Owning a business comes with major responsibilities, and one of these is to ensure a safe and comfortable workplace for employees. Achieving this can be a difficult feat, especially when you consider the many different areas that need to be managed in order to maintain safety and productivity. That’s where occupational hygienists come in.
So, what do these professionals do and how can they make your work environment better? Read on to learn more!
What Are Occupational Hygienists?
Occupational hygienists are professionals who work to protect workers from potential harm by assessing, monitoring, and controlling a wide range of workplace hazards. They evaluate the potential risks associated with the task environment, such as chemical exposure, dust and noise levels, air quality, temperature, and humidity.
These workplace hygiene experts also work to ensure that workplace safety protocols are followed appropriately and that all necessary safety measures are implemented. They also strive to ensure that your employees have access to the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and other resources they need in order to remain safe on the job.
In Australia, occupational hygienists possess a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or a related field. In addition to their educational background, they must also be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which ensures that they adhere to the highest standards of professional practice.
What’s the Difference Between Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Health?
Occupational hygiene focuses on assessing, monitoring, and controlling potential workplace health risks. Meanwhile, occupational health has a much broader scope, encompassing all aspects of physical, mental, and social well-being in the workplace.
Industrial hygiene professionals play an essential role in the overall quality of your workplace, specifically by providing you with comprehensive assessments and recommendations on how to reduce or eliminate potential health risks. Occupational physicians, on the other hand, provide a much more comprehensive approach to worker health, covering topics such as employee medical checks and mental health support.
How Do Occupational Hygienists Work for Your Business?
There are many ways occupational hygienists can assist your business in ensuring a great environment for your employees.
Assess Workplace Hygiene
The main role of these professionals is to provide workplace hygiene assessment services. This involves evaluating the potential health risks associated with your workplace and providing recommendations on how to mitigate these risks.
They can then advise you on the best safety measures to implement, such as proper ventilation systems, adequate protection against airborne contaminants, and appropriate PPE. These workplace exposure assessments help ensure that your employees are able to work without fear of exposure to potentially hazardous substances or situations.
Help Conduct Fit-for-Work Assessments
Occupational hygienists work hand-in-hand with other occupational health and safety professionals to conduct fit-for-work assessments. These evaluations help to identify any pre-existing medical conditions that may put your employees at a higher risk of injury or illness while performing their job duties.
The results of these assessments then provide an important basis for ensuring that appropriate protocols are in place, allowing you to create an even safer work environment for all people within your facility.
Offer Health and Safety Consulting
These professionals can also act as occupational health and safety consultants to offer advice on the best practices for a particular workplace. They can assess the safety measures in place and recommend any changes that may be necessary to improve overall work conditions.
This type of professional consulting service can help you make sure that your business is up-to-date with the latest occupational health and safety regulations, as well as identify potential areas of improvement. This ensures that your employees are protected to the fullest extent, while also optimising productivity.
Provide Training and Education Services
There are certain situations that necessitate the implementation of specialised safety protocols. In these cases, occupational hygienists can provide training and education services to ensure that your employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities in order to maintain a safe work environment.
This type of training helps ensure that all workplace safety measures are properly understood and implemented by everyone, greatly reducing the risk of accidents and illnesses.
Hire These Workplace Hygiene Experts Now!
With the invaluable benefits that occupational hygienists can bring to your business, it has never been more important to invest in their services. With them, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that every aspect of your work environment is being managed and monitored, giving you the confidence to focus on achieving better results.
If you need more business management tips, you can check out our other articles!
