Membership of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) is open to anyone with an interest in worker health protection and a healthier work environment, and provides a wide range of benefits including professional development. The BOHS has a diverse membership profile, including: occupational hygienists; occupational health nurses; occupational physicians; health and safety advisors; environmental scientists; epidemiologists; toxicologists; ergonomists; acousticians; physicists; chemists; biologists; psychologists and engineers.
The International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) is an association of occupational hygiene organisations from across the world all of which are dedicated to the discipline and application of the inherent principles of occupational hygiene. IOHA’s vision is for a safe and healthy working environment for all and its mission is to enhance the international network of occupational hygiene associations that promotes, develops and improves occupational hygiene worldwide, providing a safe and healthy working environment for all.
IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals and is the world's biggest professional health and safety membership organisation, which is the voice of the profession, campaigning on issues that affect millions of working people. IOSH set standards and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. IOSH, are committed to creating a world of work which is safe, healthy and sustainable.
NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is an awarding body with charitable status. NEBOSH offer a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, qualifications designed to meet the health, safety and environmental management needs of all places of work. NEBOSH examinations and assessments are set by its professionally qualified staff assisted by external examiners.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), together with local authorities (and other enforcing authorities) enforce and provide advice to employers on how to comply with health and Safety legislation. The Health and Safety at Work Act is the main legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain. The HSE website contains a host of valuable information on measures to prevent ill-health in the workplace, including numerous ‘risk assessment’ forms and toolkits. The site also contains details of HSE’s enforcement actions.
The Occupational Hygiene Training Association (OHTA) was formed to promote better standards of occupational hygiene practice throughout the world. OHTA develop training materials and make them freely available for use by students and training providers. OHTA also promote an international qualifications framework so that all hygienists are trained to a consistent, high standard, recognized in all participating countries. OHTA is an international framework supported by many national occupational hygiene organisations and the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA).
The Health and Safety Laboratories (HSL) in Buxton, UK, (the UK, Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) laboratory) are a world-leading provider of health and safety solutions to industry, commerce, government and professional bodies. They have a wealth of expertise and experience, helping clients manage a wide range of issues in workplace health and safety. The main role is understanding and reducing health and safety risks by offering health and safety research, expert advice and consultancy, specialist training and products.
Expert Witness Services
Lawyers acting in the courts are often faced with the need to obtain independent technical advice on a wide range of issues, and they inevitably need to enlist the services of an expert witness. We provide qualified and experienced Occupational Hygienists, with scientific expertise to advise on physical, chemical and biological parameters prevalent in the workplace or environments that are liable to cause or exacerbate conditions leading to the ill-health of workers. We can investigate recent and historical incidents with a view to providing expert opinions in written reports, or as evidence. We have worked on behalf of Solicitors and Insurance companies in investigating incidents that could lead to worker ill-health or chemical contamination episodes (such as the disastrous effects following the mistreatment of asbestos-containing materials) that have the potential to elevate risks to health.
We provide lawyers and barristers with expert advice and/or opinions
to enable them to offer technically sound guidance to their clients.
We can prepare preliminary reports for litigation purposes and in the courts.
We provide expert witness evidence for civil litigation
representing the claimants or the defendant
We will provide ‘single joint expert’ reports.
Examples of Investigations include:
Claims for noise induced hearing loss
Occupational induced asthma in food factories
Occupational dermatitis in industrial settings
Asbestos-related incidence, including gross contamination of sites
Assessment of legal compliance with Statutory legislation
EMPLOYER’S DUTY
It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
