Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Badly Drawn
Stickman’s guide to “Why should I become
an occupational hygienist?”
Helen Pearson, LFOH
Young Hygienist Award
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
What is occupational hygiene?
Who should consider it as a career?What skills would I need?
What does an occupational hygienist actually do?
Where could occupational hygiene take me?
How can I become an occupational hygienist?Why should I consider occupational hygiene as a career?
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Occupational
hygiene is a multi-skilled discipline combining science
and engineering to identify, assess, and then eliminate or control health hazards in the
workplace.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Its aim is
‘worker health protection’ by working to ensure that employees are not made ill by health
hazards present in their workplace.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Every year
1,000s of UK workers suffer occupational ill-heath leading to absence from work, early retirement and, in
some cases, premature death.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Occupational
hygienists work to prevent this by helping organisations protect
their employees.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
If your interest is in.....
ChemistryHuman Health
Engineering
Health and Safety
Another science based subject
... you should consider a career in occupational hygiene.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
An occupational hygienist needs...good observational skills
good communication skills
good problem solving skills
to be methodical
to be able to engage with managers and workers
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The job of an occupational hygienist is...
part detective work
part worker health awareness training
noisy machinery
part technical measurement
part worker observation
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Many sectors need occupational hygienists including...
Heavy manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals
Onshore/offshore energy & petrochemicals
Food and drink manufacturing
Public and education sector
Construction & civil engineering
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Occupational hygiene is a growth area in many countries and you could end up working anywhere in the world...
Source: Daniel R. Strebe (15 August 2011)
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Whether you are self financing, employer supported, or a combination of the two, there are several routes to becoming an occupational hygienist.
BOHS International Modules
MSc.
Inhouse apprenticeship
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If you are in the UK, the British Occupational Hygiene Society, the chartered society for worker health protection, is best placed to advise you further.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Outside the UK there
are other many other organisations who can advise you on becoming an occupational
hygienist.
Source: OHTA
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Why should I seriously consider occupational hygiene as a career choice?
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Governments
Regulators
Industry
& the health and safety sector
are
beginning to realise that worker health protection is a really big deal....
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... so you
would be joining the profession at a really exciting time when the spotlight is being turned on
worker health protection.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
At a time when graduate jobs are scarce in many fields there is currently a shortage of occupational hygienists in the UK and in many other countries.
Law Interviews
Occupational Hygiene
Interviews
Source: Anas Ramadan - www.flaticon.com (CC BY 3.0)
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
More importantly, the work of an occupational hygienist is interesting, varied and rewarding.
Being albeit a badly drawn representation of an occupational hygienist, Stickman usually has a smile on his face as he knows that every day he is helping to reduce the number of workers who will suffer from occupational disease.
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Become an occupational hygienist and join a small army of professionals working to improve working conditions for all workers.For more information visit www.bohs.org
Copyright © 2016 Helen Pearson
Special
thanks to for sponsoring
the BOHS Young Hygienist Award
2015.