What is Industrial Hygiene?

Industrial Hygiene is the art and science dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace environmental stressors that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well being of workers. These stressors include biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial factors.

Industrial Hygiene is related to workplace safety, but more concerned with non-mechanical and non-tactile hazards such as noise, fumes, chemical exposure – as opposed to falls, crushing dangers, “physical dangers”, heat and burning dangers, etc.

Industrial Safety may recommend personal Protection Equipment (PPE) but industrial hygiene attempts to prevent the need for PPE whenever possible by removing or controlling the causes.