OSHCR gets set for spring launch
Consultants invited to sign up to new benchmark register for health and safety professionals
HEALTH and safety consultants are being invited to sign up to a new independent register that is intended to become a new benchmark for standards in the profession.
The Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR) is being set up in response to recommendations in the Government-commissioned report on the UK health and safety system − ‘Common Sense Common Safety’.
It aims to increase employers’ confidence in accessing good-quality, proportionate advice, and also to address concerns that some employers – especially SMEs – can find it difficult to know how and where to get external health and safety advice.
OSHCR has been established 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).
The voluntary register is open to individuals who provide commercial advice on general health and safety management issues and who have achieved set standards within their relevant professional body.
All consultants wishing to join the register will have 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 duties.
Speaking on behalf of all the organizations involved in developing OSHCR, HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: ‘This register offers a level of assurance to businesses that those consultants on the register have met set standards within their professional body.
‘It will be an independent way of demonstrating professional competence in occupational health and safety consultancy, and should also encourage those who have not yet met these standards to do so.’
Located at www.oshcr.org, the register will be freely accessible and searchable for employers from early spring 2011.
HEALTH and safety consultants are being invited to sign up to a new independent register that is intended to become a new benchmark for standards in the profession.
The Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR) is being set up in response to recommendations in the Government-commissioned report on the UK health and safety system − ‘Common Sense Common Safety’.
It aims to increase employers’ confidence in accessing good-quality, proportionate advice, and also to address concerns that some employers – especially SMEs – can find it difficult to know how and where to get external health and safety advice.
OSHCR has been established 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).
The voluntary register is open to individuals who provide commercial advice on general health and safety management issues and who have achieved set standards within their relevant professional body.
All consultants wishing to join the register will have 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 duties.
Speaking on behalf of all the organizations involved in developing OSHCR, HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: ‘This register offers a level of assurance to businesses that those consultants on the register have met set standards within their professional body.
‘It will be an independent way of demonstrating professional competence in occupational health and safety consultancy, and should also encourage those who have not yet met these standards to do so.’
Located at www.oshcr.org, the register will be freely accessible and searchable for employers from early spring 2011.
