Employers' expectations of knowledge and skills of master's-trained industrial hygienists.

Certified industrial hygienists with recent hiring experience were surveyed about their expectations of competencies when hiring entry-level master's-trained industrial hygienists. Results were used to affirm educational objectives and program outcomes required by new program accreditation criteria. We received 129 completed surveys from 179 eligible participants agreeing to participate. Most of the respondents were employed in very large companies (>500 employees) and were evenly distributed in manufacturing, services, and public administration. More than 70% of respondents identified essential knowledge and skills in 11 topic areas that fall entirely within the categories of recognition, evaluation, and control. Environmental and management topics were identified as essential by less than 25% of the respondents. Nineteen competencies identified as essential by 60% of the respondents were entirely in the categories of recognition, evaluation, control, and communication. Less than 50% of the respondents thought competencies in the management area were useful but not essential. Air sampling pumps, sound level meters, noise dosimeters, and direct-reading instruments were the mostfrequently listed equipment with which industrial hygienists should be familiar. These survey results represent the first systematic input from employers on their expectations for competencies of master's-trained industrial hygienists.