Who Needs These Qualifications?

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) is a multidisciplinary learned society which has members in over 30 countries. Occupational hygiene is about recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards arising from work.

Examinations Information

A series of examinations in occupational hygiene subjects, aimed at those who wish to gain a hygiene qualification in specified topics of occupational hygiene or grouped together to gain exemption from the Society’s Certificate Core examination.

The Core Module numbers/titles are:

• M101 Health Effects of Hazardous Substances
• M102 Measurement of Hazardous Substances (including Risk Assessment)
• M103 Control of Hazardous Substances
• M104 Noise and Vibration
  
  

The Special Module numbers/titles are:

• M201 Thermal Environment and Non-Ionising Radiation (including Lighting)
• M202 External Environment
• M203 Ergonomics Essentials (including Manual Handling and DSE)
• S301 Asbestos and other fibres

 

Certificate of Competence in an individual subject (CCP)

This examination is in two parts - Part 1 (a written examination) and Part 2 (an oral examination) and is aimed at establishing competence in the individual subject area.

The following subjects are available under this scheme:

• M102 Measurement of Hazardous Substances (including Risk Assessment)
• M104 Noise and an Introduction to Vibration
• M203 Ergonomics Essentials (including Manual Handling and DSE)
• M302 Measurement and Assessment of Noise in the Workplace
• M304 COSHH
• S301 Asbestos and Other Fibres

BOHS Proficiency Modules

• P401 Identification of Asbestos in Bulk Samples (PLM)
• P402 Buildings Surveys and Bulk Sampling for Asbestos
• (including Risk Assessment and Risk Management Strategies)
• P403 Asbestos Fibre Counting (PCM)
• P404 Air Sampling and Clearance Testing of Asbestos
• P405 Management of Asbestos in Buildings (Safe Removal and Disposal)
• P406 Supervision and Management of the Safe Removal and Disposal of Asbestos
• P601 Initial Appraisal and thorough examination of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems
• P701 Management and Assessment of Exposure to Hand-Arm Vibration

Each Proficiency module is a stand-alone modular-based training course of 3 and 4 days duration which is in a specific and individual area of asbestos

work and covers both theory and practical training in the subject area. The aim of each module is for individuals to be proficient and competent to carry out the work covered by the module.

 

*Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene
The accumulation of a combination of core and specialist modules
Exempts the holder from Part 1 (the written element) of this examination. Part 2 is the Oral Examination.
We offer a three day course designed to help prepare those seeking the
Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene, Cert Occ Hyg.

The course runs over three days and concentrates on revision and practical sessions. The last day will be devoted to mock interviews.
Asbestos Oral Preparation Course
A one day course designed to help prepare those seeking a Certificate of Competence in Asbestos (CCP) and concentrates on enabling the candidate to partake in ‘mock’ interviews both as the interviewee and as part of a ‘team’ of interviewers

Providing feedback to the candidates on areas where knowledge /
competence need improvement
Half Day Seminars
Asbestos Awareness - an overview of Asbestos Regulations.
Legionella - an overview of risk and control
Ergonomics - DSE, Manual Handling

M101
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF TOXICOLOGY
• TARGET ORGANS
• LEGAL ASPECTS
• INORGANIC MATERIALS
• ORGANIC MATERIALS
• BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

M102
RISK ASSESSMENT
• AIR SAMPLING THEORY AND PRACTICE
• AIR SAMPLING EQUIPMENT
• SAMPLE ANALYSIS
• HYGIENE STANDARDS
• BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
CALCULATION, INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
• Stage 1 Certificate of Competence in an
individual subject
M103
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES USES AND
PROCESSES
• WORKPLACE CONTROL PRINCIPLES
• PROCESS DESIGN AND PRINCIPLES
• VENTILATION SYSTEMS
• PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
• ADMINISTRATIVE ELEMENTS

M104
PHYSICS OF NOISE, AND VIBRATION
• HUMAN RESPONSE TO NOISE, AND
VIBRATION
• MACHINERY NOISE, AND VIBRATION
• ASSESSMENT OF NOISE RISK
• NOISE CONTROL AND HEARING
PROTECTION
• INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE
• INTRODUCTION TO THE ASSESSMENT AND
CONTROL OF VIBRATION
• LEGISLATION
* Stage 1 Certificate of Competence in an
individual subject

M201
THE THERMAL ENVIRONMENT
• NON-IONISING RADIATION INCLUDING
LIGHTING
• RELEVANT LEGISLATION

M202
OVERVIEW OF ERGONOMICS
• ERGONOMICS METHODS & TECHNIQUES
• MUSCULO-SKELETAL DISORDERS
• WORKPLACE, JOB AND PRODUCT DESIGN
• RELEVANT PHYSICAL FACTORS OF THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
• LEGAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS
* Stage 1 Certificate of Competence in an
individual subject

M202
HUMAN IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
• REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND
MONITORING
• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND
CONTROL

S301
ASBESTOS and OTHER FIBRES
• HEALTH HAZARDS AND EXPOSURE LIMITS
• LEGISLATION
• ASBESTOS IN BUILDINGS AND SURVEYS
• ASBESTOS REMOVAL AND CERTIFICATE OF REOCCUPATION
• AIR SAMPLING
• ANALYSIS OF BULK SAMPLES
• FIBRE COUNTING
* Stage 1 Certificate of Competence in an
individual subject