Health

What is an Industrial Hygenist?

There are many ways in which to answer the question of what is an Industrial Hygienist. You can do it from various viewpoints; such as his training, motivation, responsibilities, authority, etc. In the case of asbestos removal projects we have a profound economical need to explore the details of what is an Industrial Hygienist. However, one must first appreciate the simplest explanation, which I always give in answer to the question. An Industrial Hygienist is a person whose job it is to protect the worker from his environment. That is the foremost primary function of the Industrial Hygienist; all the rest is detail.

Educational Background

Traditionally, an Industrial Hygienist was a person who possessed a bachelor's degree in Engineering and then took a master's or doctoral degree in Industrial Hygiene. More recently, this has expanded to include an undergraduate degree in the physical and biological sciences followed by subsequent graduate studies in Industrial Hygiene or Environmental Health. These undergraduate programs have caused argument within the profession regarding these individuals' qualifications, which are not resolved. The formal training of an Industrial Hygienist (Master's Level) comprises an intensive one or two year program. A typical curriculum includes:

Statistics
Epidemiology
Physiology
Properties of Airborne Contaminants
Evaluation of Environmental Exposure
Health Hazards in Industry
Environmental Control
Industrial Toxicology
Radiation Health
Environmental Law
Ventilation
Human Factors/Ergonomics
Scientific Basis for Occupational Health Standards

Additionally, there will be field case studies where the students work up real situations, analyze and present them.

Work of the Industrial Hygienist

You can readily observe from the preceding litany of courses that the profession of Industrial Hygiene is not something you "pick up". The Industrial Hygienist is a health professional. He not only deals with the worker's environment, he deals with the health of the worker. He must have the training and background to critically observe the work force and appreciate if he is looking at a healthy population.

It is the job of the Industrial Hygienist to recognize all environmental factors to which the worker is subjected. He must recognize all potentially harmful situations which might adversely affect the worker's health and correct them. These hazards will include those due to:

Inhalation of harmful aerosols and vapors
Trauma from machinery or falling
Surface (bodily) exposure from harmful substances
Noise
Radiation (Ionizing and non Ionizing)

These various hazards are measured with a variety of instruments and techniques. Fortunately, in the last 30 years there has been such a vast range of instruments developed and marketed that virtually no hazard should go undetected.

Having recognized and evaluated the hazards, they must then be controlled. Traditionally, controls involved machine guards, ventilation and alteration in the process or work practices. Since the advent of OSHA many controls are nationally mandated and fines imposed if they are not implemented. Naturally, there were and are many state operated agencies with more specific rules. This is particularly true in states with industrial specialties such as mining, steel-making, agriculture, etc.

It cannot be overemphasized that the Industrial Hygienist is responsible for every aspect of health in the work place. A convenient example would be an asbestos removal operation in an occupied office building. It is the job of the Industrial Hygienist in charge of such an operation to be certain that all municipal, state and federal laws are known and complied with. Workers must be trained and observed to follow all regulations regarding clothing, respirators, safety equipment and general hygiene. There must be no appeal from proper protective health practices.

It is the Industrial Hygienist's further task to ensure that all materials and equipment brought onto the site are safe to use. He should have the safety data sheets for all chemicals. He must ensure that all hazardous waste is being disposed of in a safe and proper manner.

Further, it is also the Industrial Hygienist's responsibility to ensure that no part of the inhabited portion of the building is contaminated, nor are any releases made to the ambient atmosphere.

Ethics

Virtually all Industrial Hygienists are members of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. This is a professional organization whose membership is limited to persons meeting their qualifications. Once a person becomes a member they are made aware of the body's code of ethics. Much of the code is what would be expected from any professional organization, "To maintain the highest level... etc." However, of the 15 points in the code, three are of paramount importance in understanding the responsibilities of the Industrial Hygienist and implications for potential legal problems.

Under responsibilities to employees:

Recognize that the primary responsibility of the Industrial Hygienist is to protect the health of the employees.
Under responsibilities to the employees and clients:

Hold responsibilities to the employer or client subservient to the ultimate responsibility to protect the health of the employees.
Under responsibility to the public:

Report factually on industrial hygiene matters of public concern.

In other words the Industrial Hygienist does not owe his soul to his paymaster.

Certification

The American Board of Industrial Hygiene examines qualified Industrial Hygienists. Those who pass their exams become diplomates of the Board and members of the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene. Such persons can usually be identified by the placement of the letters C.I.H. after their names.

In order to take the exam to become certified in comprehensive practice you must first satisfy the requirements of the board. This includes a bachelor's degree, as described previously, and five years for a master's degree and two years for a doctorate. The important thing to note is that the experience must be gained in the practice of Industrial Hygiene and must be provable. There must be a reference from the applicant's supervisor and a C.I.H. familiar with the applicant's work. There is a preceding Core exam which must first be passed but the requirements for that need not be dealt with here.

While the person who successfully completes the comprehensive exam is entitled to suffix his name with C.I.H., this also applies to individuals who have passed specific specialties such as Air Pollution, Chemical Engineering and Toxicological Aspects, as well as Acoustical and Radiological Aspects. Considering your needs, it might be well to inquire what certification an individual possesses.

Conclusions

Having painted a somewhat rigorous picture of what an Industrial Hygienist is, it must be noted that it is just that, rigorous. There are exceptions, wherein persons of sufficient experience can and should be considered fully qualified Industrial Hygienists. If you are interested in the full details of these exceptions you should write to the AIHA and the ABIH at 475 Wolf Ledges Parkway, Akron, OH 44311-1087.