Core Elements of Academic Preparation of Industrial Hygienists

Transcription

1 Core Elements of Academic Preparation of Industrial Hygienists Dr. Peter Bellin, CIH, Ph.D. YPSW AIHA Meeting San Diego, CA January 20, 2005 Some Context Where did IH programs come from? Engineering Public Health NIOSH Educational Resource Centers Promote IH s at MS and PhD level ABIH ABET accreditation MS level first BS level followed 1

2 CIH Concern about pass rates Reason is not clear New concern may be number of applicants CIH Exam Data 2

3 CIH Exam Data Count CIH (Rubrics) ABIH developed IH rubrics to define IH Air Sampling and Instrumentation Analytical Chemistry Basic Science Biohazards Biostatistics and Epidemiology Community Exposure Engineering Controls Ergonomics 3

4 CIH (Rubrics continued) Health Risk Analysis and Hazard Communication Management and Ethics Noise and Vibration Non-engineering controls Nonionizing radiation Ionizing radiation Thermal Stressors Toxicology Work Environments and Industrial Processes Exam is intended to measure rubrics CIH ABIH is phasing in education requirements By semester hours (s.h( s.h IH coursework (4 classes) 180 contact hours Or Or 240 hours PDC (30 one-day PDC s) ABIH requires a science degree, with at least 60 semester-hours science classes 4

5 Industrial Hygiene Courses Core industrial hygiene topics Fundamentals of IH Evaluation of the workplace Control of hazards Ventilation and noise engineering control Other methods (i.e. PPE and Administrative control) Toxicology Industrial Hygiene Courses Related courses (support / expand the core) Epidemiology Biostatistics Risk assessment and communication Microbiology Workers compensation law Environmental law Communication skills Air Pollution and control Other topics as well (consider the IH rubrics) 5

6 Foundation classes Fundamental Science that supports Industrial Hygiene and related topics Biology: cell function and structure, biochemistry, DNA / RNA, physiology, anatomy, ecology Chemistry: water chemistry, ion behaviors, gas laws, periodic table, organic reactions, nomenclature Foundation classes Physics: wave theory, electricity, magnetism, kinetic energy, momentum, electromagnetic radiation, photon behavior Mathematics: algebra, trigonometry, differential equations, integral calculus, statistics 6

7 Knowledge: application I I don t t use calculus in my job as an Industrial Hygienist Echo: I I don t t use algebra in my job as a [fill in the blank]. There pressure to streamline education, promote profession, allow flexibility in curricula Knowledge: application Foundation courses form a basis for understanding IH concepts Foundation courses support continuing education, enhance potential for research, help adapt to a changing professional world Foundation courses teach the critical thinking skills to important to effective practice as an IH 7

8 CIH and academic preparation Academic goal is not a preparation for the CIH exam The IH degree should enhance the chances of passing the exam The exam looks for professional skills, a combination of academic preparation and work experience Accreditation is intended to establish a uniform product the graduates CIH and academic preparation Schools without ABET accreditation can still produce a person capable of becoming a CIH By analogy, a person can succeed in life without a college degree Pre-med, for example does not require a science degree only science courses 8

9 Summary and Conclusion Academic foundation of IH rests on basic science courses (30 s.h.. per ABET) Biology (6-8 s.h Chemistry (12-16 s.h Physics (6-8 s.h Math to include some calculus and statistics (6 s.h IH and related subjects are taught with an assumption of the academic foundation (30 s.h Additional science or IH and related (15 s.h University degrees include general education (minimum per ABET is 21 s.h Summary and Conclusion Other questions What is the added value of the MS degree? Can this value be quantified? What is the benefit of ABET-IH degrees with respect to the CIH? Can we measure this? What would be the impact of demanding ACADEMIC preparation in IH before sitting for the CIH? How do we control the value of PDC s,, and should we do so? 9

10 The End Questions and / or comments Peter.bellin@csun.edu 10