OSHCR to open for registration on 31 January 2011

The new online register of occupational safety and health consultants will open for registration on 31 January 2011.  Members of the participating professional bodies representing safety and occupational health consultants who meet the eligibility criteria can apply to join the register from that date. Those who apply before 30 April 2011 will benefit from a discounted application fee.

The Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR) has been set up by a number of professional bodies representing general safety and occupational health consultants across the UK, with support from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It is designed to help businesses find well-qualified and experienced consultants able to give good quality advice.

OSHCR registration is voluntary and open to individuals who provide commercial advice on general health and safety management issues; and who have achieved at least one of the following:

• Chartered status with IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health); CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health); or REHIS (Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland) with health and safety qualifications
• Fellow status with IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management) with degree level qualifications
• Member or Fellow status with the BOHS (British Occupational Hygiene Society) Faculty of Occupational Hygiene
• Registered Member or Fellow status with IEHF (Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors).

In addition, all applicants to join the register will be asked to declare that they will:

• Demonstrate adequate continuing professional development
• Abide by their professional body’s code of conduct
• Provide sensible and proportionate advice; and
• Have professional indemnity insurance or equivalent to cover the nature of their work

The application fee will be £60.00, but applications received by 30 April 2011 will be subject to a discounted fee of £30.00.  The fee, which is non-refundable, covers the cost of processing the application and is payable annually on renewal of registration.

The register will be made available for the public to search in the early spring, as soon as the database is populated. Individuals who apply to join the register during the discounted period from 31 January to 30 April will be given a registration renewal date of 30 April 2012.

The address of the OSHCR registration website will be announced on 31 January.

Notes
 1.  The organisations involved in developing OSHCR are:

• British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)
• British Safety Council
• British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)
• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI)
• Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (IEHF)
• International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM)
• Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
• National Exam Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH)
• Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS)
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA).

2.  OSHCR is also supported by the Local Government Regulator (LGR).

3.  The Government’s report on the UK health and safety system. Common Sense Common Safety, prepared by Lord Young of Graffham, was published on 15 October 2010.  OSHCR meets several of the report’s aspirations for improved competence in external health and safety advice.