Analysis and improvement proposals for industrial hygiene training in official master’s degree programs in occupational risk prevention

Abstract

Introduction: We measured and analyzed the overall and industrial hygiene teaching loads among existing official master’s programs that offer certification as upper level technician in occupational risk prevention for the 2023-2024 term in Spain.

Methods: We consulted the Ministry of Universities QEDU and RUCT websites, as well as the official master's degrees program websites. We collected information on public or private ownership of the university, whether or not the teaching was in-person, the required credits for attaining one or all three specialties, the credits specific to industrial hygiene.

Results: Out the 53 degree programs identified, 29 accredit all three specialties (hygiene, safety and ergonomics/psychosociology), requiring fewer than 80 credits. Another six programs can be completed without reaching this minimum; thus, 35 degrees (two-thirds) do not meet the duration requirements mandated by Royal Decree 39/1997 to certify the three specialties. For training in industrial hygiene, only 11 degrees (one-fifth) offer at least 17 credits between the common part and the specialty and comply with the minimum 80 credits for the three specialties.

Conclusions: Most degrees do not provide the training hours required for certification as upper-level technicians in occupational risk prevention in industrial hygiene. We propose creating an enabling degree, updating the contents, and recuperating the authorization of the labor authority, which guarantees compliance with the duration and contents of the training plans described in Royal Decree 39/1997, together with those described by ANECA for the verification and reaccreditation of the quality of the degrees.