The article contains sections titled: 1. Introduction 1.1. History 1.2. Differentiation of Tasks 1.3. Hazards in the Chemical Industry 1.4. General Outline of Goals 1.5. Experts and their Training 2. Legal Background 2.1. Laws and Regulations in Germany 2.1.1. State Legislation and Controls 2.1.2. Trade Associations 2.1.3. Company Occupational Safety System 2.1.4. Role of the Social Partner and Associations 2.1.5. Future Developments 2.2. Legal Requirements in Other European Countries 2.3. European Legislation 2.4. Regulations in the United States 3. Industrial Hygiene 3.1. Introduction and History 3.2. Requirements for an Effective Program 3.3. Objectives and Standards 3.4. Organization and Staff Management 3.5. Anticipation of Health Hazards 3.6. Occupational Exposure Assessment 3.6.1. Introduction 3.6.2. Characterization and Identification 3.6.3. Preliminary Evaluation and Prioritization (Qualitative Assessment) 3.6.4. Occupational Exposure Limits 3.6.5. Quantitative Assessment‐Occupational Hygiene Monitoring 3.6.6. Monitoring Planning and Strategy Definition 3.6.7. Sampling and Analysis; Data Quality Assurance 3.6.8. Sampling and Analysis Execution 3.6.9. Data Interpretation and Reporting; Record Keeping 3.7. Exposure Control Methods 3.7.1. General Concepts 3.7.2. Personal Protective Equipment 3.8. Physical Agents 3.9. Communication and Training 3.10. Industrial Hygiene in the United States 4. Occupational Medicine 4.1. Health Surveillance 4.1.1. Monitoring 4.1.2. Periodical Medical Examination 4.1.3. Evaluation and Interpretation of Data 4.1.4. Reporting Health Surveillance Results 4.1.5. Corrective Actions 4.2. Biological Monitoring 4.2.1. Basic Considerations 4.2.2. Prerequisites 4.2.3. Biological Media 4.2.4. Biological Occupational Limits 4.2.5. Interpretation of Biological Monitoring Data 4.3. Occupational Epidemiology 4.3.1. Introduction 4.3.2. Basic Requirements‐Data Collection 4.3.2.1. Data on Exposed Individuals in the Study Group 4.3.2.2. Technical Data on the Occupational Environment 4.3.3. Descriptive and Analytical Study Types 4.3.4. Usefulness of Occupational Epidemiological Studies 4.4. Ergonomics 4.4.1. Introduction; Definitions 4.4.2. Scope of Ergonomics 4.4.3. Stress Factors 4.4.4. Assessment and Testing Criteria 4.4.5. Objectives 4.5. Evaluation of Health Risks 4.5.1. Basic Considerations 4.5.2. Difficulties in Interpretation 4.5.3. Dose/Effect/Polymorphism 4.5.4. Hazard Identification 4.5.5. Risk Estimation 4.5.6. Risk Evaluation 4.5.7. Risk Limitation 4.6. Occupational Diseases and Work‐Related Illnesses 4.6.1. Introduction; Definitions 4.6.2. Occupational Diseases 4.6.3. Prevention 4.6.4. Compensation for Occupational Diseases 4.6.5. Trends 4.6.6. Work‐Related Illnesses 4.7. First Aid 4.8. Occupational Medicine in the United States 5. Acknowledgement