Occupational Hygiene Management Group

Scope

The purpose of the Occupational Hygiene Management Group (OHMG) is to focus on strategic activities for the assessment and management of the key health risks in the railway. The group focuses on exposure to health hazards that could potentially lead to both short- and long-term occupational diseases. Those hazards include: silica, noise, vibration, diesel engine exhaust emissions (DEEE), welding fumes, and microbiological materials such as Legionella.

Message from the Chair

So very often we measure our exposure to harmful substances and environments through lag measures. We capture physical damage to the people we are responsible for through health monitoring and surveillance and, worse, through employee liability claims. This truly is trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted. Where we understand legal requirements, such as for control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), vibration and noise, we work to industry and legal standards to try to manage the hazard. We look at these in isolation, and we know through a working lifetime our colleagues are likely to be exposed to many, if not all, of these hazards. At some point during this time, we will measure to see how much damage has been done. Damage that is being done right now!

The OHMG wants to be proactive, to start at the beginning and consider the occupational hygiene risks in our industry—recognising our history, cultures and climate. We want to create a better understanding of the risks from exposure to hazardous substances and environments that are likely to cause injury and harm. We want to give advice, guidance, tools and best practices to help mitigate current, and avoid future, risks. These tools and materials can support organisations to develop an occupational hygiene strategy as something that will not only enable legal compliance, prevent illness and injury and reduce cost but improve the quality of life of our colleagues.

Membership

Chair of committee: Leyton Powell, Transport for Wales
RSSB main representative: Ian Mulhall

Committee Members