Kim Haley

What is your position at UNC-Chapel Hill, and how long have you been associated with the University?

I am the Industrial Hygiene Manager and I have been with the University for 18 years.

How did you initiate your career in this field or what led you to your current position?

I worked for three years as a chemical engineer but became interested in health and safety. I wanted to have a greater impact on ensuring that employees make it home safely every day.

Which sectors of the University does your role impact, and in what ways does it contribute to those areas of work?

My team impacts the indoor environment as we deal with indoor air quality and manage the asbestos and lead programs for the University. We also work with Facilities Services and Facilities Engineering to address building-related health concerns associated with general building maintenance and construction projects.

Describe what you love most about your job.

I love the variety of people I interact with and the interesting projects I get involved with, from learning about sand toads to researching emerging health and safety concerns.

What advice do you have for those interested in entering a career in your line of work?

Industrial Hygienists are occupational and environmental health and safety professionals that have a passion for protecting employees and a zest for using scientific knowledge in protecting employees. My advice would be to use that passion and zest for knowledge to continue learning and improving. There will always be new health and safety concerns as well as new technologies to address those concerns.