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What Is An Occupational Health Consultant? How Do I Find One?

If you need occupational health services discussed in this article, call us at 973-366-4660 or e-mail us at info@atlenv.com for details and a free estimate.

Written By:  Henry P. Shotwell, Ph.D., CIH and Robert E. Sheriff, MS, CIH, CSP

November 7, 2018; August 2019; Updated November 2021

Occupational Health and Safety

People engaged in manufacturing, the folks who make the products we all use every day, are exposed to a wide variety of chemical liquids, gases, vapors, fumes, fibers, dust particles, microbes, and other particulates, which all have the capacity to cause harm. Of course, just because something can hurt you, doesn’t mean that it will. Then again, even ordinary drinking water can be dangerous.

So, who determines whether a particular chemical, microbe, or particulate is likely to hurt a worker who is exposed during their work activities?  Enter the Industrial Hygienist, also referred to as an Occupational Health Specialist or Occupational Hygienist, or even an Occupational Health Consultant.

The Occupational Health Consultant must consider many factors regarding the nature of suspect material and its level of exposure to individuals.  What harm are the materials or particulates capable of causing? How long will the worker be in contact with them?  Will it be all shift long, or only for a brief period? Can the material be absorbed through the skin?  How does the material enter the body? Is it more harmful to breathe than it is to touch?  Will temperature or humidity alter the harmful nature? Does it have an odor that can serve as a warning?

These questions can be answered by the qualified professional after assessing the workplace conditions, referring to a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or one of the many available online databases such as the National Library of Medicine’s TOXNET, taking samples/testing for laboratory analysis or making measurements with a direct reading instrument.  The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is a source of information, education and a list of consultants who may assist with your occupational health needs.

After considering all these variables, the expert may conclude that engineering controls or some alteration of work practices are needed to reduce or even eliminate potentially harmful exposures. As a last resort, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be recommended to protect the workers’ health, but PPE alone is often not enough protection.

Occupational Health Consultants

We have much more information on our website on this subject. Feel free to browse through the information, contact us using our online form, e-mail us info@atlenv.com, or call 973-366-4660. As expert occupational health consultants, we can discuss your individual needs and we can provide you with a complimentary, no-obligation quotation.

Our primary service areas for Occupational Health are: New Jersey NJNew York NY, (New York City)Pennsylvania PAConnecticut CTDelaware DEMassachusetts, (Boston) MARhode Island RIWashington DCWisconsin WIMaryland MDMichigan MIIllinois (Chicago) ILVirginia VAIndiana INGeorgia (Atlanta) GAAlabama ALNorth Carolina NCSouth Carolina SCTennessee TNTexas (Dallas, Ft Worth) TXOklahoma OKDCArkansas AR, Florida FL. We can service most other areas of the U.S. but additional travel charges will be applied.

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