The British Occupational Hygiene Society

Prolonged use of hand-held power tools can lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Employers should assess exposure, rotate tasks, and ensure tools are well-maintained to reduce risk.

The accreditation of our Register of Occupational Hygiene Professionals not only recognises BOHS’s strong commitment to professionalism, ethical practice, & high standards, but also provides independent assurance to employers, regulators, and the public. bohs.org/register-of-oc…

Occupational hygiene is about anticipating risks before they cause harm. It’s a proactive science that combines health, engineering, and environmental knowledge to protect workers.

WELs set legal maximum concentrations for certain hazardous substances in workplace air. They are not a guarantee of safety, they're a line that must not be crossed. Good OH aims to reduce exposure as far below the limit as reasonably practicable, not simply to comply with it.

Good air quality isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity.

Occupational hygiene is about anticipating risks before they cause harm. It’s a proactive science that combines health, engineering, and environmental knowledge to protect workers.

Diesel engine exhaust is a known carcinogen, posing risks to workers in construction, transport, and logistics. Proper ventilation, engine maintenance, and exposure monitoring are key to reducing long-term health risks.

Noise at work can be damaging even if it doesn’t hurt your ears. Hearing loss from noise is slow, silent, and permanent.

BOHS supports professionals at every stage of their occupational hygiene journey. Whether you're a student, technician or chartered hygienist, we offer resources to help you grow and lead.

Real-time monitoring, using portable direct reading equipment, can be extremely helpful at determining the ‘where and when’ of peak exposures which may occur throughout a work period, in order to assess whether existing control measures are adequate.

Healthy workers are more engaged, motivated and productive and they stay in their jobs longer. Having a supportive culture by investing in an effective health protection programme pays off by encouraging innovation, responsibility, reliability and sustained performance.

Invisible doesn’t mean harmless. Airborne contaminants can cause serious illnesses. Occupational hygiene ensures your exposure is controlled.

Respiratory protection only works if used correctly.

Workplace training on occupational hygiene is essential for both employers and workers to ensure awareness and implementation of best practices.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be the last line of defense. Engineering and administrative controls should always come first to reduce exposure at the source.

Unlike immediate workplace accidents, occupational diseases can take years to develop. Preventing exposure today ensures worker health in the future.

Asbestos still present in 83% of state schools in England, experts warn pressat.co.uk/releases/asbes… #pressrelease

Each year, thousands of workers develop occupational diseases due to poor workplace controls. Occupational hygiene aims to reduce these risks through monitoring and prevention.

Ignoring occupational health doesn’t just affect workers, it impacts families, communities, and the economy. Prevention is an investment, not a cost.

No job should cost you your health.