How OSHA defines an Industrial Hygienists


“Industrial hygienists play a major role in developing and issuing OSHA standards to protect workers from health hazards associated with toxic chemicals, biological hazards, and harmful physical agents. They provide technical assistance and support to the agency's national and regional offices. OSHA also employs industrial hygienists who assist in setting up field enforcement procedures, and who issue technical interpretations of OSHA regulations and standards.”

Industrial hygienists are your logical choice when getting outside contract help to help you with OSHA compliance. However, please note that OSHA use legalese to directly avoid the issue that OSHA officers are not all industrial hygienists. The field compliance officer does NOT need an industrial hygienist's degree and is trained by OSHA. In fact we conclude from the opening statement in this booklet that 60% are not formally trained in indu

strial hygiene or engineering. An ex-manager from OSHA's New York office told this author that it is not required that OSHA compliance officers have any college degree. I called a number of other offices. It may happen an officer has a degree, but it is not required. In the past, this worked out OK, since the field officer's reports were scrutinized by professionals in the office. Now, apparently, field officers have a freer hand, according to this source. The training of most of these field officers is limited only to what OSHA provides. Typical salary starts at $40,000 and can increase if they meet the standard government requirements for promotion. They have a very good benefit package and a salary that even degreed engineers today envy.

This means that the typical compliance officer goes only by the book in enforcing regulations and follows the OSHA handbooks very closely. Their training is by OSHA and may not really be relevant or based on any actual industrial experience. It is important for the business being inspected to keep this in mind and realize they have to follow the booklets carefully. 







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