INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST (OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TECHNICIANS)
Industrial hygienists search for hazards, diseases, and hidden dangers in the work place, and suggest procedures to eliminate them. As their title indicates, industrial hygienists work in business and industry. These professionals help to establish regulations to ensure worker safety by conducting surveys to determine exposure to toxic and harmful physical substances. Work activities of the industrial hygienist may include collecting samples of potentially toxic chemicals, physical, and biological agents for analysis; preparing and calibrating equipment used to collect and analyze samples; investigating conditions that may affect employee health including radiation, noise and vibration exposure; instructing employees about occupational health and accident prevention.
HOW DO I BECOME AN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST?
While in high school, students interested in becoming industrial hygienists should take college preparatory courses including algebra I, algebra II and geometry or a higher level math course for which algebra II is a prerequisite; three science courses including one biological science, one physical science and one lab course; four English units and two social studies units including one in U.S. History; and two years of foreign language.
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health, environmental health engineering or one of the physical sciences (chemistry or biology) is required. Some master’s degree environmental health sciences programs offer a clinical specialty track in industrial hygiene.
Certification for industrial hygienists is optional, however, most employers prefer hygienists to be certified. By passing a two-part exam offered by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, individuals may become certified.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Industrial hygienists work with government agencies, environmental and labor groups and with private industry.
LIFE AFTER GRADUATION
The job outlook for industrial hygienists is expected to grow 13% from 2010 to 2020 which is about as fast for all occupations. The increased use of nuclear power as a source of energy will impact this career as new policies and procedures will need to be enforced.
PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION SOURCES:
American Board of Industrial Hygiene
6015 W. Street Joseph Highway; Ste. 102
Lansing, MI 48917
(517) 321-2638
www.abih.org