We want Australian workers to be able to go home safely at the end of each day to their family and friends.

Occupational hygienists use their scientific knowledge, skills and experience to champion the protection of workers from the hazardous chemicals and other agents they have to work with.
Occupational hygienists

Use science & technology

to measure worker exposures, assess worker risks and develop controls to improve the workplace environment. Occupational hygienists can provide advice on control strategies including hazard elimination, engineering modifications, administrative controls and finally personal protective equipment. We focus on worker health protection by assessing the risk of hazards and improving work conditions and work practices.

A Guide for Selection of Occupational Hygiene Services

This information is designed to assist a business to determine how to find the correct level of occupational hygiene assistance.

An Occupational Hygienist is a workplace health professional. Their role involves the anticipation, recognition and evaluation of health hazards.  They focus on controlling health risk by designing workable solutions to eliminate or reduce them to protect workers’ health.

The AIOH is the body responsible for awarding and managing occupational hygienist professional level membership in Australia. Professional level membership is determined by level of qualification, competency and experience.

  • Fellow Members are full members who have been nominated for distinguished service to occupational hygiene and have more than fifteen years’ industry experience and five years as a full member. Fellow members carry the nominal of FAIOH.
  • Full members of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (AIOH) have tertiary qualifications in occupational hygiene, science or engineering and have five years’ experience in the field. Full members carry the nominal of MAIOH
  • Provisional members of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (AIOH) have tertiary qualifications in occupational hygiene, science or engineering and have one year experience in the field.
  • Certified Occupational Hygienists are full or fellow members who have been awarded the highest level of proficiency determined by the AIOH and additionally carry the nominal COH.
  • An Occupational Hygienist may have a recognised equivalent competency under an international certification scheme.
  • AIOH members are bound by a Professional Code of Conduct to only undertake occupational hygiene services and give advice within their expertise.
  • Further information may be sought from the AIOH regarding membership levels (Career Development Pathway – AIOH). For further information please consult Membership – AIOH.

Selection of Occupational Hygiene Services Summary

Assistance Required Qualified Resources
Unsure what assistance is required
  • Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)®
  • Fellow Member (FAIOH) | Full Member (MAIOH)
Conduct a site Health Risk Assessment
  • Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)®
  • Fellow Member (FAIOH ) | Full Member (MAIOH)
Plan air monitoring at the workplace (including establishing SEGs and a sampling plan), draw conclusions, assess compliance to standards and present findings to regulators.
  • Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)®
  • Fellow Member (FAIOH ) |  Full Member (MAIOH)

Note: some states/industries/contaminants mandate that such programs must be conducted or overseen by a COH (for example crystalline silica substances)
Conduct exposure monitoring at the workplace
  • Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)®
  • Fellow Member (FAIOH ) |  Full Member (MAIOH)
  • Provisional Member
  • Sampling Technician with relevant competencies described for specific contaminants under the supervision of an FAIOH/MAIOH/ COH.
Conduct assessment of a complex or specialised area
  • Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)®
Assistance with regulations or direction by an Inspector
  • Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)®
  • Fellow Member (FAIOH ) | Full Member (MAIOH)
Conduct respirator fit testing or to find an AIOH-accredited respirator fit testing consultant
Assistance with Crystalline Silica Substances (CSS) in accordance with Model WHS Regulation 529C(A)
Find an Occupational Hygiene Consultant
How to become an Occupational Hygienist
Advertise an Occupational Hygiene role for your organisation
Additional Resources

 

Occupational hygiene is the

Anticipation

Recognition

Evaluation

Control

Confirmation of Protection

from hazards at work that may result in injury,
illness, or affect the well-being of workers.

Health hazards frequently encountered in the workplace include noise, whole body and hand arm vibration from tools and mobile equipment, chemicals from processing and maintenance activities as well as dusts such as asbestos, respirable crystalline silica, coal dust and diesel exhaust particulate. In times of climate change, issues such as heat stress from elevated ambient temperatures, bush fires, as well as moulds from floods, also pose significant risks to workers.

There are many ways that workers can be exposed to health hazards. Occupational hygienists can assess the hazards and help manage the risks to ensure the continued health of all workers.

Courtesy of ABC Australia