AIHA Green Book - Review Process

[Guest guest]

Hi, Tony:

The review process for the Green Book was the most comprehensive ever

undertaken by AIHA for any publication. First, each of the Chapters

were reviewed by the Section Heads, who in turn had their Sections

reviewed by the Editors. Then a Technical Review committee

specifically selected for this task. The Technical Review committee

(consisting of both AIHA and non-AIHA members) members were selected

by the Editors for their acknowledged expertise in selected subject

matters, and the reviewers were requested to review each chapter that

was specifically in their area of expertise.

All writers, Section Heads and reviewers were required to submit

Conflict of Interest forms prior to their acceptance as participants

in this publication. The reviews were submitted to the three co-

Editors who, in turn, reviewed the comments and questions, and

provided the Section Heads and the chapter writers with an

opportunity to revise their text on the basis of the comments and

questions. These revisions were incorporated into the text for an

additional review by the editors.

The final review was handled by the three co-Editors, who went

through the text line by line. In addition, all references were

verified by the Editors before their inclusion in the book. Finally,

the entire book was edited by an outside technical writer hired by

AIHA for this task. The technical writer read each line to determine

if the witing itself was inherently understandable, and readable.

The final text after the technical writer's review was read again by

the Editors, and then sent to print. The manuscript was then

reviewed by the Editors prior to final printing into book format. I

am sure you can see why this book took five years to publish!

Members of the AIHA IEQ and Biosafety Technical Committees were

extensively involved with the writing and review of the book prior to

its publication. These are AIHA's primary technical committees for

this area of practice. The chairs of all other AIHA Technical

Committees were asked if they wish to provide comments on the

sections of the book. Some of the Committees did provide comments,

but most deferred comment.

It was not practical to have each member of the IEQ or Biosafety

Committee review and approve the text of a two hundred fifty page

book prior to its publication. That is not how technical

publications are reviewed, as you well know. Individuals who

were members of these Committees and interested in participating in

this publication were provided with opportunities to participate,

either as a writer, a Section Head, or a reviewer.

As mentioned above, the external reviewers were selected by the

Editors for their areas of expertise and they reviewed only the

chapters and sections that they were assigned. Only the Editors

reviewed the entire book, when it was complete.

I hope that this answers your questions. Please enjoy reading the

book!

Don

>

> Don:

>

> Regarding:

>

> " As Editor of the AIHA Green Book, I have had the opportunity to

hear

> from the AIHA's legal counsel the issue of 'No Formal' policy

vs. 'de

> facto' policy. In his legal view, the AIHA publications on a

> particular issue (such as mold) are considered 'de facto' AIHA

> policies because the review process of the publications includes

> other Technical Committees as well as the AIHA Board of Directors.

> Technical guidance on an issue like mold, when it is subject to the

> rigorous review that AIHA undertakes BEFORE it publishes, does lend

> itself to the creation of 'de facto' policy for the association. "

>

> Questions:

>

> 1. Did all of the IEQ Committee review the publication and

approve it

> before publication? If not, why not?

>

> 2. Which other committees were solicited for comment?

>

> 3. Who were the external reviewers?

>

> Tony

>

>

> ....................................................................

...

> " Tony " Havics, CHMM, CIH, PE

> pH2, LLC

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