OHTA201 Basic Principles in Occupational Hygiene

Course Overview

Industrial diseases have been recognised for more than 2000 years but they remain a problem today. The International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) defines Occupational Hygiene as:
‘The discipline of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment to protect worker health and well-being and safeguard the community at large.’

Occupational hygiene, therefore, focuses essentially on a preventative approach through the minimisation of exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents in the work environment and the adoption of good ergonomic practices.

Course Objectives

This course aims to provide an introduction outlining the broad principles of Occupational Hygiene as the basis for anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards that can be encountered in the workplace.

Who should attend?

Health and safety professionals, and occupational health specialists (including physicians and nurses). Specialists in subjects such as acoustics, ergonomics, human factors, occupational psychology, work organisation, biosafety, acoustics, engineering, or analytical chemistry, who want a broader appreciation of how their role interfaces with other professions over health issues in the workplace.

Course Outline

1. Importance of occupational hygiene
2. Human physiology
3. Chemical hazards recognition
4. Physical hazards recognition
5. Hazards evaluation
6. Control of hazards