What is Industrial Hygiene?

Industrial hygiene is the science of identifying, evaluating and controlling workplace hazards such as chemicals, dust, fumes, noise, vibration and extreme temperatures.

What are the Critical Components of Industrial Hygiene?

1. Hazard communication ensures employees are aware of the risks associated with the hazardous materials in their workspace. It is regulated by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 and the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia Subject 300-3-19.
2. A workplace risk assessment is the organized process of identifying hazards, analyzing and evaluating the associated risks, and implementing controls to protect the health, safety, and well-being of faculty, staff, staff, students, and visitors in the work environment..

What are the Goals of an Industrial Hygiene Program?

1. Provide Practical Safety Training – Ensure that all faculty, staff, students, and researchers receive appropriate training to safely handle chemical, biological, and physical hazards in their laboratories or work areas, and that they consistently follow established safe work practices and procedures.
2. Equip and Enforce Proper PPE Use – Provide employees and students with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protection identified through training and hazard assessments, and ensure consistent use and maintenance of this equipment in all laboratory and field environments.
3. Conduct and Communicate Risk Assessments – Complete risk assessments for all work involving hazardous chemical, biological, or physical agents. Document, review, and communicate findings to ensure that risks are clearly understood and effectively managed within each lab.
4. Promote Accountability in Safe Practices -Take prompt and appropriate action when PPE requirements or other safety procedures are not followed, reinforcing accountability and fostering a culture of shared responsibility for safety.
5. Report and Coordinate Changes in Research Activities – Notify the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Office whenever new research activities, agents, or processes are being introduced—or when significant changes are planned—so that safety requirements can be reviewed and updated proactively.
6. Maintain Required Health Surveillance – Ensure that employees enrolled in hearing conservation or respiratory protection programs complete required medical evaluations and surveillance annually, in coordination with the EHS and occupational health providers.

Last updated: 12/11/2025