Question 1

What is Occupational Hygiene?

Accepted Answer

The definition used by the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) is: "Occupational Hygiene is the discipline of anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large."

Question 2

Where can I undertake/access a recognized course/gain skills in Occupational Hygiene?

Accepted Answer

Education, training and experience are all important aspects of an occupational hygienist’s career. Education can be obtained through formal undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, training can be gained by taking specialised courses, and experience can be achieved by working in the field.
 
There are many excellent occupational safety and health certificate, diploma and degree courses. Most are not accredited by BOHS.  Many courses and webinars help develop competence, but if UK or US based they are unlikely to have irish legal rquirements.  Knowledge of Irish Legislation is essential for those practicing in Ireland.
 
The following univeristy courses are accreditted by BOHS.
 
The University of Greenwich  
MSc Occupational Hygiene 
MSc  Safety, Health and Environment
BSc (Hons) Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (with an occupational hygiene related project)  (Certificate only)
 
The University of Manchester 
MSc Occupational Hygiene  
Postgraduate Diploma Occupational Hygiene  (Certificate only)
 
University of Galway 
MSc/HDip Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety (Full time/Part-time options)
 
Check out the following resources:
 
BOHS Qualifications 
BOHS Events & Networking 
OHTA 
IOHA Webinars 
BOHS Menoring 
HSA 
 
The European Platform for Occupational Hygiene is beginning to establish a European Competency Framework. For details see the Webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8NIvPBYScU

Question 3

Where can I find a competent Occupational Hygiene Consultant?

Accepted Answer

It is the employers responsibility under Health and Safety legislation to ensure they appoint a competent person to carry out any occupational hygiene services.
 
A person is deemed to be a competent person where, having regard to the task he or she is required to perform and taking account of the size or hazards (or both of them) of the undertaking or establishment in which he or she undertakes work, the person possesses sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work to be undertaken.
 
Click here to see the Directory of Occupational Hygiene Services.
 
The PSA REGISTER | OHSI  provides a list of competent occupational hygiene professionals in the Republic of Ireland The Register is administered by the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene, the Professional Standards Body for the British Occupational Hygiene Profession.

Question 4

How do I know what to look for when seeking the services of an occupational hygiene consultant?

Accepted Answer

A person is deemed to be a competent person where, having regard to the task he or she is required to perform and taking account of the size or hazards (or both of them) of the undertaking or establishment in which he or she undertakes work, the person possesses sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of the work to be undertaken.
 
Click here to see the BOHS Buyers Guide September 2021.
 
Click here for the HSA newsletter Feb 2023,
How to achieve best outcomes for occupational hygiene monitoring in your business.
 
The PSA REGISTER | OHSI  provides a list of competent occupational hygiene professionals in the Republic of Ireland The Register is administered by the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene, the Professional Standards Body for the British Occupational Hygiene Profession.
 
When selecting an occupational hygiene service provider, there are some key considerations:
do they have evidence of relevant competency, such as formal qualifications and training (e.g. the BOHS Certificate of Operational Competence or the Diploma of Professional Competence)?
do they have practical experience related to your industry, or processes?
can they explain to you why they are competent to advise you on this problem?
do they have the resources to complete the work within the required timescale?
can they provide references for completed work on similar projects?
are they a member of a relevant professional body e.g. BOHS (British Occupational Hygiene Society), FAAM (Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management), IOA (Institute of Acoustics).

Question 5

Why is the word “hygiene” used?

Accepted Answer

The word hygiene is derived from the name of the Greek goddess of health Hygieia. She was the daughter of Asklepius and the sister of Panacea. While her father and sister were associated with the treatment of diseases, Hygieia is associated with taking care of good health and disease prevention.

Question 6

Is there any difference between Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Hygiene?

Accepted Answer

None really, Industrial Hygiene is the terminology used in the USA.

In some ways the term Occupational is a better description as health risks occur in all places that people work such as offices, shops, hospitals and farms, not just in places you would think of as industrial.

Question 7

As an Occupational Hygiene Professional, how can I keep up to date with developments in REACH and CLP?

Accepted Answer

You can subscribe to the ECHA Newletter – see ECHA

You can sign up for the HSA Newsletters - Newsletters & Bulletins - Health and Safety Authority

Question 8

What about air monitoring for diisocyanates?

Accepted Answer

The UK Methods of Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS 25/4 )can be used for the determination of time-weighted average concentrations of organic isocyanates in workplace atmospheres. The method requires the use of a glass impinger containing 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (1,2-MP) absorbing solution backed with a filter impregnated with 1,2-MP reagent (isocyanate aerosols) or alternatively a single filter impregnated with the 1,2-MP reagent (isocyanate vapour).
 
However, “1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine” is classed as a controlled substance in Ireland under Schedule 1, of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Any establishment that intends to possess this controlled substance on site would require a controlled drug annual licence, issued by the HPRA on behalf of the Department of Health, in order to do so. In addition, any establishment that intends to import/export this controlled substance into/out of Ireland would require a controlled drug import and/or export licence, per consignment, in order to import/export this controlled substance. See www.hpra.ie. 
 
The British Occupational Hygiene Society Group Authority license only applies to members of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene and does not apply to use in the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland.
 
Alternative sampling methods are available for isocyanates, however, they have drawbacks.
They typically fail to measure the total reactive isocyanate group (TRIG) concentration necessary for direct comparison with the OEL.
It is important that any method captures both the aerosol and vapour phases.
In addition, there is evidence that dermal exposures can lead to sensitization. Air monitoring will not measure this exposure so the risk will be underestimated.
Surface monitoring techniques can change colour in presence of some isocyanates – this only indicates presence, not amount.
 
Based on all of these, air sampling for isocyanates is unlikely to provide reliable, usable valuable data. An alternative is to use biological monitoring. 
 
Recent BOHS Webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSddiDwvuDM

Frequently asked questions

What is Occupational Hygiene?

Where can I undertake/access a recognized course/gain skills in Occupational Hygiene?

Where can I find a competent Occupational Hygiene Consultant?

How do I know what to look for when seeking the services of an occupational hygiene consultant?

Why is the word “hygiene” used?

Is there any difference between Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Hygiene?

As an Occupational Hygiene Professional, how can I keep up to date with developments in REACH and CLP?

What about air monitoring for diisocyanates?

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