In today’s society there are many specialists. Not only are there specialists in the medical industry, there are also sub-specialists. There are doctors who specialize in surgery, surgeons, but then then there are surgeons that specialize on particular organs of the body, like heart surgeons and brain surgeons. The same is true in many other industries. There are human resources specialists and then there people that go even deeper and specialize in how to merge two companies together.
In today’s society there are many specialists. Not only are there specialists in the medical industry, there are also sub-specialists. There are doctors who specialize in surgery, surgeons, but then then there are surgeons that specialize on particular organs of the body, like heart surgeons and brain surgeons. The same is true in many other industries. There are human resources specialists and then there people that go even deeper and specialize in how to merge two companies together. One has a broad understanding of how to manage people in many different situations and the other specializes in how to manage people under one particular situation.
The same is true with understanding and managing facilities and corporations health and safety plans. Newly graduated students from EH&S, or Environmental Health and Safety, programs are very general in what they know and understand about the field. As they gain experience some choose to keep a very broad focus and do not try to obtain any types of certifications, others do attempt certain certifications.
The most specialized and most difficult to achieve is the CIH license. CIH stands for Certified Industrial Hygienist. To qualify to sit to take the CIH exam you must have at least 5 years of experience and you must have a bachelor’s degree. However, typically a CIH has an advanced degree in EH&S. Once a person takes the exam and passes it they become part of a very elite crowd of people in the industry. It is difficult to become a CIH and the amount of knowledge necessary is abundant, but once certified then it allows the CIH to be very specialized in his field.
But who hires a CIH? Lots of people hire them. The government hires them to do jobs that an Industrial Hygienist can do, but they want the expertise of a CIH. For instance, if the government had a handful of buildings that they needed to have the indoor air quality (IAQ) checked, they could ask for an industrial hygienist. Typically the hygienist is qualified to do the work and submit the results, but since the government is willing to pay a premium they request that a CIH is heavily involved. Will the CIH actually take all the air samples that are necessary? Probably not, but they do get watch and assist the industrial hygienist should they need any help.
Certified Industrial Hygienist performs a wide array of jobs. They have a ton of knowledge and are truly experts in their field. If you would like to have a Certified Industrial Hygienist come to your plant or facility click here to find a CIH in your area.
Occupational Health Overcomes Everyday Hazards
Many workers face different types of hazards on a daily basis. Each company has a responsibility to proactively protect their employees from hazards encountered in the workplace. Accidents or injuries can bring production to a halt, reduce the workforce while the employee is recovering and lead to costly worker compensation claims. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can help your company improve the Occupational Health present at your facility.
The Risk from Asbestos
Asbestos poses a major health risk in many office buildings and homes due to the wide adoption and usage of asbestos as an insulator in the construction process. Asbestos can be found in the glue beneath vinyl flooring or in material applied to concrete to regulate the temperature between floors in an office building. These buildings and homes are being remodeled and modernized as an update to the space, but the demolition process can be hazardous if asbestos is present. Test for asbestos prior to starting your next remodeling project to ensure workers are safe.
Communicating the Dangers with HazCom
Hazard Communication focuses on explaining the dangers present at the workplace. The employees have a right to understand the hazards present and how to remain safe on the jobsite. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can work with your company to fulfill the HazCom requirement set forth by OSHA.
