Why Study Industrial Hygiene?

Last Updated on January 2, 2023

Industries of all kinds provide value to society, enrich nations, and improve people’s lives. Advocacy groups for workers can provide information on how industrial processes and chemicals may adversely affect workers’ health and place them at risk. This is where the role of industrial hygiene professionals plays a crucial role. Industrial hygienists specialize in evaluating safety concerns and finding solutions. Their recommendations address any real or potential issues in the workplace.

How to Become an Industrial Hygienist?

An industrial hygienist is a professional responsible for ensuring the health and safety of workers and the environment. Using their industrial engineering and science knowledge, they ensure that employees are safe in various environments, including manufacturing facilities, power plants, and construction sites. Additionally, industrial hygienists might analyze how industrial activities impact the environment, such as air or water pollution.

An industrial hygienist must have a bachelor’s degree in industrial hygiene or a related field, for instance, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or physics. You can later complement that with a master’s degree in industrial hygiene, which can lead to various career opportunities. In a master’s program, you may learn things like analyzing epidemiological and toxicological data to detect, analyze, and control workplace hazards or developing effective control measures.

Among the ways to pursue this field, one potential route is to enroll in online industrial hygiene programs. These programs can provide practical training in workplace safety management, accident prevention, and a technical background that provides critical technical knowledge.

Now that we have discussed the basics of industrial hygiene and how one can pursue a career as an industrial hygienist, let us examine the benefits of studying industrial hygiene.

Industrial Hygienist Makes Companies More Profitable.

An industrial hygienist plays a crucial role in reducing worker absences due to illnesses or injuries. By retaining workers, employers are not forced to pay the price of replacing them. Furthermore, industrial hygienists advocate for adopting safer and more environmentally friendly technology by companies to ensure health and safety. As a result, companies can increase their productivity and achieve success.

Industrial Hygienists Help Improve Indoor Air Quality

An industrial hygiene professional can ensure that the working environment in a building does not negatively impact workers by sampling the air using sorbent tubes, charcoal tubes, direct-reading instruments, and similar devices. This practice leads to a higher level of productivity, reduced sick leave, fewer health claims, and a more satisfied employee base.

Industrial Hygienists Detect Pollutants Like Light And Noise That Seem Less Harmful

 In a recent article for TechRepublic, IT journalist Michael Kassner discussed the genuine health problems caused by noise pollution, stating, “Tinnitus” or “ringing in the ears” has been a constant companion of mine throughout the six years of his military service. A friend of his also suffered from tinnitus; however, his diagnosis differed significantly from that of Kassner. According to a physician, his friend (a contract network engineer working in data centers for 25 years) believes that working long hours in data centers may have contributed to his tinnitus. By ensuring that workplace hazard controls are in place, Industrial Hygiene professionals can ensure that others do not suffer the same fate as Kassner.

Industrial Hygienists Help To Reduce Known Hazards Such As Asbestos And Radon

 Some environmental hazards occur naturally, such as radon. On the other hand, asbestos and other similar substances are the results of long-abandoned construction methods which require the assistance of professionals who have expertise in industrial hygiene.
Are you wondering what the potential toxicity of these substances is?
A few decades after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, more than 10,000 people in and around New York were diagnosed with cancer. The cause can be directly attributed to the uncontrolled release of construction materials into the atmosphere following the collapse of the World Trade Center.

Industrial Hygienists Help People

The purpose of industrial hygienists is to promote the health and well-being of workers as well as the overall health of the community. It is satisfying to know that your work has made a positive impact as an industrial hygienist at the end of the day.

Industrial Hygienists Have A Say When It Comes To Regulations

By determining regulations that affect workers in the present and the future, industrial hygienists make a significant contribution to society. It is important to note that over 6 million workplaces in the United States are subject to mandatory regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA compliance officers make up more than 40% of industrial hygienists.

Wrapping Up

Studying industrial hygiene is essential since it can prevent work-related illnesses, injuries, and stressors that can adversely affect the health and wellness of workers. Even though many of the hazards faced by industrial hygienists in the past still exist, modern technologies may pose health risks that industrial hygienists must be prepared for.

A successful industrial hygienist must remain current with technology and continue to learn and improve. This includes the development of new sciences and practices to remain competitive in the marketplace with companies that manufacture innovative products and utilize advanced technologies. Industrial hygienists should take a proactive approach to promote health and safety.