Health and Safety Executive

Competence - Information of sources of advice

Health and safety advisers and the help they can give

Health and safety management

  • Policy development and planning, performance monitoring, aspects of employee involvement, training and communications.

Engineers

  • Ventilation engineers advise on the design and testing of general and local exhaust ventilation to control exposure to airborne hazards to health such as mists, dusts, gases, vapours and fumes.
  • Noise engineers advise on the cause and reduction of noise.
  • Water treatment engineers advise on the design and treatment of water systems to avoid and control the risk of microbiologicalcontamination (eg Legionella).
  • Chemical process engineers advise on the safety of processing chemicals.
  • Engineers employed by Inspection Bodies carry out fitness for purpose assessments on work equipment.

Occupational hygienists

  • Assessment and practical advice on the prevention or reduction of risks to health from chemical, biological and physical agents arising from work activities.
  • Environmental monitoring.

Occupational health professionals (doctors and nurses)

  • Diagnosis and treatment of work-related disease (doctors).
  • Assessment of risks to health and advice on managing those risks.
  • Health, including medical, surveillance.
  • Fitness for work issues.
  • Advice on pre-employment, sickness absence and ill health retirement.
  • Providing health education, advice on rehabilitation after illness and injury and other counselling.
  • First aid.

Ergonomists

Advice on:

  • the prevention of musculo-skeletal disorders, eg back injuries and upper limb disorders at work;
  • the suitability for use of equipment and workstations;
  • the physical work environment, eg lighting and temperature;
  • work organisation, eg machine-paced work, as it affects health;
  • workplace, task and product design.

Radiation protection advisers

  • Advice on compliance with the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999.
  • Advice on monitoring, risk assessment and production methods.
  • Conducting environmental monitoring.

Non-ionising radiation advisers

  • Specialist consultancies, university radiation protection officers and hospital physicists can be approached for advice on measures to prevent or control exposure.

Physiotherapists

  • Risk assessment, providing treatment and rehabilitation, advice on the prevention of musculo-skeletal disorders, advice on workstations, work equipment and job design.

Microbiologists

  • Assessment of biological agents likely to be present.
  • Advice on risks and control measures to prevent or control risks to health. Sampling for micro-organisms.

[back to top]

Other sources of advice

Please note that this list is not comprehensive. Inclusion of an organisation in this list does not imply any endorsement by the Health and Safety Executive.

A comprehensive list of professional and other safety organisations is available.

Environmental Health Officers, based in local Council offices, also offer health and safety advice to certain sectors of industry, eg offices and retail.

Government Departments and Agencies have enquiry facilities and can provide information on health and safety legislation other than the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Directgov - Business Link

06.01.12