Term

Explanation

AAIH

American Academy of Industrial Hygiene

Accredited laboratory

A laboratory that demonstrates it has the knowledge, training and experience required to perform the analysis to the standard required. The laboratory will also have been audited and assessed by a recognized certification body to demonstrate competency in conducting that analysis.

ABHO

Associação Brasileira de Higienistas Ocupacionais (Brazilian Association of Occupational Hygienists)

ABIH

American Board of Industrial Hygiene

ACGIH

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

Advanced level

The tier of training aimed at preparation for professional accreditation by an IOHA NAR examining board. It builds on the intermediate level and covers advanced science and practice of occupational hygiene

AIDII

Associazione Italiana Degli Igienisti Industriali (Italian Industrial Hygiene Association)

AIOH

Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists

AIHA

American Industrial Hygiene Association

Approved course

An OHTA approved module delivered by an OHTA approved training provider

Approved course provider

A course provider that meets OHTA approval criteria for eligibility to offer the International student assessment process. Approved course providers may use the IOHA logo and 'supported by IOHA' on approved courses. See also Approved training provider

Approved materials

Core training modules approved by OHTA.

Approved training provider

A course provider that meets the criteria for approval by OHTA and is eligible to offer the International student assessment process. Approved course providers may use the IOHA logo and 'supported by IOHA' on approved courses. See also Approved course provider and the web page Terms for Approved Training Providors.

Awareness level

Training and information materials aimed at explaining the purpose and scope of occupational hygiene. These materials are aimed at the general public, managers or workers and might typically be  brochures, posters or short videos

BOHS

British Occupational Hygiene Society

CCAHT

Conseil Canadien d'Agrément des Hygiénistes du Travail. (title in English: Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists CRBOH)

Community

The group of individuals registered as users on the website OHLearning.com See also registered user

Collaboration centre

The forum on OHLearning.com that facilitates feedback and discussion

Consultant

A Contractor that provides “hands-off – no physical work onsite” administrative or technical support

CRBOH

Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists CRBOH  (title in French: Conseil Canadien d'Agrément des Hygiénistes du Travail, CCAHT)

Examining board

An IOHA NAR examining board

Executive level

The highest tier of training. This covers leadership and management skills for occupational hygienists, e.g. strategic planning, performance measurement, behaviour, communication, etc

Faculty of Occupational Hygiene

The examining board of the British Occupational Hygiene Society

Foundation level

The introductory tier of training. This covers the basics of occupational hygiene and is suitable as an entry course for individuals with no prior experience of occupational hygiene

Founding principles

The statements of intent upon which OHTA was founded

Hazard

A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work.

GPA

HKIOEH

Global Plan of Action on Worker Health (WHO)

Hong Kong Institute of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

ICFP

Istituto di Certificazione delle Figure della Prevenzione or  Institute for the Certification of Health Protection Professionals(Italian examination board )

IH

Industrial Hygiene

ILO

International Labour Organisation.

Industrial hygiene

The anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention and control of environmental factors arising in or from the workplace that may result in harm to health. The term is used in the USA and was initially applied to work in industry. Now the term industrial hygiene relates to any occupational exposures and in many parts of the world it is entitled occupational hygiene to reflect this wider scope. For purposes of clarity and consistency within OHTA and this website, we have selected occupational hygiene as the common term.

Industrial hygienist

A person with training, experience and professional accreditation in Industrial Hygiene (occupational hygiene). Professional accreditations are those recognised by the International Occupational Hygiene Association, under its National Accreditation Recognition scheme. See also Occupational Hygienist. This terms is generally used in North America in preference to occupational hygiene

Intermediate level

The tier of training which develops technical skills in defined areas of occupational hygiene and leads to the International Occuaptional Hygiene Certificate. It covers the technical principles of occupational hygiene for specific subject areas and builds technical competence to enable qualification holders to carry out occupational hygiene survey work.

International module

An OHTA approved training course. International modules are one-week courses with face to face tuition on specific subject areas of occupational hygiene

International occupational hygiene certificate

An award made by an OHTA examining board on satisfactory completion of Intermediate  level. Typically this might involve 6 passes in the intermediate modules, completion of a portfolio and panel interview.

IOHA

International Occupational Hygiene Association

IOHC

International Occupational Hygiene Certificate (obtained at Intermediate level of study)

International qualifications

The awards offered through  OHTA

Leadership group

The individuals responsible for the operation and governance of the Occupational Hygiene Training Association Ltd

Management of change

An established means of managing change to process, or people either permanent or temporary. 

MIHA

Malaysian Industrial Hygiene Association

NAR

IOHA National Accreditation Recognition scheme. A system for ensuring comparability of professional levels of occupational hygiene qualifications

National associations

A national occupational hygiene association  that is a member of IOHA

NIOSH

U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NYF

Norse Yrkeshygienisk Sertifisering (Norwegian Occupational Hygiene Association)

OEL

Occupational Exposure Limit (see below)

Occupational Exposure Limit

An upper limit on the concentration and period of exposure to a hazardous substance or condition in the workplace.  In many places, national authorities set and enforce legal occupational exposure limits, to protect occupational safety and health.  An occupational exposure limit can be used as a tool in risk assessment and in the management of activities involving handling of dangerous substances.

Occupational hygiene

The practice of (i) identifying of hazardous agents; chemical, physical and biological; in the workplace that could cause disease or discomfort (ii) evaluating the extent of the risk due to exposure to these hazardous agents, and (iii) the control of those risks to prevent ill-health in the long or short term. See also Industrial hygiene

Occupational hygienist

A person with training, experience and professional accreditation in Occupational Hygiene. Professional accreditations are those recognised by the International Occupational Hygiene Association, under its National Accreditation Recognition scheme. See also Industrial hygienist

OH

Occupational hygiene

OHSI

Occupational Hygiene Society of Ireland

OHTA

Occupational Hygiene Training Association Ltd

OHTA examining board

An IOHA NAR examining board that works with OHTA to offer the student assessment and awards

Operating principles

The statements of how OHTA aims to operate

OSHA

US Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Qualifications group

The group of IOHA NAR examining boards that work with OHTA to offer the student assessment and awards

Qualification holders

Individuals who have satisfactorily completed one or more of the OHTA courses or qualifications

Registered user

An individual who has registered their contact details on OHLearning.com  A registered user can contribute materials and contribute to discussion forums in the OHLearning.com Community section.

SAIOH

Southern African Institute of Occupational Hygiene

SAIOH OHPC

Southern African Institute of Occupational Hygiene: Occupational Hygiene Professionals Council

SOFHYT

French Occupational Hygiene Society

Sponsors

Individuals or organisations that contribute funds or resources to support the development of OHTA or its aims. Sponsorship is without prejudice to the aims outlined in the  Founding Principles of OHTA and does not imply endorsement by OHTA Ltd.

Stakeholders

Individuals and organisations that have an interest or involvement in the  work of OHTA. For example, IOHA and its member organisations, examining boards, employers, workers, course  developers and trainers

Training event

Any training course, seminar, webinar or other event that delivers occupational hygiene training

Training levels

The levels used by OHTA to describe the 5 different technical standards of training: Awareness, Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced and Executive

Training provider

An individual or organisation  that offers occupational hygiene education

WHO

World Health Organisation