"This is a great accomplishment for AIHA and for a profession dedicated to the quality practice of industrial hygiene," said James G. Gartland, CIH, CSP, CHMM, CPEA, president of the AIHA Carolinas Local Section. "Our South Carolina AIHA members should be congratulated on their efforts to get this legislation passed."
He added, "South Carolina's business community and its employees will benefit greatly from the preservation of the long-term and profitable investment of industrial hygiene."
Title protection/professional recognition legislation defines titles and definitions used by the profession, establishes legal recognition for the profession, and has the state legally protect the IH titles. Only those who meet the criteria outlined in the definitions that are part of title protection legislation may use these IH titles.
The legislation defines industrial hygiene as "the science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of those environmental factors and stresses arising in or from the workplace that may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers and that may also impact the general community."
The safety profession is defined as "the science and discipline concerned with the preservation of human and material resources through the systematic application of principles drawn from such disciplines as engineering, education, chemistry, the physical and biological sciences, ergonomics, psychology, physiology, enforcement, the management for anticipating, identifying and evaluating potentially hazardous systems, conditions and practices; developing, implementing, administering and advising others on hazard design, methods, procedures and programs."
The legislation warns that a person "may not willfully practice or offer to practice" as a certified safety professional (CSP) or as a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) unless that person has been certified either by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals or by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.