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:

1. Hazard identification and risk assessment methodologies.

2. Exposure monitoring and sampling techniques.

3. Industrial hygiene instrumentation and equipment operation.

4. Data analysis and interpretation.

5. Knowledge of OSHA regulations and other relevant standards.

6. Industrial ventilation design and evaluation.

7. Chemical and toxicological principles.

8. Understanding of biological hazards and biohazard controls.

9. Radiation safety principles (if applicable to the industry).

10. 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:

1. Strong written and verbal communication skills.

2. Analytical and critical thinking abilities.

3. Attention to detail and accuracy.

4. Problem-solving and decision-making skills.

5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

6. Effective time management and organization.

7. Interpersonal skills for collaborating with diverse stakeholders.

8. Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects.

9. Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

10. 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.