How important is industrial hygiene?

to ensure that the hazards are anticipated, recognized, evaluated and controlled in the industrial environment.

They are important because
1)they keep workers from dying now and later
a) now because they keep them safe from physical and chemical hazards/overexposures
b) later because they keep your exposures to certain chemicals below the
Occupational Exposure Limits. Like the TLVs and PELs. This reduces the amount
of silicosis, cancer and other illnesses that arent immediately manifested due
to overexposures.
2) they save employers money on insurace
a) workers compensation insurance costs go up if your injury rates are high. IH keeps workers safe so you dont have to hemmorage dough from preventable incidents
3) they keep lawyers off your back if you cooperate with them
a) they are able to keep a safe work environment so you dont get written up by
osha for breaking the law. The law is that you must provide a work environment
that is free from recognized hazards.
b) if you intentionally ignore the requests to improve the safety of your
work environment as an employee you can be fired. As an employee you can
be criminallly prosecuted, not by osha, but by the dept of criminal justice