British Occupational Hygiene Society
The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) was established in 1953 to reduce work-related illness and injury. BOHS researches occupational health and hygiene and advances education and awareness. BOHS members are concerned with chemical, physical, psychosocial, and biological hazards in the workplace and seek methods for mitigating these risks.[1] The Society's work has included early standards for asbestos exposure[2] as well as recent research on nanoparticles.[3]
Contents
Structure
The BOHS is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation which is managed by a board of directors, known as the Council. The Faculty of Occupational Hygiene is run by the Faculty Board and reports to Council through its Registrar. Committees and sub-committees covering the annual conference, CPD, membership, standards & publications, education, examinations – oversee the running of many of the day-to-day activities and services. The society has a head office in Derby with a number of full time members of staff including a chief executive.
Faculty of Occupational Hygiene
The Faculty of Occupational Hygiene is the professional arm of BOHS, formed as a result of the 2003 merger between BOHS and BIOH. Membership is restricted to BOHS members with specific qualifications in occupational hygiene and related subjects. As the examining board for the profession, the Faculty administers a suite of examinations and awards qualifications in occupational hygiene and allied subjects, and provides a qualifications’ verification service.
The Faculty also runs the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme, which is mandatory for all non-retired Faculty members.
It maintains a Directory of Occupational Hygiene Consultants, which is available online or in hard copy, and is free of charge.
Affiliations
BOHS is a founding member of the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA). It has collaborated with other global organizations including the International Labour Organisation, World Health Organisation, American Industrial Hygiene Association, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Institute of Occupational Medicine, and Ergonomics Society, among others to perform research and sponsor conferences.[4]
Publications
BOHS publishes the Annals of Occupational Hygiene, a peer-reviewed scientific journal (via Oxford University Press). Additionally, the Society produces newsletters, brochures and a directory of occupational hygiene consultants.[5]
Awards
Every two years, BOHS awards the Thomas Bedford Memorial Prize. Named for the society's first president and instituted initially in 1978, the prize is given to the best paper in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene and includes a £500 award. BOHS also gives the Ted King and David Hickish Awards to recognize top certificate- and diploma-earning hygienists. Annually, the Peter Isaac Award is given each year to honor an occupational hygienist for valuable contributions workplace health. The Bedford Award which was instituted in 1978, named after the first President of BOHS, T Bedford CBE, and is the Society’s prime honour. It is awarded irregularly, and marks outstanding contributions to the discipline of occupational hygiene, either in the general field or in work for the Society. [6]
References
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<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
- British Occupational Hygiene Society
- International Occupational Hygiene Association
- World Health Organisation
- American Industrial Hygiene Association
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- Institute of Occupational Medicine
- Health and Safety Laboratory
- OH-world.org, a website for people interested in occupational hygiene
