OHTA hopes that you have been enjoying our Global Link Newsletters with information on OHTA courses, students, and activities of our member countries around the world. This month we will turn our focus to another part of the globe to share the great work of occupational hygienists in Peru.
We wish to thank Erick Febres, President of Asociación Peruana de Higiene Ocupacional (APEHO), for providing the content and translation for this edition, enabling the production of Spanish and English versions.
The Peruvian Occupational Hygiene Association (APEHO) became a member country of OHTA in December 2018, having become a member association of IOHA earlier that year. We are proud to have APEHO as a member of the OHTA community and we are so pleased that they want to help OHTA reach more Spanish-speaking occupational hygiene practitioners.
Peru: workplace statistics
The mountainous regions of Peru are rich in mineral deposits and Peru has historically had a mining economy. In October 2020, Santandertrade.com reported that Peru is the world’s top producer of silver, the second top producer of copper, and important suppliers of gold, zinc, and lead. 15.6% of the working population is employed in the industrial sector which also includes textiles, consumer goods, food processing, and fish products.
Peru’s ancient Inca City of Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, are amongst the spectacular sites in Peru that drive the tourism sector of the economy. In fact, the sector consisting of tourism, financial services, and telecommunications employs 57.2% of the workforce.
Peruvian occupational hygienists: united for a cause
In 2012, Gregory Galicio, Erick Febres and Boris Bendezu came together to form the Asociación Peruana de Higiene Ocupacional (APEHO). The mission of APEHO (www.apeho.org) includes training on technical and management related issues in the discipline of occupational hygiene, creation of technical guides, and sharing the importance of occupational hygiene to public and private organizations. APEHO currently has 70 members under the leadership of Erick Febres (President), Renzo Velapatiño (secretary), Sulmira Valenzuela (treasurer) and Lourdes Rincon (Vocal).
Over the last few years, APEHO offered its members courses on nanotechnology, ventilation, and noise. (See photos below). APEHO publications include the topics of noise dosimetry and the role of occupational hygienists in a pandemic. On-line courses on timely topics in occupational hygiene are also available to APEHO members.
Currently, there is a collaborating effort between APEHO, the Ministry of Labour (Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción de Empleo) and other societies to develop technical guides on the evaluation of physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic hazards, so employers can have a better understanding of the hazard levels and required controls.
APEHO becoming member of IOHA
APEHO nanotechnology conference
APEHO committees
APEHO: Helping OHTA habla Español
Peruvian occupational hygienists are committed to making significant contributions in the advancement of the profession in Spanish-speaking countries. Here’s how:
APEHO President, Erick Febres, is a task force member of the Juanta Iberamericano de Higiene Ocupacional that is working to develop a certification exam in Spanish.
APEHO has also expressed interest in doing a Spanish translation of OHTA training materials. As a start, Erick recently translated the OHTA article in the AIHA Synergist entitled “Changing the World, One Course at a Time”.
APEHO in collaboration with AIHA has done Spanish translations of important technical publications such as “The Role of the Industrial Hygienist in a Pandemic” and “Back to Work Safely” guides.
APEHO is currently working with ACGIH to add Spanish subtitles to their webinars.
Gracias to Peru from the OHTA community
OHTA looks forward to a great partnership with APEHO to advance occupational hygiene in Peru and other Spanish-speaking countries. To achieve this goal, however, OHTA must have Spanish-speaking Approved Training Providers (ATPs) and we are seeking the help of those that can fill this role.
A success story
GRACE VALENZUELA, APEHO MEMBER
OHTA TRAINED
"My name is Grace Valenzuela and I work as an occupational hygiene supervisor at a gold mine. My experience taking the course offered by OHTA Training was very enriching for my personal development. Taking a specialization course in the control of hazardous materials W505, allowed me to learn about the types of existing tools and methods for the control of various criticals chemical agents. In the mining industry there are many chemical agents that affect various groups of similar exposure like Silica and Mercury vapor. Therefore, it is necessary to identify which are the most suitable controls in these situations. Industrial ventilation and local exhaustive ventilation must be complemented with a good ventilation inspection must be made.
Taking the course allowed me to learn different controls by using application simulators in situ. In addition, it was enhancing to be able to study real experiences through application cases where the types of controls to be applied were defined. The international course allowed me to get to know the reality of other industries and countries and exchange experiences on the controls of hazardous materials with other students."
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP OHTA
Advance the profession of occupational hygiene worldwide
For more information on how to become an Approved Training Provider in Spanish, English or other languages, click on the button above or email team@ohlearning.com
Make a contribution large or small by clicking the button above to donate to OHTA in the UK or US.
CORRECTION
We apologise for an incorrect credit in the February edition of Global Link. The correct source of the "Waste Pickers in Brazil" image is Vanessa Cruvinel, not Custodio Muanga as previously indicated.
We'd love to hear from you!
If you have any feedback on this newsletter or would like to suggest a topic for a future edition, please email Deborah Dietrich (dfdietrich@sbcglobal.net) or Jason Hodgkiss (jason@onadvice.co.uk).
