Why should I become an occupational hygienist?

Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson

Badly Drawn

Stickman’s guide to “Why should I become

an occupational hygienist?”

Helen Pearson, LFOH

Young Hygienist Award


What is occupational hygiene?

Who should consider it as a career?What skills would I need?

What does an occupational hygienist actually do?

Where could occupational hygiene take me?

How can I become an occupational hygienist?Why should I consider occupational hygiene as a career?


What is occupational hygiene?


Occupational

hygiene is a multi-skilled discipline combining science

and engineering to identify, assess, and then eliminate or control health hazards in the

workplace.


Its aim is

‘worker health protection’ by working to ensure that employees are not made ill by health

hazards present in their workplace.


Every year

1,000s of UK workers suffer occupational ill-heath leading to absence from work, early retirement and, in

some cases, premature death.


Occupational

hygienists work to prevent this by helping organisations protect

their employees.


Who should consider occupational hygiene as a career?


If your interest is in.....

ChemistryHuman Health

Engineering

Health and Safety

Another science based subject

... you should consider a career in occupational hygiene.


What skills would I need?


An occupational hygienist needs...good observational skills

good communication skills

good problem solving skills

to be methodical

to be able to engage with managers and workers


What does an occupational hygienist actually do?


The job of an occupational hygienist is...

part detective work

part worker health awareness training

noisy machinery

part technical measurement

part worker observation


Where could occupational hygiene take me?


Many sectors need occupational hygienists including...

Heavy manufacturing

Pharmaceuticals

Onshore/offshore energy & petrochemicals

Food and drink manufacturing

Public and education sector

Construction & civil engineering


Occupational hygiene is a growth area in many countries and you could end up working anywhere in the world...

Source: Daniel R. Strebe (15 August 2011)


How can I become an occupational hygienist?


Whether you are self financing, employer supported, or a combination of the two, there are several routes to becoming an occupational hygienist.

BOHS International Modules

MSc.

Inhouse apprenticeship


Where can I find out more about development paths?


If you are in the UK, the British Occupational Hygiene Society, the chartered society for worker health protection, is best placed to advise you further.


Outside the UK there

are other many other organisations who can advise you on becoming an occupational

hygienist.

Source: OHTA


Why should I seriously consider occupational hygiene as a career choice?


Governments

Regulators

Industry

& the health and safety sector

are

beginning to realise that worker health protection is a really big deal....


... so you

would be joining the profession at a really exciting time when the spotlight is being turned on

worker health protection.


At a time when graduate jobs are scarce in many fields there is currently a shortage of occupational hygienists in the UK and in many other countries.

Law Interviews

Occupational Hygiene

Interviews

Source: Anas Ramadan - www.flaticon.com (CC BY 3.0)


More importantly, the work of an occupational hygienist is interesting, varied and rewarding.

Being albeit a badly drawn representation of an occupational hygienist, Stickman usually has a smile on his face as he knows that every day he is helping to reduce the number of workers who will suffer from occupational disease.


Become an occupational hygienist and join a small army of professionals working to improve working conditions for all workers.For more information visit www.bohs.org


Special

thanks to for sponsoring

the BOHS Young Hygienist Award

2015.



Why should I become an occupational hygienist?

Career