Autumn Scientific 2011

Chris Snaith 

Head of HSE’s Occupational Hygiene / Noise & Vibration Unit, Corporate Science Engineering and Analysis Directorate (CSEAD) 

Chris Snaith joined HSE in 1991 after undertaking post-doctoral research at Oxford University on models of cardiac failure, using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and biochemical methods; this is where she encountered occupational asthma firsthand, which is one of the main reasons for her career change!  For her first 5 years in HSE she worked on the non-agricultural pesticide scheme, most of this time running the section that oversaw product approvals (as opposed to new active ingredients), but this is where she first worked with HSE’s Occupational Hygienists, as novel exposure scenarios were assessed.  She then undertook a “development opportunity” in HSE’s Personnel function (including overseeing new recruitment assessment centre design), and after a post in HSE’s Nuclear Directorate, where she led implementation of new Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, she has held various management positions.  These have included posts in HSE’s main operational function “FOD”, Safety Unit (a unit with operational policy responsibilities for cross-cutting safety topics, at the time in the Policy Group) and in ND again, before moving to her current rôle in May 2010, coinciding with a period of significant change for HSE.     

Professor Thomas Bernard  

College of Public Health, University of South Florida    

Thomas Bernard is currently a Fulbright Scholar at Loughborough University sponsored by the US-UK Fulbright Commission.  He is also a professor in the University of South Florida College of Public Health and chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.  His research interests are heat stress and strain, and exposure assessment for musculoskeletal disorders in manufacturing.  Tom is a member of the ACGIH Physical Agents Committee and a past chair.