Government enforcement is a critical element in ensuring good standards of occupational hygiene.
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Occupational health is an often-neglected area in developing countries. The personal and social impact of work-related ill health is enormous but the need for employment is often used as an argument against improving health and safety standards. It is vitally important that the few occupational hygienists working in this challenging environment make their voices heard and constantly strive to demonstrate that ‘decent work’ is not only an employee’s right but is also cost effective in the long term for employers.
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Rob Ferrie
Head of Occupational Hygiene•National Institute for Occupational Health, South Africa
Inspection
Enforcing inspectors visit businesses to check compliance with regulations and can bring legal action when problems are found. Inspectors are often health and safety generalists, who call in specialist occupational hygienists when help is needed to carry out surveys and provide advice.
Policymaking
Senior hygienists may also be involved in making national policy and regulation which can include:
Serving on national and international committees
Liaising with many national scientific, industrial and academic bodies
Commissioning or conducting research
Collating data for standard setting
Producing guidance on the whole spectrum of prevention and control issues
Drafting and reviewing legislation
State Services
Some countries provide state occupational hygiene services, through central institutes of occupational health. These services may have research, enforcement or advisory roles, and are often laboratory based.