The assessment is composed of two parts: 1) a multiple-choice section that focuses on the general knowledge areas in the Exposure Data Analysis Body of Knowledge (BoK); and 2) a multiple-choice section based on interpretation of supplied data sets. Additionally, candidates will be asked to affirm a commitment to continuous improvement.

The Body of Knowledge (BoK) for this program details the knowledge and skills of a competent Exposure Decision Analysis specialist. The skills and knowledge can be gained from formal education, in-house or professional training, and on-the-job experience. Prior to sitting for the Specialists Registry's Competency Assessment, the applicant should ensure that they are proficient in the knowledge areas indicated in the BoK.​

Exposure Decision Criteria​Educational Resource
  • Allowable Exceedance
  • Needed Confidence
  • Use of Exposure Categories
AIHA Webcourse, Exposure Assessment Strategies and Statistics
AIHA PDC: Professional Judgment in Exposure Assessment Decision-Making
AIHA PDC: Using Mathematical Models to Estimate Exposures
AIHA PDC: Bayesian Statistics: Overview and Applications in IH Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures. 4th Ed. S. D. Jahn, W. H. Bullock & J. S. Ignacio Editors. AIHA Press. 2015.
Traditional Industrial Hygiene Statistics
  • Properties of a lognormal distribution
  • Upper percentile estimate calculation and interpretation
  • Tolerance Limit calculation and interpretation
​AIHA Webcourse, Exposure Assessment Strategies and Statistics
AIHA PDC: Professional Judgment in Exposure Assessment Decision-Making
AIHA PDC: Bayesian Statistics: Overview and Applications in IH Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures. 4th Ed. S. D. Jahn, W. H. Bullock & J. S. Ignacio Editors. AIHA Press. 2015.
Statistical Methods for Environmental Pollution Monitoring. R. O. Gilbert. Van Nostrand Reinhold. 1987.
Bayesian Decision Analysis (BDA)
  • Properties of a lognormal distribution
  • Upper percentile estimate calculation and interpretation
  • Tolerance Limit calculation and interpretation
AIHA PDC: Bayesian Statistics: Overview and Applications in IH Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
Hewett, P., Logan, P., Mulhausen, J., Ramachandran, G., and Banerjee, S.: Rating Exposure Control using Bayesian Decision Analysis, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 3: 568–581, 2006
A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures. 4th Ed. S. D. Jahn, W. H. Bullock & J. S. Ignacio Editors. AIHA Press. 2015.
Data and Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs)
  • ​Rules for combining data
  • Indications that a SEG may need refining
​AIHA Webcourse, Exposure Assessment Strategies and Statistics
AIHA PDC: Professional Judgment in Exposure Assessment Decision-Making
AIHA PDC: Using Mathematical Models to Estimate Exposures
AIHA PDC: Bayesian Statistics: Overview and Applications in IH Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures. 4th Ed. S. D. Jahn, W. H. Bullock & J. S. Ignacio Editors. AIHA Press. 2015.
​Decision Heuristics and Human Biases​
  • ​Common sources of bias in data interpretation and exposure assessment
  • How to avoid bias in data interpretation
​AIHA PDC: Professional Judgment in Exposure Assessment Decision-Making
AIHA PDC: Using Mathematical Models to Estimate Exposures
AIHA PDC: Bayesian Statistics: Overview and Applications in IH Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
Logan P., G. Ramachandran, J. Mulhausen, and P. Hewett: "Occupational Exposure Decisions: Can Limited Data Interpretation Training Help Improve Accuracy?" Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1-14 (2009)
Vadali, Monika L.; Ramachandran, Gurumurthy; Mulhausen, John; Banerjee, Sudipto: "Effect of Training on Exposure Judgment Accuracy of Industrial Hygienists”. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. In Press.
​Exposure Data Interpretation​
  • ​Most likely exposure category given data
  • Meet the certainty requirement given data
​AIHA PDC: Professional Judgment in Exposure Assessment Decision-Making
AIHA PDC: Using Mathematical Models to Estimate Exposures
AIHA PDC: Bayesian Statistics: Overview and Applications in IH Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
Logan P., G. Ramachandran, J. Mulhausen, and P. Hewett: "Occupational Exposure Decisions: Can Limited Data Interpretation Training Help Improve Accuracy?" Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1-14 (2009)
Vadali, Monika L.; Ramachandran, Gurumurthy; Mulhausen, John; Banerjee, Sudipto: "Effect of Training on Exposure Judgment Accuracy of Industrial Hygienists.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. In Press
Vadali, Monika, Ramachandran, Gurumurthy and Mulhausen, John, "Exposure Modeling in Occupational Hygiene Decision Making". Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, (2009)6:6,353 — 362
Nicas, M. and Jayjock, M. (2002). "Uncertainty in Exposure Estimates Made by Modeling Versus Monitoring." AIHA Journal, 63:275-283
​Techniques for Improving Professional Judgments​
  • ​Feedback loops (quantitative judgment > monitoring > qualitative judgment)
  • Group judgment sessions
  • Documentation of rationale
  • Break decisions into aggregate parts (Modeling)
  • Judgment logs to gain direct feedback from monitoring data regarding the accuracy of qualitative exposure judgments
​AIHA PDC: Professional Judgme​nt in Exposure Assessment Decision-Making
AIHA PDC: Using Mathematical Models to Estimate Exposures
AIHA PDC: Bayesian Statistics: Overview and Applications in IH Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
Logan P., G. Ramachandran, J. Mulhausen, and P. Hewett: "Occupational Exposure Decisions: Can Limited Data Interpretation Training Help Improve Accuracy?" Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 1-14 (2009)
Ramachandran, G, "Toward Better Exposure Assessment Strategies—The New NIOSH Initiative." Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Vol. 52, No. 5, pp. 297–301, 2008
A Strategy for Assessing and Managing Occupational Exposures. 4th Ed. S. D. Jahn, W. H. Bullock & J. S. Ignacio Editors. AIHA Press. 2015.

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