5 Things to Know About Industrial Hygiene

Industrial hygiene is the practice of evaluating and remediating potentially hazardous workplace conditions. Shield Engineering has a long history of providing effective industrial hygiene consulting services for clients all over the country; our cutting-edge technology ensures our team identifies hazardous materials and suggests appropriate countermeasures efficiently and comprehensively.

Here are five things your team should know about the practice of industrial hygiene.

1. Those that perform industrial hygiene are known as “Industrial Hygienists.”

Industrial hygienists have BAs in engineering, chemistry, physics, or other scientific disciplines. They are also required to have a minimum of three years’ experience in the field of industrial hygiene (schooling can account for two of the three years) before becoming certified.

2. The industry is overseen by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

Although industrial hygienists are not required to be certified by the ABIH, most choose to be. The fundamentals of certification at the ABIH are education, experience, and examination. Hygienists seeking certification from ABIH must sit for the firm’s proprietary Certified Industrial Hygienist exam.

3. Industrial hygiene covers a staggering array of workplace hazards.

There are few limits to the number of potential hazards industrial hygienists are trained to look for. Some of the most common include airborne contaminants (dust, aerosols, fibers, etc.), chemical hazards (solids, liquids, fumes, vapors, etc.), biological hazards (mold, viruses, fungi, etc.), and physical hazards (fall risk, noise, radiation, temperature, etc.) The specific risks are always unique to the facility.

4. The parameters of industrial hygiene are constantly changing.

Because the hazards facing workplaces are continuously changing, so too are industrial hygiene’s best practices. New chemicals, innovative equipment, and streamlined processes all increase the demand for experienced, knowledgeable hygienists within the industrial sector.

5. Industrial hygiene offers extremely high long-term ROI.

Industrial hygiene isn’t just concerned with preventing accidents, it’s also intended to mitigate financial risk, too. Proper hygienic practices can keep insurance rates low, reduce the risks of costly compliance fines, and prevent on-site conditions from causing situations that may lead to shut down, medical expenses, or renovation.

Industrial hygiene isn’t just about experience, it’s also about having the right testing equipment. Workplace risks cannot be thoroughly evaluated without proper testing. Shield Engineering employs industry-leading testing technologies and monitoring solutions in conjunction with in-house laboratories to ensure our industrial hygienists have the tools they need to provide best-in-class service.

If you have questions about what industrial hygiene means for your facility, we invite you to reach out to Shield. Our experts are happy to speak with you about your ongoing concerns regarding workplace safety, compliance risks, and industry best practices.

Contact the industrial hygiene team at Shield Engineering today.

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