Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for an Industrial Hygienist
An Industrial Hygienist is a professional who plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and safety of workers in industrial settings. They are responsible for identifying and assessing workplace hazards, evaluating exposure levels to various physical, chemical, and biological agents, and implementing effective control measures to minimize risks and protect the well-being of employees. In this blog post, we will explore the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Industrial Hygienists.
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Main Responsibilities of an Industrial Hygienist
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of an Industrial Hygienist:
Adhere to
Adhere to internal standards, policies and procedures.
Analyze
Analyze data to assess exposure levels and determine compliance with safety regulations.
Apply
Apply statistical analysis and interpretation of exposure data.
Assess
Assess the effectiveness of hazard communication programs.
Assist in
Assist in generating reports, charts and spreadsheets as needed.
Assist in the development of corrective actions in response to IH Program issues.
Assist management in compliance with technical and regulatory requirements.
Attend
Attend work planning meetings and assist with health hazard identification and mitigation.
Build
Build effective relationships with key stakeholders and EHS team members.
Carry
Carry a cell phone and provide on-call emergency response support on occasion.
Collaborate with
Collaborate with management to establish safety policies and procedures.
Collaborate with safety committees to improve workplace health and safety culture.
Collect
Collect air, water, and surface samples for analysis of hazardous substances.
Communicate
Communicate IH sampling results to monitored employee and supervision.
Compile
Compile, analyze and interpret IH results and reports conclusions.
Complete
Complete hazard assessments, ergonomic evaluations, and incident investigations.
Conduct
Conduct ergonomic assessments to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
Conduct hazardous waste management and disposal assessments.
Conduct / manage hygiene, hazardous materials and / or safety management projects and training.
Conduct noise level evaluations and implement noise control measures.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative exposure assessments to identify industry health hazards.
Conduct workplace inspections to identify potential health hazards.
Conduct workplace monitoring for physical, biological and chemical hazards.
Confer
Confer with project personnel to provide technical advice and to resolve problems.
Contribute
Contribute to the modification of policies and procedures to enhance the IH Program.
Coordinate
Coordinate consultants for routine and ad hoc industrial hygiene monitoring.
Determine
Determine the need for, and effectiveness of, control measures and changes in work procedures.
Develop
Develop and conduct health risk communication with employees and stakeholders.
Develop and implement health and safety programs to prevent occupational illnesses.
Develop emergency response plans for hazardous material spills or exposure incidents.
Develop "fit for purpose” training plans and programs and ensures their global implementation.
Develop, implement and maintain Industrial Hygiene programs, procedures and compliance training.
Develop plans for work site controls to ensure safe working environment.
Enhance
Enhance expertise through participation in technical societies.
Ensure
Ensure compliance with relevant local, state, and federal regulations.
Ensure proper documentation of employee exposures in medical records.
Evaluate
Evaluate and interprets current regulations and assists in compliance.
Evaluate a variety of occupational health testing and measures.
Evaluate occupational and health hazards and devise control measures for specific work situations.
Evaluate personal protective equipment (PPE) and advise on its proper use and maintenance.
Evaluate the impact of new processes or technologies on worker health.
Go
Go to evaluators for a list of accepted organizations that evaluate foreign credentials.
Guide
Guide and recommend business partners , thereby facilitating their decision-making process.
Identify
Identify appropriate control measures to reduce or eliminate health hazards.
Identify hazards and controls required to mitigate the hazards as requested.
Interpret
Interpret and provide practical solutions to regulations, codes, standards, and other requirements.
Investigate
Investigate the presence of mold, asbestos, and other contaminants.
Investigate workplace incidents related to health concerns and propose corrective actions.
Involved
Involved with ESi company-wide safety training / program.
Keep
Keep abreast of industry best practices and changes to the profession.
Maintain
Maintain all Industrial hygiene monitoring equipment as per manufacturers guidelines.
Monitor
Monitor and maintain records of employee exposure data.
Move
Move or traverse - Occasionally.
Participate in
Participate in health risk assessments and epidemiological studies.
Perform
Perform advanced predictive assessments of work exposures.
Perform analysis to determine nature and degree of toxic materials present.
Perform assessments of functional areas of the IH Program.
Perform duties general / routine to moderately complex in nature.
Perform global audits, training sessions, team meetings and professional development sessions.
Perform indoor air quality assessments and address ventilation issues.
Perform radiation exposure monitoring, if applicable to the industry.
Perform responsibilities and addresses problems with limited supervision.
Plan
Plan, support, and mentor the work of Industrial Hygiene co-op students.
Prepare
Prepare comprehensive reports on findings and recommendations.
Prepare exhibits with visualization group to clearly communicate complex engineering concepts.
Prepare report and maintain records of observations, contaminant analysis and recommended control.
Prioritize
Prioritize, plan, and conduct qualitative and quantitative health risk assessments.
Produce
Produce documents, reports, papers, articles or presentations as necessary.
Promote
Promote and champion worker health and safety.
Provide
Provide advice on new work processes, equipment, and facilities related to industrial hygiene.
Provide expertise during incident investigations involving exposure-related incidents.
Provide guidance and follow up assistance to posts.
Provide input on the development of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health Programs.
Provide interpretative guidance regarding IH monitoring results and recommend appropriate.
Provide interpretative guidance regarding IH monitoring results and recommend appropriate controls.
Provide legal testimony in a variety of venues, including courtroom settings.
Provide technical and / or functional guidance to the IH team.
Provide technical expertise for occupational health related matters.
Provide technical guidance in interpreting standards.
Provide technical guidance to clients and team members.
Provide training and education to employees on safety practices and protective measures.
Reach
Reach with hands and arms - Occasionally.
Recommend
Recommend engineering controls, such as ventilation systems, to reduce exposure to hazardous agents.
Recommend proper decontamination procedures for hazardous substances.
Represent
Represent Company in technical exchanges with other DOE sites and commercial industries.
Review
Review and analyze chemical safety data sheets (SDS).
Review and approve IH sampling surveys.
Review and evaluate district programs and work operations for actual or potential health hazards.
Select
Select the country where you are applying for employment, and review.
Stay updated on
Stay updated on regulations and best practices related to industrial hygiene.
Support
Support above site teams to solve company wide IH challenges where needed.
Use
Use advanced instruments and technology for exposure monitoring.
Use of all appendages, good vision, and hearing are necessary.
Utilize
Utilize sampling and monitoring techniques and instrumentation to develop appropriate controls.
Work
Work in high, precarious places.
Work near moving mechanical parts.
Work with occupational health physicians to manage workplace health programs.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of an Industrial Hygienist:
Hazard identification and risk assessment methodologies.
Exposure monitoring and sampling techniques.
Industrial hygiene instrumentation and equipment operation.
Data analysis and interpretation.
Knowledge of OSHA regulations and other relevant standards.
Industrial ventilation design and evaluation.
Chemical and toxicological principles.
Understanding of biological hazards and biohazard controls.
Radiation safety principles (if applicable to the industry).
Understanding of environmental regulations related to industrial hygiene.
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of an Industrial Hygienist:
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Analytical and critical thinking abilities.
Attention to detail and accuracy.
Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Effective time management and organization.
Interpersonal skills for collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Conclusion
Industrial Hygienists are essential professionals who ensure the safety and well-being of workers in industrial settings. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, from identifying hazards and assessing exposures to implementing control measures and providing education and training to employees. Possessing a combination of technical expertise and essential soft skills enables Industrial Hygienists to effectively protect workers' health and contribute to a safer work environment.
