Occupational hygienist : Salary and conditions

• Occupational hygienists employed by The National Health Service (NHS) , who may also be known as health and safety officers or health and safety advisers, start at Agenda for Change pay scale  Band 5-6 for adviser roles (£21,176 - £34,189) or Band 7 for manager roles (£30,460 - £40,157).
• Salaries vary according to employer type and location. Some employers may provide additional benefits, such as a company car, health insurance and pension schemes.
• Working hours are typically nine to five-thirty, possibly with some extra hours. Weekend and evening work may be required occasionally. Consultancy work on serious accident investigations may involve unpredictable and irregular hours.
• The role has practical as well as purely scientific aspects and involves adapting to different types of working environments and liaising with a wide variety of people.
• Self-employment and freelance work as a consultant are common for experienced occupational hygienists. Specialisation is usually required. Companies are increasingly hiring consultants rather than employing in-house occupational hygienists.
• Jobs are available throughout the UK, with opportunities in most large towns and cities. However, this is a small profession overall.
• The range of fields in which it is possible to work is broadening due to increased legislation and growing recognition of the impact on staff health of factors such as stress at work.
• Travel within a working day is common, as occupational hygienists need to visit clients' sites to investigate situations in the workplace.
• Overnight absence from home for site visits is possible but this is more likely for those responsible for more than one site or those involved in consultancy work.
• Overseas travel is unlikely, except for an in-house hygienist within a multinational company.

Salary figures are intended as a guide only.