What Is Industrial Hygiene?

The COVID-19 pandemic made industrial hygiene, the science of protecting workers’ health and safety, more prominent than ever. Now that businesses have reopened and people have reentered the workforce, industrial hygienists remain necessary to help identify and mitigate risks and hazards.

Even before the pandemic, industrial hygienists applied their scientific expertise to uphold health standards and contribute to a safer global workforce. For those interested in this field, it is important to understand exactly what industrial hygiene is and how an advanced degree such as a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Industrial Hygiene can help prepare professionals for impactful careers promoting workplace well-being and safety.

Industrial Hygiene Defined 

Industrial hygiene is the science of protecting the health and safety of people in the workplace. The term emerged in the early 1900s with the launch of the Industrial Hygiene arm of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires companies to uphold certain industrial regulations and occupational health standards.

Types of Industrial Hygiene

The processes of industrial hygiene involve identifying, analyzing, and controlling workplace conditions and hazards to prevent dangerous and harmful work environments. These problems can fall into five basic categories, including:

• Chemical hazards, such as fumes and vapors
• Biological hazards, such as viruses and bacteria
• Physical hazards, such as heat and radiation
• Ergonomic hazards, such as lifting or pushing heavy machinery
• Air contaminants, such as fibers and aerosols

This field is important because it can prevent potential illness, injury, and stressors at workplaces, which can have short- and long-term effects on the health and well-being of the people who work there. For example, if employees at a factory are exposed to harmful chemical agents, industrial hygienists can examine the workplace and propose plans to filter or eliminate them.

What Does an Industrial Hygienist Do? 

What an industrial hygienist does can depend on their industry or workplace, but they protect worker health and well-being on a broad scale.

Industrial hygienists are trained to “anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and recommend controls for environmental and physical hazards that can affect the health and well-being of workers,” according to OSHA. They are also responsible for helping organizations understand and adhere to federal, state, and local safety regulations.

More specifically, industrial hygienists can:

• Use applied scientific principles to identify hazards
• Compile and analyze data about workplace risks
• Interpret toxicology reports
• Develop controls and remediation programs to address hazards and risks
• Work with organizational managers to communicate and integrate these programs effectively
• Manage and monitor these programs to improve health in the workplace

Industrial hygienists can help many types of organizations, such as labor unions, government agencies, and educational institutions. According to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest providers of industrial hygiene jobs are:

• Government organizations
• Manufacturing companies
• Construction companies
• Scientific and technical consulting services
• Hospitals

While on the job, industrial hygienists are often required to wear protective equipment, such as gloves, masks, and respirators, to keep themselves safe from potential harm.

What Are the Benefits of Industrial Hygiene? 

For businesses that invest in a strategic industrial hygiene program, there are a number of potential benefits. Some of the most significant advantages include:

• Increased productivity. When employees are anxious about their health and safety in the workplace or are constantly fatigued due to environmental factors, it can take a toll on productivity. Investing in workplace safety can address these problems, empowering workers to devote more time and attention to their duties.
• Lower healthcare costs. In workplaces where employees are frequently injured or sick, there tend to be a lot of medical and workers’ comp claims, both of which come with hefty price tags. Prioritizing health and safety can help manage these costs.
• Reduced recruitment and training costs. When employee safety is a priority, it reduces turnover and lessens the need to replace personnel. This significantly cuts the costs associated with recruitment, onboarding, and training.

These are just some of the reasons why a commitment to health and safety in the workplace can yield significant, bottom-line dividends.

How Did COVID-19 Increase the Need for Industrial Hygiene? 

COVID-19 has elucidated the importance of health and hygiene within the workplace. Organizations that continued to operate throughout the pandemic and those that more recently reopened have needed to implement new safety protocols and regulations to protect their workers. Specifically, companies across industries have had to take steps to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace and ensure employees who contract the disease do not spread it to others.

Even with new challenges, corporate investments in in-house industrial hygiene programs have declined, according to Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, especially since many companies have been forced to lay off personnel. As a result, industrial hygiene consultants are being tapped to help businesses evaluate hazards and protect their workers’ health and safety.

Make a Difference with a Career in Industrial Hygiene 

Tulane University launched the first U.S. public health school in 1912, establishing its position as a leader in this field. Through an MSPH in Industrial Hygiene program, professionals can develop the knowledge and skills they need to identify hazards in the workplace, communicate remediation strategies, manage occupational risks, and apply government regulations.

This program is supported by a grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), making students eligible for NIOSH traineeships and tuition support opportunities.

Learn more about how Tulane’s Online MSPH in Industrial Hygiene program can help you develop the skills needed to become an industrial hygienist. 

Recommended Readings:

Health and Safety Inspector Job Description

Guide to Chemical Hazard Labels

How Product Safety Engineers Promote Workplace Safety

Sources:

American Industrial Hygiene Association, Discover IH

G2 Consultants, Industrial Hygiene

Occupational Health & Safety Administration, COVID-19 – Control and Prevention

OSHA Office of Training and Education, “Industrial Hygiene”

Safeopedia, 5 Major Benefits of Working with an Industrial Hygienist

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians