and if there are deficiencies in submitted reports that raise questions about the ‘professional competency’ required to achieve Full Member (MAIOH)

• Conducted by two Full Or Fellow AIOH members. Of about 90 minutes duration , it includes an assessment of the applicants experience with a wide range of OH hazards

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UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

• Council may deem an application insufficient to meet Rule 6.2.1(d) demonstration of ‘a satisfactory level of

professional competence’ for Full Membership OR Rule 6.2.2(d) demonstration of ‘ an acceptable level of

understanding of the basic principles of occupational hygiene’ for Provisional Membership .

• Where an application is unsuccessful, the applicant will be advised of this in writing offered Provisional or Associate Membership as appropriate

to their level of expertise. Sometimes be recommended to pursue additional training

and/or mentoring.

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APPEALS

• Where an applicant is dissatisfied with the processing or decision of the AIOH Council, an appeal to have the application reviewed can be lodged.

• The appeal must: be in writing addressed to the AIOH Secretary; and outline the specifically where the (i) procedures have not

been fully or correctly followed; or (ii) determination has overlooked material or is in error.

• Often however, unsuccessful applicants will learn more if they first discuss the process and/or outcome of their application with M&Q Chair.

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MENTORING • Where the level of competence suitable for Provisional

or Full Member has not been demonstrated by an applicant, mentoring will be recommended.

• The AIOH offers a Mentoring Program for this purpose.• The AIOH Mentoring Committee has representatives in

each state to pair mentees with mentors who can assist with technical knowledge gaps , oral or written communication and often, subsequent reapplication.

• Mentors are encouraged to research the current Membership process and contact the M&Q Chair about their Mentee’s specific gaps and opportunities.