Industrial / Occupational Hygienist
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Occupational hygienists use scientific methodology to anticipate, identify, and evaluate workplace exposures and hazards. They recommend and implement controls to reduce or eliminate the exposures and hazards. They suggest changes to work environments and processes and inform managers and workers on ways to reduce the risk of injury or illness from occupational hazards. (alis)
There are a number of places where occupational hygienists can find employment, including: federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal government departments; industries like manufacturing, oil and gas, agriculture, transportation, and forestry; public organizations such as hospitals, universities, and school boards; and consulting firms. (ECO Canada)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- Career Profile: Occupational Hygienist - from ECO Canada
- Bioscience Officer - Canadian Forces
- Interview: Occupational Hygiene Technologist, Environmental Health & Safety - UM Today News - Human Resources
- Occupational Health and Safety Expert - ExploreHealthCareers.org
- Discover IH - career information from the American Industrial Hygiene Association
- What is an Industrial Hygienist? - EnvironmentalScience.org
Education
The University of Manitoba does not offer specific training in Industrial/Occupational Hygiene, but does offer related programs and courses. Students interested in becoming a certified industrial/occupational hygienist may choose to complete a related degree prior to taking an registration exam. Background education for this field may include post-secondary education in industrial health and safety, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering or environmental science (ABIH & ECO Canada).
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit the faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
- Faculty of Science
- Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth & Resources
- Faculty of Engineering
Exploring Other Education Options
- Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienist examination eligibility
- American Board of Industrial Hygiene certification examination eligibility
- College/University Programs in OH&S - Cdn Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (U.S.) - accredited programs
- Association of Schools of Public Health - U.S. Educational Programs
- Council on Education for Public Health (U.S.) - program list
- Accredited Undergraduate
- Graduate programs with the National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC)
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis - Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- AIHA Salary Survey - 2019(video sneak peak) - incl. Canada and U.S.
- I want to be an occupational hygienist, what will my salary be? - The Globe and Mail
- Careers in Environmental Health & Safety: Current Job Trends and Future Growth (2014) - ECO Canada
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations organize events and directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities are also available. This is a great way to learn and network.
- Canadian Council of Occupational Hygiene
- Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienist
- American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
- American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH)
- International Occupational Hygiene Association
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- AIHA Consultant Directory - international
- Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada
- Made Safe Manitoba - manufacturing safety association
- Manufacturers Safety Council - Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
External resources that will provide you with additional information about the occupation, areas of work and opportunities to build experience:
- UM Environmental Health & Safety Office
- Workplace Safety & Health - Government of Manitoba
- Occupational and Environmental Safety & Health (OESH) - Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
- Health Canada - Government of Canada
- Demystifying Occupational Hygiene - HazMat Magazine
- Core Competencies for the Practice of Industrial/Occupational Hygiene - from AIHA
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- Canada Safety Council
- Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - U.S. CDC
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration - U.S. Department of Labour