Learn how you can become an industrial hygienist certified. Find out about the education and training prerequisites and gain the skills you require to grow your career in the field of industrial hygiene.
Certified Industrial Hygienist
How do you define an industrial hygiene tech? Certified industrial Hygienists (CIH), also called workers’ health and safety experts examine safety concerns within workplaces and devise solutions to address these dangers. They are able to recognize specific health risks in the workplace, like pesticides, infectious diseases asbestos, noise and lead.
In this article, I will show you How to Become a Certified Industrial Hygienist step by step guide 2022
A majority of health and safety experts such as certified industrial hygiene specialists, are employed all-time. The hours can include weekends, evenings, and evenings, especially in periods of crisis. The professionals frequently travel to various sites and work in a range of conditions, both indoors as well as outside. The job is not without risk which is why hygienists need to wear safety gear, clothing, and other equipment to ensure they are secure.
Industrial Hygienist Duties
The responsibilities of industrial hygienists are as follows:
- Inspecting machinery and other work equipment
- Knowing safety procedures for various environments
- Presenting and writing reports
- New workplace procedures to improve the safety of employees
- Inform employees about safety precautions.
- Examine safety and accident incidents at work
Career Requirements
| Degree Level | Master’s degree required for certain jobs |
| Degree Fields | Industrial hygiene Health and safety at work Biology, chemistry engineering Physics, and physics |
| Experience | The job requirements vary. Some positions might only require a calendar year experience but others require 3 to 5 years. |
| Certification | Certification is not required |
| Key Skills | Skills for problem-solving and communication and attention to detail physical stamina, the ability to work with advanced testing equipment |
| Salary | A year’s salary of $87,718 (2020 median wage for all industrial hygiene professionals) |
| Job Outlook (2019-2029) | 4percent increase (for all workers in the field of occupational health and safety and technicians) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Board of Industrial Hygiene, Salary.com (2020)
The bachelor’s level is required for working as an industrial hygienist certified or master’s level, while a doctorate is required for certain positions. These fields of study are industrial hygiene as well as workplace health and safety and safety, biology, chemistry engineering and Physics. The requirements for experience vary. Some jobs may only require one year of experience, while others require at least 3 years of experience. CIH certification is not required.
They must be organized and possess excellent communication and problem-solving abilities. Industrial hygiene professionals also have to have stamina physical and the ability to utilize sophisticated testing equipment.
How to Become an Industrial Hygienist
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
The relevant bachelor’s degrees for potential industrial hygiene professionals can complete include the fields of occupational health, chemistry engineering, biology and physics. There isn’t a specific industry hygiene diploma. There is a specific requirement for the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) has specific occupational hygienist guidelines regarding the courses students must complete to be a certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). No matter what their field of study course, students must complete 180 academic hours of specific courses in industrial hygiene. In the 180 academic hours that must be completed, at least 50% are related to the broad areas of the fundamentals of industrial hygiene and controls, measurements and industrial toxicology of hygiene. Other courses may deal with dangers, including restricted spaces, lead, asbestos and mold.
The majority of bachelor’s degree programs in industrial hygiene, workplace health and safety will provide the possibility of internships. They can be found in a variety of environments including business, government, and industry. Through an internship, students will gain experience in the field and gain a better understanding of the work of industrial hygiene professionals.
Industrial hygiene professionals who want to become industrial hygienists must learn to master interpersonal and communications abilities. These skills are required to convey the safety requirements and directions to employees as well as managers. Industrial hygiene professionals who are aspiring must be able to communicate with technicians. To develop these skills students can avail of psychology and public speaking classes.
Step 2: Complete On-The-Job Training
Training on the job is essential to be able to comprehend the different regulations and techniques for inspection in different work environments. Training is specific to the setting that an individual will work in. For instance industrial hygienists working in factories is likely to receive different training than one who is employed in an office. In the beginning of the training, trainees are overseen by a skilled professional. Based on the nature of the task the duration of supervision could be as long as one year.
Step 3: Earn Certification
Employers are more likely to employ industrial hygiene professionals who have earned the certification of an CIH. It is the ABIH is the body that provides the test required to be an CIH. In order to be eligible for the CIH test, candidates need to hold a bachelor’s education from an accredited college that has completed specific courses in industrial hygiene, have experience in the field as a professional and submit two references from a professional.
Step 4: Maintain Certification
The CIH certification has to renewal every five years. The process of maintaining certifications is comprised of several stages and includes a point system that was established through the ABIH. Points are earned through additional educational courses such as instructing, mentoring, going to conferences, presenting at meetings in writing, composing, and taking part in committees, as being involved in other professional tasks. Hygienists may also opt to take the examination again, instead of obtaining certification maintenance credits.
Step 5: Consider a Master’s Degree for Career Advancement
A bachelor’s degree may be one of the main occupational hygiene qualifications, an advanced degree could be required for higher level jobs and make you suitable for leadership positions. Students can take master’s degrees in a range of fields, including industrial hygiene as well as workplace and environmental hygiene, occupational hygiene as well as public health. Coursework in these master’s programs include applied biostatistics, evaluating chemical risks, fundamentals in public health environmental analysis and sampling.
Step 6: Consider Joining a Professional Organization
There are a variety of professional organizations for industrial hygienists you can join to make connections with colleagues within your field and to discover opportunities to advance your career. For example there is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) offers professional development opportunities , and many more. There is also the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is an alternative that will give you a range of advantages. You might also consider exploring local institutions for additional professional associations.
Industrial Hygienist Salary
Based on 2020 wage information taken from Salary.com, the median industrial hygiene hygienist annual salary was $87,718. The top 10% of those working in this field made $119,058 or more. the bottom 10% earned just $63,885 on average over the same period. People working in this area can anticipate about 4percent job growth in the period between 2019 through 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Hygienist Work Settings
Here are a handful of the possible places where occupational hygienists may be employed:
- Factories
- Office settings
- Construction sites
- Treatment and waste disposal plants
- Hospitals
- Sites of the Government
To summarise, prospective industrial hygiene hygienists who are certified must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Health or biology, physics or in a related field. A master’s degree is sometimes required to be considered for positions at a higher level.
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