Environmental and occupational health is concerned with the recognition, evaluation and control of health hazards that arise in the workplace. Recognition is the process of identifying hazards in the workplace which is the first step to controlling or eliminating risk at work. Potential hazards in the workplace may include chemical, physical, ergonomic, and biological hazards. Evaluation is this process of quantifying the hazard and using that information to assess the risks to the workers or to the environment.
Control is implemented after a detailed evaluation is completed.
They are designed to control contaminants in the workplace and reduce the risk of injury or illness to the worker. To accomplish the recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards in the workplace the industrial hygienist must work with the company, with management, factory engineers, employees, government regulations, and the general public. A successful industrial hygienist combines technical skills with excellent communication skills to reduce risks in the work place. Industrial hygienists apply their training in chemistry, physiology, toxicology, physics, and engineering to identify and eliminate workplace and environmental hazards. They work on a wide variety of projects.