BOHS

The Health and Safety Executive are looking for two occupational hygiene professionals to retrain as Specialist Inspectors and join them on a full-time, permanent basis.

As a Specialist Inspector, you will complete the specialist training programme and assess and regulate workplace health risks to ensure they have been identified, evaluated, and eliminated or adequately controlled.

Working within a specialist team, you will undertake frontline regulatory work, as well as get involved in creating technical policies. Under the guidance of a Principal Specialist Inspector, you will provide expert advice, enforce regulations, influence policy and ensure employers comply with the law.

https://bohs.link/HSE-Specialist-Inspector-Job-Ad

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, hardworking, experienced surveyor to move beyond purely transactional surveying into a varied role where your work has a visible, lasting impact supporting safer schools and the potential for significant career progression with the growth of the business.

https://bohs.link/lead-asbestos-surveyor

We've just released a new quality‑mark scheme for engineered stone worktops, developed in collaboration with The Worktop Fabricators Federation to enable the supply chain and consumers to choose to buy the products they want, but with the reassurance that their purchase is not also at the expense of someone else’s health.

The initiative establishes a structured framework through which fabrication businesses can benchmark working practices, demonstrate compliance and pursue continuous improvement.

https://worktopfabricators.org/kitemark/

The Health and Safety Executive has published a major new press release stating that dry cutting of engineered stone is unacceptable, ahead of a nationwide inspection crackdown.

In its announcement, they confirmed that dry cutting produces levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) that are typically 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 than those generated by wet methods, 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 the risk of silicosis, a serious and preventable occupational lung disease.

To address this, they've issued their first-ever COSHH guidance sheet specifically for engineered stone, making clear that employers must:
• Stop dry cutting entirely
• Use on‑tool water suppression
• Select lower‑silica content materials
• Provide suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
• Carry out health surveillance

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

The full press release can be read here:
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/05/11/hse-says-no-dry-cutting-of-engineered-stone-ahead-of-inspection-crackdown/

Occupational Exposome Week 2026

A series of webinars bringing together leading researchers to discuss occupational exposures and their impact on health across different working environments.

🧑‍🚒 Firefighters (18 May 2026 | 15:30-17:00)
Exposure during interventions, health risks and strategies to improve protection.
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🔥 Heat stress (19 May 2026 | 15:30-17:00)
Effects of occupational heat exposure and approaches to risk assessment and prevention.
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⏰ Shift workers (22 May 2026 | 15:30-17:00)
Circadian disruption, exposome research and implications for long-term health.
d68c75a4-d9b0-43ba-889d-fc40dccbc6d9@a9010bf5-5339-4409-a121-9d389058de65" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d68c75a4-d9b0-43ba-889d-fc40dccbc6d9@a9010bf5-5339-4409-a121-9d389058de65

🗑️ Waste workers (26 May 2026 | 15:30-17:00)
Exposure to biological and chemical hazards in the circular economy.
cad9f850-a8d3-447b-b351-b7c60834cc0b@a9010bf5-5339-4409-a121-9d389058de65" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/cad9f850-a8d3-447b-b351-b7c60834cc0b@a9010bf5-5339-4409-a121-9d389058de65

As a Scientist, you will support laboratory and field-based research to help identify and control workplace health risks and improve safety across Great Britain.

You will carry out practical scientific work to support our regulatory, forensic and investigative activities. Contributing to projects focused on areas such as workplace air quality and respiratory protective equipment, you will undertake data collection, analysis and reporting under the guidance of senior scientists.

Find out more: https://bohs.link/HSE-Scientist-job-ad

Congratulations to Bufford Advincula on achieving the Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene.

The DipOH is one of the most demanding BOHS qualifications, recognising a high level of professional competence, technical expertise and judgement in occupational hygiene. It demonstrates the ability to tackle complex exposure scenarios, critically interpret data, and make informed, defensible decisions to protect workers’ health across a wide range of settings.

A major professional milestone and a significant achievement. Well done, Bufford.

Congratulations to Laura Martin on passing the Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene (CertOH) 👏

The CertOH is a demanding qualification that recognises applied professional competence in occupational hygiene - not just knowledge, but the ability to assess exposures, make sound judgements and apply controls in real workplace settings. Achieving it is a significant milestone and reflects dedication, technical capability and commitment to protecting workers’ health.

A fantastic achievement. Well done, Laura!

The Health and Safety Executive are looking for a Senior Scientist to join their Fibres & Minerals Team within their Science & Research Centre on a full-time, permanent basis.

This is a unique opportunity for a BOHS-certified scientific professional with experience of investigating workplace exposures or supporting regulatory, forensic or investigative work.

You’ll have the chance to use your skills and expertise in the most positive way possible, contributing to work that supports the ongoing development of best practice in workplace health and, ultimately, saving lives.

What’s more, you’ll discover a highly respected scientific team and an environment where you can learn more, develop new approaches, and expand your expertise across regulatory, forensic and research environments.

https://bohs.link/HSE-Senior-Scientist-JobAd

The 28th of April is Workers’ Memorial Day. A day to remember the thousands of people who have lost their lives as a result of work‑related injury and ill health.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health will be holding a memorial service on the morning of Tuesday, 28 April 09:00 - 10:00, inviting MPs and peers to observe a minute's silence together, and collect a memorial ribbon to wear for the day. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected]

Remember the dead. Fight for the living.