| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | EHS Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 3 to 6 years in industrial hygiene or occupational health |
Industrial Hygienist job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Industrial Hygienist
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: EHS Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An Industrial Hygienist protects workers from health hazards by measuring and controlling workplace exposures to noise, dust, chemicals, heat and other agents. They survey the workplace, monitor exposures, compare them to limits, and recommend controls. The role reports to the EHS Manager or Occupational Health lead. A good industrial hygienist finds and quantifies real exposure risks, recommends practical controls that reduce them, keeps sound monitoring records, and helps protect workers from long term occupational illness.
Key responsibilities
- Survey workplaces to identify chemical, physical and biological health hazards.
- Monitor exposures to noise, dust, fumes, chemicals, heat and vibration.
- Compare measured worker exposures against the relevant occupational exposure limits.
- Recommend engineering, administrative and personal protective controls to reduce exposure.
- Assess ventilation and local exhaust systems for their effectiveness at source.
- Support selection and fit of respiratory and hearing protection.
- Maintain calibration of monitoring instruments and quality of results.
- Keep exposure monitoring records and trends for each work area.
- Support occupational health with exposure data for health surveillance.
- Train workers on health hazards and the controls that protect them.
Requirements
- Degree in science or engineering with occupational hygiene training
- Certification in industrial hygiene is an advantage
- Knowledge of exposure limits
- 3 to 6 years in industrial hygiene or occupational health
KRAs and KPIs for a Industrial Hygienist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Exposure monitoring | Planned exposure monitoring completed for every high risk area on schedule |
| Control effectiveness | Recommended controls implemented and reducing exposure below the limit |
| Instrument quality | Monitoring instruments calibrated and results valid on every survey |
| Records | Exposure records and trends complete for every work area |
| Health surveillance link | Exposure data provided for health surveillance on schedule |
| Training | Health hazard awareness training delivered to the planned areas |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Sound level meter, Personal dust sampler, Gas detector tubes, Heat stress monitor, Ventilation meters.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Industrial Hygienist, Occupational Health Lead, EHS Manager
Interview questions for a Industrial Hygienist
- How do you assess worker exposure to a hazardous chemical?
- How do you decide the priority of health hazards in a plant?
- How do you check whether a local exhaust system is working well?
- How do you recommend controls following the hierarchy of controls?
- How do you make sure your monitoring results are valid?
- Tell me about an exposure risk you found and how you reduced it.
Managing a Industrial Hygienist in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your environment, health and safety team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does an industrial hygienist do?
An industrial hygienist protects workers from health hazards by measuring and controlling workplace exposures to noise, dust, chemicals, heat and other agents. They survey the workplace, monitor exposures, compare them to limits, and recommend controls. They keep sound monitoring records and help protect workers from long term occupational illness.
What qualifications do you need to be an industrial hygienist?
Most industrial hygienists hold a degree in science or engineering with occupational hygiene training, and a certification in industrial hygiene is an advantage. Employers look for skill in exposure monitoring, knowledge of occupational exposure limits, the ability to assess ventilation and recommend controls, and careful record keeping and instrument calibration.
What is the difference between industrial hygiene and safety?
Safety focuses on preventing immediate injuries from hazards like machines, falls and fire. Industrial hygiene focuses on health hazards that harm workers over time, such as noise, dust and chemical exposure. An industrial hygienist measures these exposures and recommends controls, working alongside safety to protect both short and long term worker health.