Industrial Hygiene Questions and Answers

Q:  What is industrial hygiene? 

A:  It helps if you know "Hygeia" was the Greek goddess of health. Often depicted with a serpent (the symbol of health), Hygeia is the daughter of Asclepius, the god of medicine, and sister to Panacea, goddess of remedies.  The Hippocratic Oath for physicians began "I swear by Apollo the Physician and Asclepius and Hygeia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses. . . "

"Hygiene" is the science of the promotion and preservation of health, and "industrial hygiene" is the profession that deals with occupational health hazards.  In much of the world, industrial hygiene is known as "occupational hygiene". 

Q:  What kind of people become industrial hygienists?

A:  Industrial hygienists generally like to solve problems and they enjoy helping others.  Good speaking and writing skills are important, as industrial hygienists need to communicate and interact with workers and management.  Industrial hygiene is a technical field, so it helps to have an aptitude and interest in the sciences.   IH professionals are represented by people of all ages, races and genders.  For example, one fourth of U.S. industrial hygienists are female. 

 Q:  What do industrial hygienists do?

 A:  Industrial hygienists are involved with chemical, physical, and biological hazards, and they often use instruments and specialized equipment to evaluate these hazards.  Industrial hygienists specify methods to control the hazards, such as using a ventilation system or wearing protective equipment.  While industrial hygienists usually are "generalists" with a wide base of knowledge and expertise, they also may specialize in specific areas like ergonomics or radiation safety, for example.

 Q:  Where do industrial hygienist work?

 A:  Industrial hygienists work for government, industry, insurance companies, consultants, and regulatory agencies like OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They often find themselves doing work in related fields, such as safety or environmental compliance.  

Most industrial hygiene jobs are found in the more industrialized and populated regions of the country, like the East, Midwest, and West Coast.  Here in the Intermountain region, many industrial hygienists work for mining companies, government, and industry. 

Q: How much money do industrial hygienists make?

A: Recent surveys show industrial hygienists average $75,000 to $82,000 per year.

Of course, salary varies according to years of experience, type of job, industry, and geographical area. Starting salaries for USU grads typically range from about $40,000 to more than $50,000.

 Q:  Where can I get more information about industrial hygiene?

 A:  For a start, you can check out the IH professional organizations, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association. 

For a more technical look at industrial hygiene, visit the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) web site.  Their "Safety and Health Topics" offer detailed information for specific industrial hygiene and safety subjects.  Each topic is organized by the industrial hygiene principles of "recognition", "evaluation", and "control".  Also, check out the OSHA Technical Manual for professional-level guidance.   Another valuable resource is NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Q: Are Utah State industrial hygiene graduates successful?

A: Utah State has a nationally recognized industrial hygiene program, and our students do very well after graduation. Our program is one of only five accredited undergraduate industrial hygiene programs in the US, and USU Public Health faculty members are certified in industrial hygiene (CIH). USU graduates are eagerly sought by employers looking for quality candidates and students are very successful in pursuing advanced schooling (medical school, graduate school, etc.).