In 2008, I was persuaded to take on the role of Leader of the Control of Risk Technical Topic Group. It’s my own fault! I have ranted for too long that Control is the most important tenet of the Occupational Hygiene triumvirate. Whilst Recognition and Evaluation are important and provide much scope for scientific rumination, it is only when the right controls are deployed and used, that health is protected and the huge toll of ill health reduced. So when I was asked to take over the leadership of the this Group, I accepted with enthusiasm!
Bob Rajan, the previous Chair, did all the hard work in getting things moving and I am pleased that he remains an important member of the team. Other core members are Marion James, John Cocker and Tahmaz Nachaat.
The aim of the Group is to become the focus for control issues within BOHS. It won’t happen overnight, there is much hard work to do and of course, all the things that we would like to see cannot happen all at once – we have the day jobs to attend to – but we have moved forward.
We very recently produced two new publications on biological monitoring, both of which can be downloaded if you visit the Biological Monitoring page which you can access by using Quick Links on the left hand side of this page.
In addition to a number of items from last year which are also now coming to fruition, particularly on dermal exposure and dermatitis (watch out for a publication!).
At the same time we are planning to develop the website to enable it to become a focus for Control issues – there’s plenty of scope here for debate, gripes, case studies, reports on bad and good practice, help and who knows – even develop a Web Blog!
Watch out for developments and if there is a burning issue you feel we should be addressing, let us know! Send an email to controlofrisk@bohs.org
For further information please view the other pages in the Menu under the Control of Risk Menu and also the Quick Links on the left hand side.