This document summarizes approaches to promoting industrial hygiene in India. It provides background on India's large economy and workforce. Challenges include potential high health risks from poor working conditions and a scarcity of trained industrial hygienists. Approaches adopted include degree programs in industrial hygiene, awareness training programs, proactive corporate culture spreading, and the role of AIHA. Lessons learned are that university training is key, corporate training most effective, and associations like AIHA provide needed interventions.

1. PO 106 AIHCE 09 Toronto May 30-June 4
Approaches to Promoting Industrial
Hygiene in India
Pinky Bhatt International Safety Systems, Inc.,
Vadodara, India
Maharshi Mehta, CSP, CIH, International Safety
Systems, Inc. Washingtonville, New York, USA
www.issehs.com

2. Agenda
Background
Challenges
Approaches Adopted
Lessons Learned

3. Background
 Fourth Largest Economy by GDP – Purchasing
Power Parity
 Annual growth rate ~ 7.5%
 Labor force: Twice the total population of USA (~
500 million)
 Safety and environment improving
 Industrial hygiene growing
 Aggressive interventions in last decade to promote
industrial hygiene

4. The Country of Contrast
 Deplorable working
conditions
– Perforation of nasal septum
and lung cancer from
chromium exposure at a
Hexchrome facility near New York Manhole Covers,
Baroda Forged Barefoot in India – NY
– Mostly in unorganized Times
sectors
 Most pro-active industrial
hygiene and safety
programs
– Multinational corporations
– Pro-active local companies
Containment Validation

5. Challenges
 Potential high health risk
 Large number of population affected
 Scarcity of trained IH professionals
 Difficulties for corporation
– Travel across continent
– Not enough resources

6. Approaches
 Degree programs in Industrial Hygiene
 Awareness training programs
 Pro-active corporations spreading IH
culture
 Role of AIHA

7. Master in Industrial Hygiene
and Safety Program
 Two programs offered in Gujarat and
Tamilnadu
 First started at Saradar Patel University in
Gujarat in 1997
 In collaboration with the Department of
Environmental and Industrial Hygiene at
University of Cincinnati
 More than 100 Industrial Hygienists
graduated
 All working
 Presented Technical Papers at AIHCEs
 Two CIHs

8. All students of the first batch at
AIHCE, Toronto 10 years ago

10. Short-Term Training programs
 More than 50 short-term programs
organized:
– Respirator manufacturers
– IH Equipment manufacturers
– Non-Profit organizations
– For Profit Organizations
 Effective in spreading awareness

11. Corporate supported IH
workshops
 Twenty two organized around the world
covering 700 employees of the corporation
 Three in India
 At manufacturing site
 Company specific IH concerns, exposure
assessment and controls
 Most effective in preparing Level 101
Industrial hygienists

13. Role of AIHA
 Pro-active, very much needed
 India identified as a priority nation
 Ambassador to India
 MoU
– With National Safety Council with ~10, 000 +
members
– Confederation of Indian Industries – Largest
organization representing Indian Industries
– Indian Occupational Health Association (IOHA) –
Largest organization of occupational physicians who
are practicing industrial hygiene also
 Presentations
at IOHA conference
 Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene course in
2010

14. Contribution from AIHA
Dr Renshaw, Past President of
AIHA inaugurating graduation
ceremony and meeting with NSC

15. Lessons Learned
 University based long-term training is key
to developing IH professions
 Corporate supported training programs are
most effective in preparing Level 101
industrial hygienists
 AIHA and similar association’s
interventions are very much needed

16. Appreciation
 To AIHA, particularly Mr. Peter O’Neal for
providing me an opportunity to be at AIHC
 My Team members from ISS for supporting
me in presenting this session