![CEPH accreditation seal](/sites/health.oregonstate.edu/files/styles/large/public/accreditation/images/ceph-accreditation-seal.png?itok=l-arDTK9)
Environmental and Occupational Health
Environmental and Occupational Health
Create healthy, safe ways to live and work
Improve the health and well-being of workers, communities and the environment
Environmental and occupational health professionals help identify, assess and control physical, chemical and workplace hazards that adversely affect health.
From looking at the effects of air pollution on overall health to creating innovative solutions to help reduce whole body vibrations in heavy machinery drivers, our world-class researchers and learners make a difference.
As a graduate student, you will work closely with faculty on cutting- edge, federally funded research projects, peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences, giving you the skills needed to become an independent scholar working in the academic, public or private sectors.
Immerse yourself in the discipline and gain the opportunity to solve the environmental health problems of individuals, communities, industries and regulatory agencies.
Work that matters
Our graduates go on to work in various roles, including workplace safety managers and consultants, environmental epidemiologists and environmental health specialists. They work in a variety of settings around the world — from private industries in Oregon to rural health care clinics in Bangladesh.
Environmental and occupational health stories
Decreasing air pollution and increasing environmental awareness
Sigride Asseko is committed to improving health in low-income areas
Doctoral researcher develops an AI-powered tool to asses workplace injuries
Existing workplace injury assessment tools didn’t meet her needs. So, she’s creating one that does.
Grant to study exoskeletons among commercial fishermen
Associate Professor Jay Kim and his research team received a new NIOSH grant ($950K: Federal - $710K) for three years to study exoskeletons among commercial fishermen. "This is a very exciting grant as this will be expanding our current exoskeleton research in mining, construction and forestry, now to the commercial fishing," Jay says. "OSU will be only one of a few studying exoskeletons in the wild (underground, forest and sea)!"
Applied ergonomics study finds fishermen-developed “banger bar” helps reduce risk of injury on crab boats
Dungeness crab fishermen are at high risk for on-the-job injury, but having a metal bar to bang crab pots against as they harvest can help them prevent injury.
How a dangerous stew of air pollution is choking the United States
Fires and droughts in the western states are getting worse — and they’re combining with industrial sources to threaten air quality and people’s health.
Proximity to heavy traffic congestion linked to lower infant birthweight
Low birthweight leads to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impacts, premature mortality; a lot of long-term, life-course impacts.
![CEPH accreditation seal](/sites/health.oregonstate.edu/files/styles/large/public/accreditation/images/ceph-accreditation-seal.png?itok=l-arDTK9)
Accreditation
Our BS, MPH and PhD Public Health programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. This distinction ensures your education meets the nationally-agreed-upon standards developed by public health academics and practitioners.