Alumnus Collin Henning Presents for Alumni Return to the Classroom

Collin Henning on the job for SOMA

Collin Henning, a 2014 graduate of the MPH in Environmental Health program at East Tennessee State University, returned to Dr. Ken Silver's Occupational Health* class to describe his career as an industrial hygienist. To celebrate ETSU's "Alumni in the Classroom Day" on September 25, Henning presented "Working as an Industrial Hygienist," an informational session on his work for Sandler Occupational Medicine Associates (SOMA). Henning is currently based outside of Washington, D.C.

According to the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, industrial hygiene is the "science of protecting and enhancing the health and safety of people at work and in their communities," covering "a wide range of chemical, physical, biological and ergonomic stressors." Henning interacts with clients in a variety of workplaces, including mining, construction, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. He presented various scenarios he has encountered and discussed possible solutions with the students, emphasizing the "hierarchy of controls" which prioritizes engineering controls. He brought measurement devices he uses on a regular basis and explained how he uses them in work site evaluations.

SOMA regularly investigates employee complaints regarding indoor air quality. Sometimes the issues are caused by the work environment itself; at other times, there are factors related to other employees. Henning focuses on finding "creative solutions to sensitive issues." One tactic he often uses is getting everyone involved. This group can involve the workers and their supervisors, any available medical personnel, custodial staff, suppliers, transportation staff, upper level management, and owners. By obtaining input from a variety of sources, a more comprehensive solution can be reached.

During Henning's time at ETSU, he worked as a research assistant in the Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory sampling, collecting, and analyzing data for various water quality parameters. He also served as an industrial hygiene intern at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. In 2013 he was one of six graduate students who contributed to the Tennessee Worker Memorial Day Report.  Founded in 1983, Sandler Occupational Medicine Associates, Inc., (SOMA), provides clients with solutions to their occupational medical and environmental health and safety concerns.

Excerpt from Collin Henning's presentation
"Working as an Industrial Hygienist" for
ETSU's Alumni in the Classroom day.

*ENVH 4340 and 5700