Q. What is Occupational Hygiene?
A. Occupational Hygiene is a specialised discipline within Occupational Health and Safety which is dedicated to the prevention of ill-health resulting from the workplace. It basically aims to prevent people getting ill as a result of their work activities.

Q. What is the main concern of occupational hygiene?
A. Occupational Hygiene is primarily concerned with the working environment itself rather than the medical effect on the workforce. Focusing on factors in the workplace, which may affect comfort, well-being and health.

Q. What does an Occupational Hygienist do?
A.The Occupational Hygienist must:

• Identify the hazards present in the workplace which may impact the health or well being of the workforce and advise on how to eliminate or reduce these.Hazards may be of a chemical, physical, biological nature. The hygienist must understand the possible routes of entry of these hazards into the body, and the effects on health of such exposure.
• Monitor the potential exposure to harmful substances in the workplace and interpret and communicate these results to the relevant people including those involved in the monitoring.
• Develop strategies (alone or with other disciplines), which will control the hazards at the workplace.
• Participate in risk assessments and developing management strategies for eliminating or controlling the hazards.
• Be able to communicate the legal requirements of occupational hygiene, to the workforce and management.
• Be involved in the education, training, provision of information and advice to all levels of the workforce in aspects of hazard communication.
• Be aware of the environmental implications of the work activities and integrate occupational hygiene practice with environmental protection.