The survival of Industrial Hygiene practitioners in a discipline that is to last well into the 21st Century, depends on changing the nature of industrial hygiene (IH) interventions from control to prevention. This requires an amplification of the industrial hygienist "mission," that must include the responsibility of the work environment as part of the general environment where industry functions. These IH activities should denote a holistic strategy where Primary Prevention precedes the traditional secondary prevention methods, such as administrative and engineering controls. Customary control methods should be part of a prevention strategy but not the end of the intervention activity. What is defined in environmental science practice as Pollution Prevention, including, substitutions, changes of process configurations and toxics use reduction, should be the primary focus of industrial hygiene practice as well. Arguments for the necessity of this change in IH practice will be made. A discussion of how to achieve this new approach in field industrial hygiene practice will also be presented.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn to expand their definition of the industrial hygienist and their role in the workplace.
Keywords: Primary Prevention, Occupational Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.