Knowledge management in occupational hygiene: the United States example

Knowledge management is an emerging field focusing on assessing the creation, transfer, and utilization of knowledge to address specific challenges. Generally, knowledge management has described efforts within and between companies to consider knowledge as a manageable asset. In this paper, we suggest that occupational hygiene knowledge can be considered a manageable asset by businesses and that the entire field of occupational hygiene in the USA can be appraised in terms of knowledge management. The knowledge cycle creates a foundation for knowledge management. Knowledge creation (research, recognition and evaluation), transfer (distribution, dissemination and diffusion), and utilization (risk management and control) make up the key elements of the knowledge cycle. Defining and understanding the roles of knowledge cycle elements facilitate the application of knowledge management to problems, systems, and situations in individual companies and in the field of occupational hygiene in general. Examples of current, effective knowledge management practices within occupational hygiene in the USA are described, and recommendations for further utilization of knowledge management principles are also presented.