The Occupational Hygiene Association (OHTA) began as an international collaboration amongst dedicated occupational hygienists from several nations who wanted people from around the world to enjoy the benefits of a healthy working environment.
It was established as an international training scheme and qualifications framework which provides high-quality training materials in several languages and the infrastructure for low-cost training courses, as part of an internationally recognised programme of study.
We develop training materials and make them readily available for use by students and training providers. We also promote an international qualifications framework so that all hygienists are trained to a consistent, high standard, recognized in all participating countries.
The International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) supports OHTA in its training activities.
Our Principles
OHTA operates with a few basic ground rules. Our aims are to be:
- Inclusive
- Straightforward
- Transparent
- Accessible
- Engaging
We believe that adhering to these operating principles will help to grow the global occupational hygiene community and encourage consensus standards.
Financial Support and Sponsorship
OHTA is a registered UK charity (charity number 1168722) and has recently obtained charitable status as a 501(c)(3) in the United States. Much of the work of OHTA is done on a voluntary basis and this helps us to keep our costs to a minimum. Our operating costs are funded primarily by a small levy on approved training providers based on the number of their students taking OHTA examinations. We rely on sponsors and supporters who share the aims of OHTA to provide funding for investments such as new course development and translations into multiple languages. We are very grateful to the many organisations, including industrial companies, occupational hygiene consultancies and national associations, who help to make our work possible.
OHTA partners with many organisations to enable delivery of the international training and qualifications system. Some of these organisations are commercial providers and we recognise their need to have a sustainable business model and to charge for their services.