What is Industrial Hygiene and Why is it Important?
Industrial hygiene is the backbone of your operation’s workplace safety program, as it helps you anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control potential occupational hazards.
Put briefly, industrial hygiene ensures your employees are safe, your risk levels are low, and your work environment is in regulatory compliance.
If you have concerns about workplace illnesses and want to protect worker well-being, this blog is for you. We know the financial cost of workers’ compensation, medical expenses, lost time, reduced efficiency, and regulatory fines can be disastrous. Not only do they threaten your livelihood, they threaten the livelihood of your team. Ongoing monitoring of employee exposure ensures your workplace safety programs remain fully compliant and, more importantly, that your employees are not at elevated risk for serious health conditions from their work processes.
What is a Certified Industrial Hygienist?
A Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential is the global standard for certification in protecting the health and safety of workers and the public by anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling a range of potential hazards including:
- Biological Hazards
- Environmental Health
- Ergonomic Hazards
- Hazardous Chemicals
- Indoor Air Quality
- Physical Hazards (Including Noise)
Industrial hygienists also guide clients in implementing control measures, so they are fully supported with their regulatory compliance needs, able to create better safety protocols, and can improve their workplace conditions.
Importance of Industrial Hygiene Programs
Health Hazards
Managing health and safety of your operation is essential to avoiding the negative health effects that can lead to illness, injury, or even death. Lack of personal protective equipment can lead to costly fines. Excessive noise levels can cause hearing loss. Bad postures can result in repetitive stress injuries.
Chemical Hazards
Welding and metal fumes, carbon monoxide gas, and organic solvents can all represent dangerous chemical hazards. Exposure to heavy metals (such as lead) causes neurological and organ damage. Even dust can result in irreversible lung damage. Your occupational safety programs are the first (and most effective) safeguard against these threats.
Biological Hazards
Prevention of respiratory viruses, mold, COVID-19, bloodborne pathogens, and other biological threats is a major part of industrial hygiene. Exposure assessments, PPE, and corrective actions can help to protect your workers, and industrial hygienists work to identify the most effective methods to mitigate risk and keep your operation moving.
Worried About Common Workplace Hazards?
If you’re concerned about workplace health and safety at your facility, BDN Industrial Hygiene can help. Our highly trained and certified industrial hygienists can help you root out environmental hazards, hazardous substances, and other occupational health issues. So, whether you’re worried about the overall health and safety of your team, regulatory fines, or maintaining operational efficiency, reach out to us today to get started.