Wednesday, May 01st
Industrial hygiene (IH), the deliberate and scientific control of occupational hazards and risks, is more important than ever. Yet for the last 20 years, the number of certified industrial hygienists (CIHs) has been on the decline. CIH responsibilities are being subsumed by technicians and EHS generalists, farmed out to costly consultants, or even left unfulfilled.
The EHS industry is changing in response to these challenges. For one thing, professional organizations such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have opened their doors and have begun targeting their message about the importance of IH to broader audiences.
For another, EHS software is empowering employees at all levels to make workplaces healthier, more productive environments. Best of breed cloud-based programs make it easy to follow industry best practices, capture data, facilitate the flow of information, and provide real-time visibility and reporting into occupational activities.
A great example of the ability of software to bolster IH is in the management of chemicals. Proper chemical management is a critical component of a solid IH program, even if many organizations fall short. Hazard Communication has ranked #2 or #3 on OSHA’s annual list of most cited violations for more than a decade, which points to systemic chemical management issues that undermine the effectiveness of IH programs and place workers at risk.
To read the full article and see a list of five ways software can help improve chemical management, strengthen your IH program, and protect the safety of your workforce, click here.
