What is an Occupational Hygienist?
Deakin University states that ‘an occupational hygienist usually holds a degree in chemistry, physics, engineering, biology (with some chemistry) or related physical and biological sciences and through special studies can recognise occupational factors that cause illness or inefficiency and understand their effect on human beings; evaluate the magnitude of these factors and of the response of an exposed population to them; and prescribe methods to eliminate, control or reduce the influence of the adverse factors’ A definition often used for an occupational hygienist is ‘ A person having a university degree or degrees in Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, or related physical and biological sciences, who, by virtue of special studies and training, has acquired competence in occupational hygiene.’ The profession of occupational hygiene as with many other professions has professional qualifications which take into account not only education but also experience and skills developed.
