Industrial hygiene
Industrial Hygiene Services and Exposure Assessments
CMI’s Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH) identify, measure, and control the chemical, physical, and biological hazards your employees face, so your workplace stays healthy and compliant with OSHA.
Or call 1-800-701-9369
When to call an industrial hygienist
- Employees report odors, headaches, or air quality concerns
- You are adding a new chemical, process, or piece of equipment
- Renovation or demolition may disturb asbestos or lead
- OSHA requires exposure monitoring for the work you do
- You need data to defend an occupational health claim
What Is Industrial Hygiene?
Industrial hygiene is the science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace conditions that can make people sick or injured. An industrial hygienist measures what workers are exposed to, compares it with regulatory limits, and recommends controls, from substitution and ventilation to work practices and personal protective equipment.
CMI has delivered industrial hygiene programs for more than three decades, across manufacturing, commercial, corporate, institutional, and government facilities.
Hazards we evaluate
- Air contaminants Chemical vapors, gases, dusts, fumes, and respirable crystalline silica
- Noise Area and personal noise dosimetry for hearing conservation
- Building materials Asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials
- Biological contaminants Mold and moisture-related indoor air problems
- Non-ionizing radiation Sources such as RF, UV, and lasers
Our Industrial Hygiene Services
Our consultants identify, evaluate, and control chemical, physical, and biological hazards, then give you the data and the plan to act on it.
Exposure assessments
- Chemical exposure assessments and management Air sampling and analysis compared with OSHA and recommended exposure limits.
- Qualitative exposure assessments Task and process reviews that rank exposures and target sampling where it matters.
- Noise monitoring and hearing conservation Dosimetry, area surveys, and hearing conservation program support.
- Non-ionizing radiation monitoring and control Surveys and controls for non-ionizing radiation sources.
Buildings and indoor environments
- Asbestos, lead, and mold assessments Inspections and identification surveys by licensed hazardous material inspectors.
- Abatement project design and management Specifications, oversight, and clearance for abatement projects.
- Indoor air quality (IAQ) programs and investigations Testing and root-cause investigations for indoor environmental quality.
- Employee complaint investigations Fast, documented responses to odor, air quality, and health concerns.
Programs and support
- Respiratory protection programs, training, and fit testing Written programs, training, and fit testing for respirator users.
- Industrial hygiene data review and management Organized, defensible exposure records and trend reviews.
- Expert witness support for occupational health claims CIH review and testimony support for exposure-related claims.
OSHA Exposure Monitoring Requirements
Many OSHA standards require employers to assess, monitor, or control specific exposures. These are the ones we help clients meet most often.
| Hazard and standard | What OSHA requires | How CMI helps |
|---|---|---|
| Noise29 CFR 1910.95 | A hearing conservation program when exposures reach 85 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average, including monitoring and audiometric testing. | Noise dosimetry, area surveys, and program setup |
| Respiratory protection29 CFR 1910.134 | A written respiratory protection program, and fit testing before a respirator is first used and at least once a year after that. | Written programs, training, and fit testing |
| Respirable crystalline silica29 CFR 1910.1053 and 1926.1153 | An assessment of employee exposure to silica, with controls when exposures can reach the action level. | Exposure assessments and control recommendations |
| Lead29 CFR 1910.1025 and 1926.62 | An initial determination of whether employees may be exposed at or above the action level. | Lead surveys and exposure monitoring |
| Asbestos29 CFR 1910.1001 and 1926.1101 | Identification of asbestos-containing materials and exposure monitoring for affected work. EPA NESHAP also requires an inspection before renovation or demolition. | Asbestos surveys, abatement design, and air monitoring |
| Air contaminants29 CFR 1910.1000 | Keeping employee exposures below the permissible exposure limits for hundreds of listed substances. | Chemical exposure assessments and sampling |
Summaries only. Each standard includes additional requirements; follow the links for the full text on osha.gov.
Why Choose CMI for Industrial Hygiene
Proactive monitoring led by certified professionals protects your people and reduces liability and cost.
Credentialed team
Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH), Certified Safety Professionals (CSP), licensed hazardous material inspectors, and degreed field technicians.
Thousands of assessments
Our CIHs have conducted thousands of exposure assessments, so sampling plans are targeted and results hold up.
Every kind of facility
Manufacturing, commercial, corporate, institutional, and government sites, from a single complaint to a full program.
Industrial Hygiene FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers ask most about industrial hygiene and OSHA exposure requirements.
What is industrial hygiene?
Industrial hygiene is the science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards that can cause illness or injury, such as air contaminants, noise, biological contaminants, and radiation.
What does a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) do?
A CIH plans and conducts exposure assessments, interprets sampling results against OSHA and other exposure limits, and recommends engineering, administrative, and protective controls. The CIH credential is the recognized professional certification in industrial hygiene.
When does a workplace need an industrial hygiene assessment?
Common triggers include employee complaints about air quality or odors, a new chemical or process, renovation that may disturb asbestos or lead, OSHA standards that require exposure monitoring, and preparing for or responding to an inspection or claim.
Does OSHA require exposure monitoring?
For many hazards, yes. OSHA standards for noise, respirable crystalline silica, lead, asbestos, and other substances require employers to assess or monitor exposures. See the OSHA requirements above for the most common ones.
What is the difference between a qualitative and a quantitative exposure assessment?
A qualitative assessment uses tasks, materials, controls, and professional judgment to rank likely exposures. A quantitative assessment measures exposures with air, noise, or other sampling. Many programs start qualitative and sample where the risk is highest.
How often is respirator fit testing required?
Under OSHA’s respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), employees must be fit tested before first using a tight-fitting respirator and at least annually after that, and again when a change could affect the fit.
Can CMI investigate employee complaints about indoor air quality?
Yes. CMI investigates odor, air quality, and health complaints, tests indoor air, identifies likely sources such as mold or ventilation problems, and documents findings and corrective actions.
Does CMI provide expert witness support?
Yes. CMI’s industrial hygienists provide data review and expert witness support for occupational health and exposure-related claims.
Talk to an Industrial Hygienist
Tell us what you are seeing at your facility. A CMI industrial hygiene professional will recommend the right assessment and next steps.
Or call 1-800-701-9369