AIHA Polls State of OEHS Demand, Expects Growth

FALLS CHURCH, VA – Industrial hygienists expect their employers to hire additional professional staff over the next three years, according to the latest AIHA survey of its membership.

The survey of affiliated academic universities, and partner associations focused on hiring trends, training support, and retention/recruitment challenges, including the average number of new OEHS hires anticipated over the next three years.

The results reveal key issues on the current state of and future demand for the OEHS profession in the United States.

This is a follow-up survey to a more extensive assessment conducted by NIOSH in 2011 titled “National Assessment of the Occupational Safety and Health Workforce.”

Respondents reported that 52% of their employers intended to hire additional OEHS professionals over the next three years.

Only 9% of employers did not have plans to hire more OEHS staff. Organizations with more than 500 employees and those with between 11 and 50 employees were most likely to hire more OEHS staff, according to respondents. The smallest organizations, with less than 10 employees, were the least likely to hire.

“This survey was developed by AIHA to identify the current state of and future demand for the occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS)  profession in the United States,” said Lawrence Sloan, CEO of AIHA. “In addition, it seeks to understand important knowledge areas, skills, and abilities for OEHS professionals.”

The questions were influenced by a survey with a similar focus, conducted by NIOSH in 2011, titled “National Assessment of the Occupational Safety and Health Workforce.” It received more than 2,140 responses, with 1,106 individuals completing the survey in its entirety.

In addition to statistical results, key themes emerged—including emphasis on the need to address training time and cost constraints while balancing its vital role in retention, recruitment, and professional development.

“It is encouraging that nearly 88% of survey respondents receive the support of their employers to earn their professional certifications,” said Sloan, MBA, CAE, FASAE. “AIHA and our allied association partners will continue to stress the importance of ongoing training to help professionals maintain their credentials.”

Founded in 1939, AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community. More than half of AIHA's nearly 8,500 members are Certified Industrial Hygienists, and many hold other professional designations. AIHA serves as a resource for those employed across the public and private sectors, as well as to the communities in which they work.

For more, go to aiha.org.