There is a legal requirement for companies to assess workplace risks and avoid exposing employees to them. Anthea Page, Examinations and Communications Manager of the British Occupational Hygiene Society, explains how an occupational hygienist can help

Most health and safety practitioners require practical advice and support relating to the application of hygiene-related issues in their day-to-day workplace role – without necessarily recognising that they’re hygiene-related. It follows, then, that workers and managers without any health and safety training will too.

As a specific example, the main causes of occupational ill health to stonemasons are:

• Hand arm vibration
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Silicosis
• Work related upper limb disorders

Given that these risks are well-known, these sectors of workers should have easy access to, among other things, occupational hygiene practitioners. That they don’t, in general, is often down to misunderstandings about the specialisms that make up the full spectrum of workplace health and safety provision.

So what is the role of the occupational hygienist?

If employees are exposed to chemicals, work in noisy or dusty conditions, use vibrating hand tools, work in confined spaces, especially if they are dusty, or are required to move heavy loads, as workers in the stone industry typically are, then it is more than likely occupational hygiene is a specialism that the company will need at some point, whatever its size.

Think of it in terms of a specialist backbone for the management (or, if there is one, the health and safety manager).

Occupational hygienists have the expertise to help in all the above areas and more. They understand how such hazards might affect health. They assess how significant the effects may be and, more importantly, they specialise in controlling the risks to health in practical and cost-effective ways.

If a company doesn’t employ a hygienist – and most of you won’t – then it is vital that the person managing the occupational hygiene aspects of the organisation’s health and safety strategy is competent to be doing so, and to understand how his or her competence can be maintained or developed.

In the first place, that means understanding the concept of occupational hygiene – and while many of you will know that’s not just about washing your hands properly, just as many won’t.

Secondly, it requires an awareness and knowledge of how to provide access to competent support – be that from an outside consultant or by reference to support services, seminars or specialist training and qualifications.

Selecting people to undertake work in an organisation is always difficult, even for tasks that you are knowledgeable about. So choosing someone for an area with which you are less familiar, such as a health and safety professional, is even harder.

The law requires every employer to have access to a ‘competent person’, and defines a competent person as having “sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities…” In addition they should be able to assist in matters relating to occupational health and safety properly within their field of experience.

In order to meet not only the legal requirements, but also to ensure that you select the ‘right’ person for your business, there are key areas that need to be considered in relation to the definition of a competent person.

A recognised qualification helps, although the range of qualifications in health and safety is wide, from basic awareness courses that end with a test through to degree standard qualifications and practically-based NVQs.

There are also qualifications for specific areas, and this includes occupational hygiene.

Practical experience is also an important consideration. For a consultant to offer effective and accurate advice and information they must have suitable methods in place to make themselves aware of changes (and proposed changes) to legislation, Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and industry guidance, best practice and industry standard working practices.

Without such methods, the consultant could unknowingly offer incorrect advice to their clients, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Membership of a relevant professional body is an important consideration when selecting the ‘right’ health and safety professional.

Professional bodies (such as BOHS) aim to keep their membership informed of the types of changes detailed above. Many professional bodies also offer forums for discussion between professionals so that any issues a member may have can be discussed confidentially with other experienced professionals from the same field.

Not only do such bodies endeavour to keep their members up to date with any changes, but they also generally work to develop clear criteria to be achieved by the professional in order to meet acceptable standards to be allowed the relevant grade of membership.

Many professional bodies (BOHS included) hold a register that identifies individuals with knowledge and / or qualifications in particular areas.

How much will this specialism cost? For standard occupational hygiene services, you might expect to pay in the range of £450 to £650 per day. Rates will, of course, vary, and could be higher than this if, for example, legal work is involved.

About BOHS

BOHS does not provide a consultancy service, nor does it recommend individual consultants from its Directory. BOHS is the voice of the occupational hygiene profession in the UK and its aim is simple: to reduce work-related ill-health.

As well as professional support to its members, the Society provides access to specialist information, general occupational health and hygiene information, details of relevant regulatory changes and what these might mean, forums for debate and information exchange, and a wide range of publications.

It also maintains a directory of Occupational Hygiene Consultants that lists consultancies able to provide qualified and experienced occupational hygienists and specialist occupational hygiene support services. This directory is available free of charge.

BOHS’s Faculty of Occupational Hygiene is an internationally recognised Examining Board, awarding a wide range of qualifications in occupational hygiene and allied subjects. Members of the Faculty are practising, qualified occupational hygienists, holding as a minimum BOHS’s Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene.

Other examinations run by the Faculty include a range of Occupational Hygiene Modules aimed at those with a broad health and safety background. These have no specialist entry requirements and include:

• M304: for an overview of COSHH, a short course but one that can be converted to a CCP qualification and ideal for the non-specialist
• P601: a practical module for those relying on ventilation controls and who need to have someone competent to check that they continue to work
• P701: a new module, also practical, for those employers within industries most likely to be exposing workers to high vibration levels and who need the in-house capability to manage HAVS assessment and to understand the requirements of the current legislation, notably the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations that came into force in 2005. These Regulations require employers to assess the vibration risk to employees, decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure action value (EAV) and daily exposure limit value (ELV) and, if they are (as they often will be in masonry workshops), to implement controls and surveillance or take other appropriate action.

If you would like information on the full range of Occupational Hygiene Modules available from BOHS, a free copy of the latest edition of the Directory of Consultants, or the brochure, “Managing a healthier workplace”, call Tel: 01332 298101 or visit the Publications section of the BOHS website.

Further information

Reporting industrial diseases and accidents under RIDDOR. Hotline: 0845 300 9923. Or forms can be filled in on-line.
www.hse.gov.uk/riddor
There is a lot of information about silicosis, local exhaust ventilation systems and hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), as well as a wealth of information regarding health & safety issues on the website of the Health & Safety Executive.
www.hse.gov.uk
3M technical helpline for advice on PPE
UK – Tel:  0870 60 800 60
Ireland – Tel: 1800 320 500 
The UK Rainwater Harvesting Association is the umbrella body for the industry and will be able to refer you to suitable companies to help with collecting rainwater.
www.ukrha.org 
More on saving water and other environmental issues
www.netregs.gov.uk
www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Suppliers of dust extraction and water recycling equipment
Accurite 
Tel: 01229 480800             www.accurite.co.uk
Combined Masonry Supplies 
Tel: 01274 730100
                          www.masonrysupplies.co.uk
Harbro
Tel: 01388 605363    www.harbrosupplies.com
AJ Lopez & Co
Tel: 0208 544 9980
National Masonry
Tel: 01388 488900 www.nationalmasonry.com
New Stone Age
Tel: 01535 647222   www. newstoneage.co.uk
The Waters Group
Tel: 0845 658 5758 www.watersgroupltd.co.uk