Choosing the best hygiene training depends on why you feel you need the training. If you just want to learn how to be more hygienic to prevent the spread of germs, a basic class is sufficient. If you want to become an occupational hygiene specialist, you may need to attend a degree program. Choosing the best training also depends on your career field. Food handlers, for instance, receive a different type of hygiene training than those who work in factories or hospitals.
For basic hygiene training, such as the proper technique for washing your hands, several different health agencies offer online classes. The classes are free and you work at your own pace. Local hospitals or community colleges may also offer short seminars covering the basics, especially during influenza season when educating the public about proper hand washing techniques is especially important to reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases. If you are unable to find a local class and do not wish to sign up for an online class, reading books on the subject can also provide adequate training.
If you are planning to enter a career field that requires hygiene training, you may need courses that are more specialized. For example, if you are planning to become a home health aide, you will need to take classes that not only instruct you on proper hygiene for yourself, but for your patients as well. In the medical field, proper hygiene is essential to keeping patients healthy, so the information is usually incorporated into every class.
When hygiene training is required as a condition of employment, your employer will usually set up the training session for you. These sessions are tailored towards the specific job, making them one of the best ways to get the right training. Employers may also set up periodic refresher course workshops, especially if hygiene issues arise among workers. One major benefit of taking a class through your job is that your employer typically covers the expenses.
If you want to become an occupational hygienist, also called industrial or environmental hygienist, you will need to attend a degree program. The classes in thees programs provide instruction on proper hygiene in various different fields as well as the theories behind the need for the practices. You will learn how to evaluate potential threats to the health of workers or the public and how to handle those threats. Classes also cover public health laws and regulations. Degree programs range from a Bachelor’s degree all the way up to a Doctorate.
