AN ANALYSIS OF MANAGER EXPECTATIONS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS

At the 1992 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition the AIHA Emerging Issues Committee discussed whether academic training in industrial hygiene was adequate to meet the current and future needs o f the profession. This issue was considered from both the conceptual a nd applied perspectives. The broad, conceptual perspective related to how well-defined educational requirements for industrial hygienists mi ght enhance the status of the profession. The more pragmatic question was whether graduates from present academic programs were adequately p repared to function as practicing hygienists. To pursue a more thoroug h examination, the authors reviewed previous demographic and education al surveys and conducted a preliminary assessment of the question. The se results are presented here to promote a more interactive setting fo r the development of educational standards for the profession.