Occupational Hygienist
An occupational hygienist assesses and controls workplace hazards like diseases, chemicals and noise. You may monitor various hazards in the workplace and put controls in place to make life safer for employees.
What the job looks like
Salary expectation
starts at $46,523 up to $160,771+
The good
- Every day is different
- Businesses appreciating your hard work
- Keeping people safe
- Working with interesting industrial equipment
- Working in different environments – indoor and outdoor
The not so good
- Lots of paperwork
As an occupational hygienist your job will involve carrying out inspections, paperwork, problem solving and managing staff concerns about potential hazards.
You might run tests on clothing worn by employees and how it reacts under heat stress, test the levels of chemicals they are exposed to each day, or monitor the amount of noise emitted by a piece of equipment.
If you find anything dangerous in the workplace you will put together a strategy to reduce the risk.
English skills will be important to write your reports and recommendations.
If you enjoy science, maths and problem solving, then a career as an occupational hygienist could be for you.
Great job! It is always changing, not to mention how important occupational hygiene is at home.
Pathways to this career
Subject suggestions for the HSC
Choosing your HSC subjects from this list could really help with your career. Think carefully about what you want to study after school as you might need to choose specific HSC subjects for that course and to count towards your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). An ATAR is your academic rank in relation to other HSC students and helps with University admission.
HSC subjects
Some subjects will count towards your ATAR, others will not. Check with your career advisor before making subject selections.
- English (Advanced or higher)
- Mathematics (2 unit or higher)
- Chemistry
- Biology
What can I do after I have finished school?
University degrees
Studying one of these degrees can help with your career.
- Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Science
- Bachelor of Health Science
Courses and qualifications
Courses and qualifications can give you a great start.
- Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety
Suggestions
Check out The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists for more information
- Study as much as you can at high school and always ask your teachers if you need some extra help understanding something
- Go to career expos and events like university Open Days to find out more information about what you will study
