Brian Pavilonis Lesson in Public Health

Is our workplace safe? Let’s talk about Industrial Hygiene.
We spend about one third of our lives at work, but how do we make sure that we return home safely? Ensuring the safety and protection of workers is the responsibility of industrial hygienists, who are trained to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and recommend controls for different workplace hazards. These could be anything from poor air quality to safety hazards on the job. Recently, industrial hygienists were on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. They worked with hospitals and schools to ensure a safe return after lockdown by advising employees on the appropriate PPE to wear, and how to reduce exposure to the virus in workplace settings by evaluating and advising on proper ventilation systems. Industrial hygienists do more than just pandemic response. Their job is important and will be in-demand for the forseeable future.
We can no longer ignore that climate change is front and center in our lives and we are experiencing the effects every day. Those kind of changes affect working conditions. For example, as temperatures increase annually, more and more workers will face the effects of extreme heat. Industrial hygienists are trained to measure heat stress and develop controls to reduce the hazards. These extreme temperatures have caused wildfires around the world that have effects globally. Even if you don’t live in an area with wildfires, you may still need to wear a mask or reduce your outdoor time as a result of an unsafe air quality index. For the busy worker, it may be hard to keep up with this as it fluctuates daily. But they don’t have to. Industrial hygienists measure exposure particles generated by fires and determine the risk of short- and long-term health effects to workers. There is no doubt that these skills are invaluable and the career path is very important now and in the future.
Here at CUNY SPH, we educate industrial hygienists and empower them to work in this dynamic, ever-changing career field. If you want to ensure that workers can return home to their families free of injuries and illnesses, a degree in industrial hygiene is just what you need.
Learn more about the industrial hygiene degree and certificate programs at CUNY SPH
MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences: sph.cuny.edu/a...
MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences: sph.cuny.edu/a...
Advanced Certificate in Industrial Hygiene: sph.cuny.edu/a...