Adequacy of current industrial hygiene and occupational safety professional manpower

Heated current political discussions of proper staffing and conduct of industrial hygiene and safety programs raise the questions of the numbers and adequacy of available professional manpower. Data from several studies of such professional manpower in the U.S. during the past decade were critically reviewed and compared. Their projected growth rates for industrial hygiene were far short of the actual recent 15%/year growth rate of AIHA membership and of ABIH diplomates, and 27% year for ABIH trainees. From these studies and census data, it was calculated that in 1977 the ratio of employees to IH professionals was 17 100, and to safety professionals 2200. Also the ratio of professional costs to the value of lost workdays plus workmen's compensation was 1.4% for industrial hygiene and 10.6% for safety. It appears likely that more IH professionals would be cost effective. Data on outputs of university training programs indicate that the majority of individuals on current staffs were not specifically trained as IH or safety professionals. Although employment demands may be affected by the outcome of ongoing political discussions, there are obvious unsatisfied needs for services. These require professional training of greater numbers than current capacities of university programs permit.