DESIGNATION ID	DESIGNATION TITLE
456	Registered Occupational Hygienist
PROFESSIONAL BODY	DESIGNATION STATUS
SAIOH - Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene	Reregistered
SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE		REGISTRATION END DATE
SAQA 12141/23	2023-07-27		2028-07-26

DESCRIPTION:

An Occupational Hygienist is the advance level of the SAIOH PCC registration system. Typically, a ROH will be able to do everything required of a Registered Occupational Hygiene Assistant and a Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist. The ROH will also do comprehensive OH risk assessments, compile OH monitoring strategies, develop OH monitoring programmes, do quality assurance and evaluations of the OH reports going out, as well as supervise and mentor ROHA and ROHT. The ROH will also qualify to be a Technical Signatory for all OH reports and can manage an OHAIA as per the DoEL and SANAS requirements.

AWARDING CRITERIA

For the Professional Designation to be awarded, professionals must comply with the following minimum requirements:

Underlying Registered Qualification or Part Qualification:

Minimum qualification, being either: A tertiary qualification at least at NQF Level 8 including biology or chemistry or chemical engineering or mechanical engineering or environmental engineering or physics or other relevant science subjects + the OHTA International Certificate in Occupational Hygiene (OHTA ICert) or the BOHS ICertOH; or A tertiary qualification at least at a NQF Level 8, including biology or chemistry or chemical engineering or mechanical engineering or environmental engineering or physics or other relevant science subjects where the programme has been recognised by SAIOH as having an occupational hygiene content of at least 50%, or that which aligns with the content of the OHTA modules, fulfilling the requirements of the OHTA ICert or the BOHS ICertOH; or A BOHS Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene; or A BTech Environmental Health.

Experiential Learning or Experience

Candidates wishing to be registered at the Hygienist level are required to provide proof that they have at least five (5) full years (at least 70% full-time Occupational Hygiene work done per year claimed) relevant and comprehensive Occupational Hygiene experience. It should be noted that full-time Occupational Hygiene management, training, lecturing and/or research activities, can form part of the 5 years' experience (Note: Any time spent during formal education (as a requirement to obtain such qualification) may not be counted towards the required years of relevant Occupational Hygiene experience, thus no "double dipping" allowed).

Competency Assessment

The scope of the assessments will be in line/comply with the minimum occupational knowledge and competency requirements as stipulated by IOHA. A copy of this document is available on the SAIOH website. Electronic (written) Assessment: This will consist of several concise questions on basic principles, calculations, or legislative issues. There is also a choice of several essay questions in which the candidate will be required to discuss key issues. Finally, the candidate will be presented with a case study and will be required to conduct a simple risk assessment and recommend appropriate control measures. The candidate will be expected to show an awareness of the wider issues of Occupational Hygiene practice including management, strategic and costing issues, relevant legislation, controls and the integration of occupational medicine and medical surveillance, safety, and environmental matters. Note: A list is available on the SAIOH website containing international professional qualifications in occupational hygiene which may allow a candidate, at the discretion of the PCC, to be exempted from the written assessment at the SAIOH PCC's occupational hygienist category. All other qualification, experience and oral assessment requirements are still mandatory . Length of Assessment: The maximum time allowed for the electronic (written) assessment is 3 hours. Oral Assessment: An oral assessment will be conducted by at least two registered Occupational Hygienists, at least one of whom will be a qualified lead assessor. These assessments are conducted on the occupational hygiene skill sets with emphasis on the necessary technical skills. Note: The topics for questions will be selected by the Assessors in line with the candidates work experience and will cover the comprehensive occupational hygiene spectrum as required for this level. Length of Assessment: The oral assessment is, on average, scheduled to take one hour and 30 minutes. Pass mark: A minimum of 70% must be obtained for each of the written and oral.

Designation RPL Statement

This Designation may be awarded through Recognition of Prior Learning.

RETAINING CRITERIA

In order to ensure the currency of professional knowledge and to retain the Professional Designation, the professional must comply with the following minimum requirements:

Code of Conduct

Members must adhere to the Professional Body Codes of Conduct and Ethics.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

To maintain registration as an Occupational Hygienist (ROH), you must accumulate the required points as documented.

Fees

Ensure that the annual membership fee is paid.

PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION PROGRESSION PATHWAY (The Designation being reported on here is shown in italics.)

Sequence	Designation ID	Designation Title
1	454	Registered Occupational Hygiene Assistant
2	455	Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist
3	456	Registered Occupational Hygienist

PROFESSIONAL BODY WEB ADDRESS:

For more information on this Professional Designation, please visit http://www.saioh.co.za