CIH

What it means

A Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is a professional who has earned the CIH credential from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (BGC). Industrial hygienists study how chemical, biological and physical hazards affect people, and how to measure and control them. Indoor mold, dust and air quality problems fall within that work.

EPA’s mold remediation guide says sample analysis should follow methods recommended by professional groups such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The ANSI/IICRC S520 mold standard describes a similar role it calls an indoor environmental professional.

Why it matters to your health and your bill

A CIH can be the right person when mold is tied to health complaints, a legal dispute, a large or commercial building, or a disagreement with a remediator or insurer. They can design a sampling plan, interpret lab results and write a remediation protocol. A CIH is not the same as a state mold license. In Florida, mold assessment of more than 10 square feet still requires a DBPR mold assessor license. You can check a CIH credential on BGC’s verification page. See mold assessor vs remediator for how assessment roles fit together.