Introduction : 

Workplace health and safety has risen to the forefront of India's agenda as the country develops into an international industrial and manufacturing superpower. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, construction, mining, automotive, and food processing employ millions of workers who may be exposed to occupational hazards every day. The UN estimates that 2.78 million workers die on the job and an additional 374 million get injuries that do not progress to death due to occupational diseases and accidents Occupational hygiene comes in to uncover these risks early and recommend the best ways to deal with them. This has significantly increased the need for skilled professionals in Industrial Hygiene, a field dedicated to anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace environmental hazards. 

Because of tougher safety rules, the push for sustainability, and more people being aware of how important it is for workers to be healthy, industrial hygiene is now one of the best career options in India. The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) says that industrial hygiene includes several different fields that all work together to keep workers. Industrial hygiene could be the right job for you if you want to use your scientific knowledge and hands - on problem - solving skills to keep people healthy. 

Jobs and career options in India 

India has a lot of job openings for qualified industrial hygiene professionals in both the public and private sectors. Some common job roles are : 

• Occupational Hygiene / Industrial Hygienist 
•  Specialist in Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) 
•  Health and Safety Inspector 
•  Safety Engineer or Safety Manager 
•  Consultant for Risk Assessment 
•  Officer in Charge of Environmental Compliance
•  Analyst of Occupational Health
•  Specialist in ergonomics 

India's industrial growth means a lot of need for hygiene experts.

India is one of the fastest-growing industrial economies in the world right now. Some of the main areas of development are: 

• Petrochemicals, oil, and gas
•  Making drugs and healthcare products
•  Building and real estate
•  Mining and metalworking 
•  Industries that make electronics and cars
•  Processing and packing food 

Why There Is a High Demand for Industrial Hygiene

There are a few important reasons why industrial hygiene is becoming more important in India.

Fast growth in industry

More people are at risk of getting hurt on the job as manufacturing, construction, pharmaceuticals, mining, and infrastructure projects grow. Businesses require skilled workers to make sure these places are safe.

Government rules on safety are getting stricter. 

New safety requirements, such as the Occupational Safety, Health, and working Conditions (OSH) Code, compel businesses and organizations to follow tight rules that include regular risk assessments and controlling exposure. Occupational hygiene may happen behind the scenes, but you can see its effects in every healthy worker who gets home safely at the end of the day. A lot of individuals seek qualified hygienists because of this. 

More Attention on Employee Health 

Modern businesses understand that a healthy workforce leads to increased productivity, decreased sick days, and reduced healthcare costs. Behind every successful organization is a team committed to protecting its people and occupational hygiene are at the forefront of that mission. Investment in industrial hygiene is both legally required and prudent from a business perspective.

Companies are paying more attention to the health and productivity of their workers.

Modern businesses understand the importance of a safe workplace for employee productivity. Unhealthy working conditions can cause:

• More people are missing work
• High turnover 
• Claims for compensation
• Low self-esteem
• Less productive 

Industrial hygiene improves company stability and morale by preventing long-term health problems like chemical-related lung illnesses or noise-induced hearing loss.

Job openings: 

As businesses put more emphasis on worker safety and following the rules, there are more job openings in the sector of industrial hygiene. Occupational hygiene is the discipline of figuring out what hazards are at work, how to avoid them, and how to deal with them. Industrial hygienists today work in a wide range of fields, such as healthcare, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, mining, construction, manufacturing, power generation, and government organizations. 

People who work in this profession have different job titles, such as Industrial/Occupational Hygienist, EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) Specialist, Safety Engineer, Compliance Officer, Emergency Response Specialist, Risk Consultant, and Ergonomics Expert. Many experts also work for worldwide consulting organizations, research institutions, and safety auditing bodies. These jobs are both challenging and exciting.

Internationally recognized qualifications like NEBOSH and CIH make you look more credible and provide you access to a worldwide employment market. Because of this, industrial hygienists have a lot of job options in their native nation as well as across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. 

Conclusion 

As India's manufacturing sector grows, keeping factories clean has become more crucial. Companies are getting busier, standards are getting stricter, new technologies are being used, and worker health is becoming more important. Because of this, there aren't enough competent industrial hygiene professionals. Organizations that want to make a long-term difference and are ready for the future should think about hiring people for industrial hygiene responsibilities. This could be an excellent fit for students, engineers, and scientific graduates. There are several benefits, such as a good wage, work security, the chance to travel the world, and the gratification of helping others. 

Check out our other blog How Should Workplaces Prepare for Biological and Infectious Hazards?