The Industrial Hygienist
Under the OSHA Act of 1970, OSHA establishes mandatory occupational safety and health standards that apply to over six million workplaces nationwide.
What is Industrial Hygiene?
Industrial hygienists (IHs) play a critical role in OSHA’s mission by evaluating workplaces for potential health hazards. In fact, more than 40% of OSHA’s compliance officers are trained industrial hygienists.
The process of developing and enforcing occupational safety and health standards involves assessing employee exposure to hazards and determining the necessary measures to control them, ensuring worker protection.
Industrial hygienists are trained professionals who anticipate, identify, evaluate, and recommend controls for environmental and physical hazards that may impact worker health and well-being. Key responsibilities of an industrial hygienist include:
- Identifying, measuring, and analyzing workplace health hazards—including chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic factors—that can cause illness, impaired health, or significant discomfort.
- Recommending hazard control strategies to eliminate or reduce hazards and minimize employee exposure.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is the primary professional organization for industrial hygiene. AIHA is a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining the highest professional standards for its members. Over half of its 10,000 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs), with many holding additional professional credentials. The association provides extensive educational programs to keep occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals up to date in the field of industrial hygiene.