An occupational hygienist specializes in identifying risks in the workplace and advises organizations on how to avoid and resolve them.
What is occupational hygiene course?
Occupational Hygiene is the discipline of anticipating, recognizing, 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. Hazardous chemical substances. Hazardous biological substances. Ergonomics.
What is occupational health hygiene?
Occupational hygiene is the practice of safeguarding against existing or potential risks in the workplace to protect the health and safety of employees and the surrounding environment. Occupational hygiene is important in many industries such as manufacturing, mining, hospitals, farms and petrochemical plants.
What are the basic principles of occupational hygiene?
W201 Basic Principles of Occupational Hygiene (BPOH) Training Course is an internationally recognized five-day foundation course that outlines extensive principles of Occupational Hygiene as the basis for anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards that can be encountered in the workplace.
How to Become An Occupational Hygienist In South Africa
Qualifications and Training Required for an Occupational Hygienist
Since the term Occupational Hygienist has not been restricted by law, anyone, regardless of knowledge and competency, can call themselves an “Occupational Hygienist”. to aid employers and the public, The South African Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) established membership and certification scheme for professionals interested and working in the field with several grades of memberships depending on the qualifications and experience.
The AIOH states that there are varying levels of training offered in the field of occupational hygiene. The level of training required will relate to the role of the occupational hygienist or technician performing the work.
Training for occupational hygienists requires the successful completion of an acceptable degree in Science or Engineering (or an equivalent qualification) for consideration of one of the professional membership grades.
Duties and Responsibilities of Occupational Hygienists
Specific duties and responsibilities of the occupational hygienist may vary considerably from one job to another. In general, in the context of protecting the health and safety of workers, occupational hygienists:
Observe processes, procedures and operating conditions both inside and outside work sites
Develop strategies for evaluating the work site to determine the degree of risk
Collect and analyse samples to assess worker exposure to physical, chemical and biological agents such as dust, fibres, asbestos, silica, bacteria, mould
Use direct reading instruments, sampling techniques and other methods to measure levels of physical agents such as lighting, heat, noise, vibration and radiation
Determine airborne exposure concentrations of contaminants and compare them to regulatory standards and guidelines and accepted occupational exposure criteria (eg. Safe Work Australia workplace exposure standards (WES), ACGIH TLV)
Evaluate the effectiveness of control strategies implemented to protect against workplace exposures and hazards (eg. personal protective equipment, local extraction ventilation (LEV) systems)
How many occupational hygienists are there in South Africa?
200 occupational hygienists
In South Africa, there are less than 200 occupational hygienists. That equates to one hygienist for every 100,000 employees. As this statistic shows, it is a profession in scarce supply. And this compromises the ability of the mining industry to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of employees.
Where can I study occupational health and safety in South Africa?
South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH) Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
What are the responsibilities of occupational hygienist in South Africa ?
Occupational hygienists assess health risks in a workplace; sample air to determine if there are harmful substances present; measure noise levels in factories; supervise the safe removal from asbestos from buildings; and provide practical advice on how workers can be protected from job-related health and safety risks.
How long does it take to become an occupational hygienist in South Africa ?
For certification as a Certified Industrial Hygienist, an industrial hygiene specialist needs a bachelor’s degree and four years of professional experience with references.
What is the difference between industrial hygiene and occupational hygiene?
Industrial hygiene attempts to eliminate or minimize the exposure of environmental or work hazards on human or public health by engineering controls and good housekeeping and keeps the workplace environment clean, pollution-free and hygienic while occupational health deals with the effects of exposure that penetrates
What is the importance of occupational health and hygiene in South Africa ?
This helps you to avoid any types of industrial issues and maintain a safe working environment for the workers. An occupational hygiene assessment helps in determining, The nature of the hazard present in the workplace. The risks of acute or chronic health effects caused by potential hazards.
How much do occupational health and safety officers earn in South Africa?
Certificate (Cert), Occupational Health and Safety Jobs by Salary
| Job Title | Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Job Title:Safety Officer | Range:R91k – R328k | Average:R192,528 |
| Health and Safety Manager | Range:R128k – R603k | Average:R290,657 |
| Construction Safety Officer | Range:R96k – R291k | Average:R167,877 |
| Safety Manager | Range:R186k – R741k |
How long is occupational health and safety course?
12-months
Each course is 12-months long. In this time, you learn practical skills you need to start your career. OHS courses we provide are: Coordinator Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.