Industrial / Occupational Hygiene
What is Industrial or Occupational Hygiene?
Industrial hygiene, also known as occupational hygiene, is “the discipline of anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large.’ -International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA)
What is an Industrial Hygienist?
According to the AIHA, industrial hygienists are scientists and engineers committed to protecting the health and safety of people in the workplace and the community. Industrial hygiene is considered a “science,” but it is also an art that involves judgement, creativity and human interaction.
The goal of the industrial hygienist is to keep workers, their families, and community members healthy and safe. They play a vital role in ensuring that federal, provincial, and local laws and regulations are followed in the work environment.
The IOHA points out that occupational hygienists assess health risks in the workplace; sample air to determine if there are harmful substances present; measure noise levels in factories; supervise the safe removal from asbestos from buildings; and provide practical advice on how workers can be protected from job-related health and safety risks.
Occupational hygienists work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and mining. Some hygienists are employed as consultants or researchers. Others work may work in government, hospitals and public utilities.
Please click here to find a video that was created by the AIHA to describe the role of industrial hygienists in keeping people safe at work.
Where did the terms occupational and industrial hygiene come from?
The term ‘industrial hygienist’ is commonly used in the US, and reflects the fact that the roots of the profession were largely in industrial settings, such as mines. The term ‘occupational hygienist’ is now commonly used in many parts of the world, and accurately suggests that the work of a hygienist is not limited to industrial settings.
The word ‘hygiene’ is of Greek origin and describes a set of practices that are performed to preserve health and prevent disease. The Greek goddess of health, Hygeia, was concerned with the preservation of good health and the prevention of disease.
Happy 25th Anniversary!
The APS enjoyed a terrific spring technical session and 25th anniversary celebration! We are especially grateful for the fantastic social event that was fully sponsored by ALL-TECH Environmental Services Limited.
Thank you to those who donated door prizes, including Levitt Safety, Schooner Industrial, Safety Services Nova Scotia, AIHA National, and Clive MacGregor & Associates Ltd. A special thanks goes to Kari Graves for the beautiful and delicious cakes that she prepared.
These events also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution made by the original APS Officers who got the APS rolling: Judy Guernsey, Jim LeBlanc, Nancy Taylor, and Lee O’Blenis.
As we enjoy the use of the new website, we’d like to acknowledge the 13 years that Kim Gordon and NB Power supported the operation of the previous APS website. Thank you as well to Arad Gharagozli for creating the new site. We’d be happy to discuss advertising opportunities on this homepage.
Happy 25th!
APS Officers
APS Spring Technical Session
The topic of the upcoming spring technical session is “The Lac-Megantic Disaster Revisited: Root Cause Analysis and the Hygiene Aspects of Disaster Response”. The technical session will be held at the Ramada Plaza at 240 Brownlow Ave. in Dartmouth, NS on Friday March 27th.
It will be a full day session with presentations given by Dr. Melissa Genereux – the Director of Public Health for the Eastern Townships in Quebec and by Mr. Don Ross – a lead investigator from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
You can register online by logging into your account, selecting “payment system” from the drop down tab, then “AIHA Tech Session”. If you do not have an account, please select the “Become a Member” button on the homepage so you can benefit from the reduced member rate for all technical sessions this year.
Safety Services Nova Scotia Conference
The annual NS workplace health and safety conference is renowned for a high quality program and top notch speakers – offering the latest and most effective tools for creating, maintaining and improving workplace health & safety. Keynote speakers have left lasting impressions over the years!
Over 50 exhibits will showcase the latest health & safety products, services and expertise. Opportunities to learn from experts and network with peers. Find out what all the excitement is about!!
Enjoy Maritime hospitality, while absorbing cutting edge safety information. The event will be held from March 22 – March 24, 2015. See the SSNS Conference website for details.
AIHce Conference & Exposition
Registration is now open for the American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition (AIHce) – A must-attend event for industrial hygiene and occupational and environmental health and safety professionals. Join thousands of your colleagues at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, May 30 – June 4, 2015, for world-class education and networking opportunities.
Six Questions to Ask Your Agent Regarding Your Professional Liability Policy
So, you have researched broadly and decided that you require professional liability insurance, right? You are on the right track. After all, better safe than sorry. Before you settle for a policy, you should note that not all policies are the same. Before signing the dotted line, it is advisable to consult your insurance agent for guidance on everything regarding the professional liability insurance offers.
As you get started, here are six questions you can ask the agent regarding the cover:
Does the policy offer claims-made coverage?
Claims- made coverage implies that for you to receive the benefits, your policy should be active at the time. Most E & O policies operate on this basis. Two time factors are considered:
- When was the claim over the initial incident filed?
- When did the alleged incident first occur?
If the policy is a claims-made policy, it means that you will only receive compensation if the two conditions are met. If an incident takes place while your policy is still active but a lawsuit from the said event occurs years later when you are no longer on the policy, then you will not receive coverage. That is why cancelling your claims-made policy is not a good idea. At times, a claims-made policy might protect you against incidences that occurred before you purchased the policy. Ask your agent about this.
What is my deductible?
A deductible refers to the payment you must pay before you can receive the insurance benefits. For instance, if your deductible is $1000 and a claim costs $5000, you are supposed to pay $1000 while the insurer pays the rest. A high deductible is advisable for those who think they might face several claims, or are worried about expensive claims. A low deductible is better for those who are likely to face several inexpensive claims. Remember to ask your agent for advice on the most appropriate for your business.
Will my policy cover me if a sue someone?
Most policy will not cover you if you decide to sue other businesses. In case someone causes harm to your company, you can recoup your loss through other policies such as property insurance. Again, talk to your agent about this.
What are the limits?
The limits for your E & O insurance are the maximum amount payable in the event of a claim. It might be broken further into sub limits. For instance, a general liability cover might be worth $1,000,000 but you only get $10,000 for medical expenses. Therefore, discuss the terms of the policy with your agent.
What happens in case I skip a payment?
Most policies will provide a grace period, which means you are covered for a certain period if you do not renew immediately. Usually, failure to pay premiums beyond this period means you lose the coverage. You might want to talk to your agent about the most appropriate payment plan.
Will the insurer assign me a lawyer when am sued?
Some policies stipulate that the insurer will cover for the legal expenses and also offer you a lawyer in case of a lawsuit. Other policies will require you to find your lawyer then compensate later. Talk to your agent about this issue.