MSc OEH student Noreen Ma wins American Industrial Hygiene Association award

Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSc OEH) student Noreen Ma has won the A.L. Reigert award, adjudicated by the BC Yukon American Industrial Hygiene Association.

The $1000 award is open to first year students enrolled in the OEH program, and second year students enrolled in the BCIT Occupational Health and Safety Program, with preference given to those who demonstrate a genuine effort to be involved in the AIHA BC Yukon Local Section.

Miss Ma is the 2016-17 class representative for the Association and attends monthly and executive meetings. Here, she voices students’ concerns and investigates available opportunities for young workers, including what students should be focusing on, or keeping up with, in the industry, she said.

MSc OEH student and A.L. Reigert award winner Noreen Ma

Slated to graduate in 2018, Miss Ma will take part in a co-op project with Chevron in Burnaby this summer, and she hopes to work in the energy industry in the future.

“It kind of runs the world.”

As a high-risk industry, it deserved the attention of occupational and environmental practitioners, she said, and while it was “a little daunting” to be part of the team that made sure the lower mainland was not at risk from issues such as exposure of workers and the community to toxic materials, Miss Ma said she enjoyed the fieldwork involved with being a hygienist.

“I’m ready to get my boots on the ground and be part of it.”
MSc OEH student Noreen Ma

She became interested in the MSc OEH program after taking the occupational health and safety program at BCIT and realizing she wanted to specialize in hygiene. Her highlights from the program at SPPH are “easily the people – my classmates are awesome, our instructors are patient and supportive, and everyone is encouraging.”

“We always end up having a good time – even just with something like studying.”

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