Feature -- by by Tom Babin

Mike Caple has the kind of job that earns respect. He doesn't carry a gun and he's not in the position to fire a lot of people, but when he talks, people listen. Caple is an occupational hygienist, and people pay attention to him because he is talking about their health. Caple uses a background in science to examine workplaces and make recommendations to ensure the health and safety of everyone working on the site.

"We anticipate, recognize and evaluate possible or potential workplace hazards," Caple said. "Anything that might cause symptoms or impair the health of workers." Caple works for a consulting firm that goes into workplaces of all types -- from huge corporations like Nova and Shell to "the Mom and Pop silkscreen operation down the road" -- and looks for physical, chemical or biological hazards that affect the health of the people working there. Caple said those hazards can be anything from excessive noise, to poor air quality, to the use of unsafe chemicals, to high counts of radiation. "Part of the job is to anticipate anything that will happen," Caple said. Because he is called upon to examine workplaces of all types, there is much Caple must understand, not only about what makes a healthy workplace, but about the processes that occur in the workplace. He said if he is examining, for example, a manufacturing facility, he must first understand the manufacturing process so he can look for hazards at every step. "Understanding process is probably the first step," he said. "The second step is planning what type of sampling strategy you want to use. After that its pretty much technical. Calibrating equipment, getting sample media...but that is part of what I like."

Caple said being an occupational hygienist requires a diverse range of skills, but those skills aren't easy to acquire. He took an industrial hygiene course at Lambton College in Ontario, the only school in Canada to offer the program. Other post-secondary institutions in Canada, however, offer shorter diploma and certificate programs in health and safety (like the University of Alberta, and SAIT), but Caple said he chose Lambton because he wanted a better background in the industry. After completing the three-year course, Caple headed off to Montana Tech for a year to complete a science degree. Though he had to travel far for his education, Caple said he knew it would be worth it because of the bright future facing occupational hygienists.

Keeping compensation claims to a minimum is part of the reason the need for occupational and industrial hygienists is on the rise. Caple said the liability facing companies, especially big ones, in the event of a workplace accident is huge and the threat of having to pay big compensation fees is often enough to encourage them to retain his services. "Usually the big blue chip companies have their own safety people, and their hygiene people, in place," he said. "They're very proactive with it as well because they don't need the hassle, and...it's a big liability if there's injuries or WCB claims." Companies are increasingly realizing that having a hygienist examine their workplace and make recommendations is cheaper than paying the costs of an accident. Caple said he realized this early on, and knowing the industry would continue to grow was one of the reasons he entered the field.

Another reason he became an occupational hygienist, and, he said, one of the reasons he enjoys his job, is knowing that he is making a difference. "You don't want to go home after and eight hour shift with a headache because you've been exposed to lead fumes for eight hours, that's not fun," he said. "(Occupational hygiene) saves companies a lot of money, but first and foremost is the health and safety of people in their work environment." When Caple finishes his sampling, and testing, he said it feels good that people listen and respect his recommendations. "It's nice because you go into a place and you have something to say, people really listen, and they have a lot of respect for what you have to say," he said. "After all, it's their health."