Bans of a Product Or Family of Products

Bans of a Product or Family of Products

Position Statement

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Version 1 | April 14, 2021 Position Statement Bans of a Product or Family of Products

Developed by the AIHA Board of Directors Adopted: January 24, 2016 Updated and Approved by the AIHA Board of Directors: April 14, 2021

BACKGROUND In January 2016, the AIHA Board of Directors (BoD) concluded that it is not the role of a scientific organization such as AIHA to prescribe or support bans on the importation, manufacture, processing, or distribution of any one product or family of products. At that time, the BoD determined that the role of AIHA is to support its members in controlling exposure to specific hazards, using the hierarchy of controls.

In its position on this issue, the BoD stated that:

“The fundamental principle of the profession of industrial hygiene remains the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards that impact workers and others. There are a range of control measures that industrial hygienists may recommend to protect people from hazards.” Clearly, elimination of the hazard is at the top of the hierarchy of controls; however, this may not be feasible from a technological or economic standpoint in each and every case.

POSITION STATEMENT At this time AIHA will not take a position supporting a ban on the manufacture, sale, import, export or use of any product or family of products. AIHA will continue to consider all requests to address the issue of whether or not AIHA should support a ban on a specific product or family of products. Such a request must include specific data and evidence as to why AIHA should support the proposed ban. The BoD supports the use of the hierarchy of controls in the evaluation of workplace hazards (in order of priority): elimination of the hazard, substitution of a less hazardous substance, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. We believe it is AIHA’s mission to empower those who apply scientific knowledge to protect all workers from occupational hazards, and not to become engaged in economic or technological feasibility analysis concerning a particular product or family of products.

Questions regarding this position statement may be directed here.

ABOUT AIHA AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. Founded in 1939, we support our members with our expertise, networks, comprehensive education programs, and other products and services that help them maintain the highest professional and competency standards. More than half of AIHA’s nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors and the communities in which they work.

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