Posted By peter gotch Hi Merv. I can admit to being on the moderating team. So you want details! BSc (Hons) Engineering Production and Economics 1976 Post Graduate Diploma in Safety and Hygiene 1980 HSE Inspector 1979-1991, including investigation of 24 construction fatalities, and fairground (and other) collapses 1986-90 Group Health and Safety Adviser, Babtie Group, now Jacobs 1991-2001, providing internal and external consultancy and training. Divisional Director/Senior Consultant (Occupational and Public Health and Safety)from launch of Jacobs H&S consultancy unit in 2001. Do all sorts including major hazards consultancy and expert witness commissions relating to HSE prosecutions and various civil actions, plus diverse consultancy and training, as far away as audit of integrated iron and steelworks in Ukraine. In your immortal words, trust me. I'm a consultant. Regards, Peter

Posted By Andrew Lochlyn Ure Merv As another member of the Minotaurs (I prefer the link to the classics rather than to being a 'killer'), I can answer the 'who I am' question, but as regards the 'what' I've never been sure of that myself. Overall 20 years health and safety, starting in local authority, moving through liability insurance and for the last ten years upstream oil and gas (Middle East, Western Australia, Russian Federation). Currently on the Sakhalin II Project in the Russian Far East, which is fun. CMIOSH, MASSE. NEBOSH Diploma (1989) PG Dip in Safety Management Systems (1995) which would have been an MSc if I hadn't been coerced into choosing a stupid topic for the dissertation. Prefer shiraz to merlot. Now can we all play nicely?

Posted By Tim [The content of this message cannot be displayed at this time] either?

Posted By Merv Newman Peter Gotch, thanks for that. You were already on my "respected" list. Peter Leesing, I think the fist year was actually 1970. A0023821. 6 years of study in the loft, recording 3-am radio programmes, no social life. Get your BA and they make you responsible for HSE. Was it worth it ? Though I still remember a quite remarkable summer-school week at Leeds. Tim, what did you say that got you barred twice ? Merv

Posted By Andrew Lochlyn Ure Merv I don't know. But I'm 10 hours in front of GMT and the strongest thing I've been on today is Microsoft Word reviewing an HSE Plan, so it just goes to show - the Minotaurs never sleep.

Posted By Peter Leese Indeed Ray, we're in agreement - twice on one thread! The qualifications for moderator is the provision of realistic guidance and good sense. That's all, nothing else is needed. Merv: were you on an experimental first year with the OU? The first real year was 1971.

Posted By Merv Newman Peter Leese, You've just managed to boggle my mind. I thought it was 1970, hence the A number. Got the BA in 1976. Actual diploma is stashed somewhere in the wine cellar. The point was though, that having been "quality manager", getting a real degree meant that they had to promote me. To HSE. Either that or to sales. (which would you have preferred ?) Merv

Posted By peter gotch 1 Bon Soir Merv, from Escosse. I feel a little glow! Regards, Peter

Posted By Edward Shyer We've moved 'The Right Start' thread from the IOSH members forum to the Careers forum as the Charity Commission stipulates that the IOSH members forum is for the discussion of IOSH policy and constitution only. Moderator 08th August Just to clarify things, IOSH Members Forum is for members to discuss issues related to IOSH business, membership structure and practitioner competence. Moderator 09th August Is this a case of the goalposts being changed daily