AOHC conferencelook at common health conditions facing maintaners Published May 11, 2014 By Senior Master Sgt. Minnie Jones 433rd Airlift Wing Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas -- Forty-two members of American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine attending the 2014 American Occupational Health Conference, April 29, 2014, here in San Antonio visited the 433rd Airlift Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The AOHC conference is designed for physicians who specialize in or have an interest in Occupational and Environmental Medicine as well as for the non-physician. While attending the conference occupational medicine physicians got a firsthand look at the massive C-5A Galaxy aircraft and the special safety and hazardous challenges that the aircraft poses for aircraft maintainers, specifically corrosion control technicians. "I have performed numerous "Fitness for Duty Evaluations" on 433rd Air Reserve Technicians, said Dr. Steven M. Hetrick, Master of Public Health and Occupational Medicine Physician Chairman, Lackland Occupational and Environmental Health Working Group. "Seeing the actual aircraft richly added to the experience of learning about hazards of aircraft maintenance," said Hetrick. During the tour, 443rd members along with Hetrick familiarized attendees to common health conditions that can impact worker safety while working on the aircraft and in the corrosion shop, such as fall risk, thermal stress, and ergonomic challenges inherent to the processes involved in aircraft maintenance. Established in 1916, The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's mission is to provide leadership by educating health professionals and the public.