Читать книгу Patty's Industrial Hygiene, Hazard Recognition - Группа авторов - Страница 27

Distance learning and professional development training have increased demands for learners, and the scope of learning has broadened and now involves virtual and/or multi‐disciplinary training. Learners are more in favor of learning at their own pace and pursuing their own interests. In the first two decades of the twenty‐first century, higher education has been experiencing an overall decline in enrollment. However, this is not the case for online learning. Education and training for industrial hygiene professionals have been changing in a similar manner. A comprehensive survey on college education enrollment reported that while overall enrollment has been decreasing for an unprecedented 12 consecutive terms in the early 2000s, in 2017 alone, online enrollment grew by 3% to 3.85 million full‐time online learners (56). This report had several key findings, such as the need for career services for online students and more diversified online programs that can satisfy the required training for the environmental health and safety profession. The use of distance learning and the promotion of diverse training have created great opportunities for employed learners from various fields to pursue degrees and/or training in the industrial hygiene, safety, and environmental health fields.

The trend of unprotected workers is growing. By 2020, only two workers will support each retiree, compared to 16 workers supporting each retiree in 1950. The pace of twenty‐first century technological innovation will be even more punishing to the government‐based risk assessment and management strategies than it was to government in the later part of the twentieth century (57). Further delays in setting chemical and physical agent occupational exposure limits (OELs) will only leave workers more vulnerable. In addition, practitioners will be at a greater loss when they turn to the government for OEL advice. Dr. John Howard Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has noted that “things will only grow worse unless some action is taken soon” (57).