Occupational hygiene
From Free net encyclopedia
Occupational Hygiene is both a technical field of study and a profession.
The term 'Occupational Hygiene' (used in the UK and Commonwealth Countries as well as much of Europe) is synonymous with 'Industrial Hygiene' (used in the US, Latin America, and other countries that received initial technical support or training from US sources).
The International Occupational Hygiene Association defines Occupational Hygiene as 'the discipline of anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large.'
The American Industrial Hygiene Association has described Industrial Hygiene as that 'science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention, and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health and well being, or significant discomfort among workers or among citizens of the community.'
The Occupational Hygienist may be involved with the assessment and control of chemical, physical or biological hazards in the workplace that could cause disease or discomfort. Physical hazards may include noise, temperature extremes, illumination extremes, ionizing or non-ionizing radiation, and ergonomics. Indoor air quality may also receive the attention of the Occupational Hygienist. As part of this activity, the Occupational Hygienist may be called upon to communicate effectively regarding hazard, risk, and appropriate protective procedures; to evaluate and occasionally to design ventilation systems; and to manage people and programs for the preservation of health and well-being of those who enter the workplace.
Contents |
Professional Societies
The International Occupational Hygiene Association was formed in 1987. Its membership are the national professional associations, now numbering more that 20 organizations and representing over 20,000 occupational hygienists worldwide.
National professional societies include the following (in alphabetical order):
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
- Formed in 27 June 1938 as the National Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, renamed American Conference... in 1946. This organization was originally conceived as a gathering of the govenrmental organizations that employed industrial hygieinsts and membership was limited to two from each organization. From 1946, all industrial hygiene personnel employed by government agencies were elligible for membership. Today, membership is open to all practitioners in industrial hygiene, occupational health, environmental health, and safety.
- American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
- Founded in 1939, AIHA is has more than 75 local sections and 11,800 members, making it the largest of the national professional associations.
- Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
- Belgian Society for Occupational Hygiene
- Brazilian Association of Occupational Hygienists
- British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)
- Founded in 1953 as a focus for occupational hygiene in the UK
- Dutch Occupational Hygiene Society
- French Occupational Hygiene Society
- Finnish Occupational Hygiene Society
- German Society for Occupational Hygiene
- Hong Kong Institute of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
- Italian Occupational Hygiene Association
- Japan Occupational Hygiene Association
- Japan Association for Working Environment Measurement
- Malaysian Industrial Hygiene Association
- Mexican Industrial Hygiene Association
- New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society
- Norwegian Occupational Hygiene Association
- Occupational Hygiene Society of Ireland
- Polish Association of Industrial Hygienists
- Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene
- Swedish Association of Occupational and Environmental Hygienists
- Swiss Society of Occupational Hygiene
- Taiwan Occupational Hygiene Association
Professional Credentials
United States of America
Practitioners who successfully meet minimum education and work-experience requirements and pass a written examination administered by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) are authorized to use the term Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Certified Associate Industrial Hygienist (CAIH). Both of these terms have been codified into law in many states in the United States in order to identify minimum qualifications of individuals having oversight over certain activities that may affect public health.
ABIH Certification examinations are offered twice each year in the US, and are also offered at locations outside the US, including Australia and East Asia among other locations.
Canada
In Canada, a practitioner who successfully completes a written and oral examination administered by the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists can be recognized as a Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH).
United Kingdom
The Faculty of Occupational Hygiene, part of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, represents the interests of professional occupational hygienists.
Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene is confined to BOHS members who hold a recognised professional qualification in occupational hygiene.
There are three grades of Faculty membership:
- Licentiate (LFOH) holders will have obtained the BOHS Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene and have at least three years’ practical experience in the field.
- Members (MFOH) are normally holders of the Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene and have at least five years’ experience at a senior level.
- Fellows (FFOH) are senior members of the profession who have made a distinct contribution to the advancement of occupational hygiene.
All Faculty members participate in a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) scheme designed to maintain a high level of current awareness and knowledge in occupational hygiene.
See also
Additional External links