Job Description

Occupational Hygienist 

The objective of this engagement is to ensure that occupational health, safety, ergonomics, and human factors principles are fully integrated into the design to eliminate or minimise health risks at source, with particular emphasis on the prevention of occupational disease and long-term health impacts.

working normal office hours, with potential travel between HS2 office - Birmingham/ London

Key Responsibilities:

The successful candidate shall provide occupational design services across all relevant project phases, including concept, preliminary, detailed design, and handover. 

Health-Focused Design Risk Identification 

Identify, assess, and mitigate health risks arising from design decisions, including but not limited to: 

• Noise exposure and control at source 
• Vibration exposure (hand–arm and whole-body vibration) 
• Risks associated with carcinogens and cancer-causing agents 
• Respiratory disorders, including exposure to dusts, fumes, vapours, and gases 
• Skin reactions and dermatitis, including contact with hazardous substances 
• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) arising from poor ergonomics, manual handling, or repetitive tasks 
• Exposure to hazardous substances, including COSHH-regulated substances 
• Mental illness risks, including work-related stress, cognitive overload, isolation, and psychosocial hazards 
• Fatigue-related risks, including shift patterns, workload, task duration, and recovery opportunities 

Exposure Assessment and Control Measures 

• Review of potential exposure pathways for noise, vibration, hazardous substances, and airborne contaminants 
• Assessment of engineering controls, substitution, enclosure, isolation, and ventilation 
• Evaluation of design measures to eliminate or reduce reliance on administrative controls and PPE
• Recommendations aligned with the hierarchy of control 

Compliance and Standards 

• Assessment of design compliance with applicable occupational health and safety legislation 
• Alignment with relevant regulations, codes of practice, and standards relating to: 
• Occupational exposure limits 
• COSHH / hazardous substances management 
• Noise and vibration regulations 
• Manual handling and ergonomics 
• Health surveillance requirements 
• Identification of gaps and non-compliances with recommended corrective actions 

Consultation and Integration  

• Liaison with the client, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders 
• Participation in design risk workshops (e.g. HAZID, HAZOP, task-based risk assessments) 
• Attendance at design and coordination meetings as required.
• Integration of occupational health considerations into safety-in-design processes 

Deliverables  

As a minimum, the Occupational Hygienist shall provide: 

• Occupational health design review reports at defined design stages 
• Noise, vibration, and hazardous substance risk assessment inputs 
• Ergonomic and human factors assessment reports 
• Design risk register entries addressing occupational health hazards 
• Written recommendations for risk elimination or reduction at design stage 
• Contribution to safety-in-design and health-in-design documentation 
• Final summary report demonstrating how client focus areas have been addressed 
• Onsite assurance of OH hygiene provision – and clinical assessment  
• Implement personal and onsite exposure monitoring regime and audit plan  

Qualifications/Experience:

Essential

• Appropriate qualifications in occupational health and safety, ergonomics, human factors, or related disciplines 
• Proven experience addressing occupational health risks such as noise, Respiration, vibration, hazardous substances, MSDs, and mental health through design 
• Knowledge of relevant occupational health legislation and best practice 
• Experience working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary 
• Experience in undertaking exposure monitoring and developing audit schedules and plans.  

Desirables  

• Experience within the construction and or rail industries – applying OH consultation.  
• Experience of providing written detailed OH reports. 
• Accredited by SEQOHS (Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Service) 

Pay negotiable for suitable candidates 

send cv to jaimieteam@coyles.co.uk