Industrial Hygiene

What is an industrial hygienist?

Industrial hygienists are environmental specialists concerned with anticipation, identification, evaluation, control, and prevention of exposure to potentially dangerous and hazardous chemical, physical, biological, mechanical, psychosocial, and ergonomic stressors in the workplace environment. They provide insight into these problems based on their knowledge of the adverse health effects of exposure to the agents involved; on their expertise in recognizing, evaluating, measuring, and controlling hazards and on their application of the physics, chemistry and social/managerial determinants of the workplace environment. They also often work as part of interdisciplinary teams with epidemiologists, physicians, nurses and toxicologists.

 

Program

The primary academic objective of the UCLA Industrial Hygiene Program is the training of professional and research industrial hygienists at the Masters and Doctoral levels. The Master of Science (MS) and the Master of Public Health (MPH) programs are two-year programs within the Department of Environmental Health Sciences in the Fielding School of Public Health. The program produces scientifically sophisticated graduates capable of performing at an advanced professional level and of moving into leadership positions. Training includes classroom/remote instruction, laboratory exercises, field trips, reports, internships, interdisciplinary interactions, and research.

The degree curricula include courses covering the properties, health effects, exposure prevention, exposure measurement, regulations and guidelines, and control technologies for all types of harmful chemical, physical, biological, mechanical, psychosocial, and ergonomic stressors. There are required in-depth courses on environmental health fundamentals, toxicology, biostatistics, epidemiology, interdisciplinary practices, aerosols, gases and vapors, ventilation and other controls, occupational safety, physical agents, workplace walkthroughs, from the occupational and environmental health perspectives.

All graduate (Masters and Doctoral) students must also choose 4 elective units from a list of five areas of industrial hygiene focus: Hazardous and Emerging Technology Substances; Human Toxicology; Industrial Hygiene Chemistry; Industrial Hygiene Management/Policy; and Safety. PH 201 must be taken if no introductory public health course has been previously completed.

The MS program includes a research-based thesis or report/exam. The MPH program includes a summer internship in industry or related area. The internship is optional for MS candidates. EHS 101 in chemistry must also be passed if its entrance examination is failed.

The PhD program provides advanced training in a research area of industrial hygiene through the Doctor of Philosophy degree of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. The PhD program includes a research thesis dissertation that contains materials for two to three or more papers publishable in peer-reviewed academic journals, as well as presentations of this research at the appropriate disciplinary venues. The required courses are those of the Fielding School of Public Health, the EHS Department, and EHS 201 if a course in public health has not been previously completed. PhD candidates must also do the research area specialty courses set by their Guidance Committees. Superfund trainees must also take EHS 258 and EHS 280 as specialty course requirements.

Hector Solis, MS (’23)
Masters in Industrial Hygiene Trainee

Katherine McNamara, PhD (’18)
Associate Professor in Environmental & Occupational Health at California State University, Northridge

Trainee & Faculty Involvements

 

In May 2023, multiple IH students presented at the 2023 American Industrial Hygiene Association conference in Phoenix, AZ including:
Amelia Chen and Dorothy Nguyen (Oral Presentation): Understanding the Primary Particle Characteristics Affecting Dust-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity in the Modern Mine Environment.
Connor Krause (Oral Presentation): Nanoparticle Emissions during SLS 3-D Printing. (Moderator: Dr. Candace Tsai)
Natalie Ireland (Oral Presentation): Engineered Nanoparticle Penetration through Lab Coat Fabrics. (Moderator: Dr. Candace Tsai)
Dorothy Nguyen (Poster): Review of epidemiological studies of pesticide applicator habits & health outcomes: Effects of PPE on self-reported pesticide poisoning symptoms.
Thomas Mackey (Poster): Swimming Pool Worker Occupational Hazards.
Hector Solis (Poster): Promoting Commercial Building Energy Efficiency & a Healthy Indoor Environment: A Review of Industrial Hygiene Practices and Strategies.

In May 2022, multiple IH Program faculty and students presented at the 2022 American Industrial Hygiene Association conference in Nashville, TN including:
John-Paul Angulo (MPH student): “Potential determinants of pneumoconiosis resurgence in central Appalachia underground coal miners.” (oral)
Alex Munoz (MS student): “Characterization of fugitive emissions produced from compact laser cutting.” (oral)
Travis Cribbs (PhD student): "Permeation of inorganic gunshot residues dissolved in commercial gun cleaning solvent through disposable nitrile gloves.” (poster)
Dr. Shane Que Hee (IH Director) presented on the 2nd Edition of AIHA Biological Monitoring -a Practical Field Manual for Health and Safety Professionals.
Dr. Candace Tsai (IH Deputy Director) co-taught PDC 904: Old Theories and New Concepts in Nanotechnology.