Industrial Hygienists & Environmental Consultants Make the World Better

You may not realize it, but public health experts have an outsized impact on making the world a better place. Public health is a growing field, and there are more opportunities for motivated people to find public health careers than ever before. One such field is industrial hygiene. Industrial hygienists are often motivated self-starters devoted to solving the emergent problems of the field. How? Let’s learn more.

Bernardo Ramazzini: The Father of Industrial Medicine

Let’s set the stage for a minute with a little history, because it was not always a given that hygiene and health were of interest to those in the workplace.  Bernardo Ramazzini was an Italian scientist who in 1700 published an important book: De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (The Diseases of Workmen). Ramazzini’s work was important because it was one of the first times that anyone had suggested that diseases and injuries be studied in the workplace, rather than solely in hospitals. Ramazzini’s work got him the nickname “the father of industrial medicine.” 

What does an industrial hygienist do?

Let’s go to the experts for an introduction. According to the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)  “Industrial Hygiene is a science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention, and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health and well being, or significant discomfort among workers or among citizens of the community.” Industrial hygienists specialize in anticipating and preventing, and in many cases remediating, the factors in the workplace that can hurt people or otherwise make them sick or harm their well-being.  On the day to day, industrial hygienists are responsible for facilitating an industrial environment that is safe and held to high standards of cleanliness and hygiene. This can cover everything from running trainings to doing regular inspections of industrial facilities. 

What are some of the responsibilities of an industrial hygienist?

Industrial hygienists work in a wide variety of environments, and thus often have a wide variety of responsibilities. But, many are employed in environments where there are common safety hazards and require the attention of a dedicated expert and professional. Often, industrial hygienists work in environments where there are toxic chemicals. Here are some of the daily responsibilities:

• Developing action plans for health committees and initiatives
• Conduct regular inspections in the workplace to identify and remediate hazards
• Use specialized equipment to test for threats to workplace health
• Provide workplace training for employees surrounding health and safety
• Keeping an inventory of safety equipment, as well as ensuring that it is well-maintained
• Investigating and reporting workplace injuries or deaths

Other types of hygienists

Mold hygienists

While there are industrial hygienists who specialize in mold, most of the time, an industrial hygienist is ready to deal with and test for molds, using microscopy or by growing mold cultures. If mold removal is what’s required, often it’s good to turn to a mold remediation specialist as well. 

Occupational hygienist

Occupational hygienists is a blanket term that includes industrial hygienists, though many occupational hygienists specialize in creating safe spaces for workers in areas including but not limited to industry. You can find occupational hygienists in almost every workplace environment, be it a factory or an office building. 

Industrial hygiene is an important field, and industrial hygienists have an important responsibility: keeping people safe from the dangers and pitfalls of the modern work environment. If you’d like to learn more, or are looking to consult with an industrial hygienist, get in touch with Forensic Analytical--we have many trained experts ready to talk with you. 

 

Working with Us

Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to work for a company where new ideas are welcomed, every day is rewarding and challenging, and you’re surrounded by smart people who care about your future? We take pride in having the Right People because we want FACS to be a place that you’ll enjoy coming to every day. We offer full benefits packages and encourage our employees to become involved in our communities with 2 paid volunteer days per year in addition to our paid time off program. We’re always hiring Top Talent and looking for those that are driven to be the next leaders in our growing industry.

Our Growing Team

At FACS, we are always looking to build an excellent group of highly-motivated, educated, and talented staff. What do we look for? People who want to make a difference in their environment and in their community.  We are the foremost experts public health and we are always looking to add able and like-minded individuals to our team. Becoming an industrial hygienist is rewarding and also stable. Below is some more information about what the position requires and who we are usually looking for.

What degree do you need to be an industrial hygienist?

Most folks who decide to pursue industrial hygiene as a career have a BS in one of the following areas of study:

• Engineering
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physics

On top of that education, most industrial hygienists must undergo a rigorous certification process, as well as spending three or more years working in the field. There are often internship and work study experiences available for those looking to become a hygienist. 

We’re always on the lookout for new talent, especially in these positions:

Project Managers

Project managers are responsible for overseeing groups within Forensic Analytical’s wide range of projects. Project managers will often work within a given subject area (for instance, asbestos). Responsibilities often include conversing with potential and existing clients; proposal generation, managing project budgets and generating final reports and remediation specifications. Additional responsibilities include performing on-site surveys, inspections, assessments, abatement oversight and monitoring and auditing of safety procedures and applicable regulations associated with industrial hygiene and environmental projects.

Directors

Directors are responsible for leading local offices in the achievement of revenue and profit goals while also aligning with other company initiatives. Our directors are usually leaders in their field who are looking to make a difference with a people-focused company that works to improve environmental health and welfare. 

Sales

Forensic Analytical’s sales team is responsible for acquiring new client leads as well as selling our various products and services to existing and future clients. Joining our sales team is an exciting opportunity to help further environmental health in a number of fields. Expertise in environmental health and services is always a bonus!

Admin Staff

Forensic Analytical is a busy place, and we have numerous offices and locations that always need good clerical and administrative staff. If you’ve got a background in office management or administrative expertise, we’re always interested in hearing from you. 

Technicians

Performing on-site surveys, inspections, assessments, abatement oversight and monitoring. Position also requires preparation of written field reports associated with industrial hygiene, asbestos and microbial projects. The position will require travel to and from job locations with mileage reimbursement included.