What is Occupational Hygiene And How We Protect Workers

Industrial hygiene or Occupational Hygiene in Canada, is the practice of identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards that can affect the health and safety of workers. It involves the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of chemical, physical, and biological hazards in the workplace.

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Occupational hygiene professionals use scientific principles and engineering controls to identify and reduce or eliminate exposure to hazards such as toxic chemicals, noise, radiation, and other physical and biological agents that can cause illness or injury. They work to protect workers from acute and chronic health effects associated with exposure to these hazards by designing and implementing controls to mitigate or eliminate the risks.

Overall, the goal of industrial hygiene is to protect the health and safety of workers by preventing occupational illness and injury through the control and management of workplace hazards.

WHS offer Occupational hygiene services to assist our clients in processes aimed at protecting workers from potential health hazards in the workplace. These services may include assessments of exposure to hazardous substances, noise, temperature, and other physical and chemical agents that could pose a risk to workers' health and safety. Occupational hygiene services may also include the development of control measures to minimize exposure to these hazards, as well as training and education programs to raise awareness of the risks and to promote safe work practices. By providing occupational hygiene services, WHS helps its clients to ensure the health and safety of their employees and to maintain compliance with regulations.

When hiring an Occupational Hygienist make sure they are either a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH).  A Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is a person who has completed a college degree in environmental health, or science, has at least five years of relevant experience, and has successfully passed an examination with the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

​Although there are numerous consulting companies offering industrial hygiene of occupational hygiene services, they may not have the education and experience to meet the minimum requirements to become a CIH or ROH.  ​