Industrial hygiene is the science of protecting the health and safety of people in the workplace. It involves identifying, analyzing, and controlling workplace conditions and hazards to prevent dangerous and harmful work environments. Industrial hygiene encompasses a wide range of health and safety concerns in the workplace, including chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic hazards. The processes of industrial hygiene involve anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace that may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or among the citizens of the community. Industrial hygienists use various environmental monitoring and analytical methods to establish how workers are exposed and employ techniques such as engineering and work practice controls to control any potential health hazards. The term "industrial hygiene" is synonymous with "occupational hygiene" and refers to the science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplaces to prevent illness or injuries to the workers. Industrial hygiene is important because it can prevent potential illness, injury, and stressors at workplaces, which can have short- and long-term effects on the health and well-being of the people who work there. To become an industrial hygienist, one typically needs a bachelors degree in industrial hygiene or a related field, such as engineering, biology, chemistry, or physics, and may also need to earn the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential.