Hi everyone i have tried finding answer through search facility but I am not getting the information I need so was hoping someone may help. I have heard rumors that by the end of the year freelance health and safety consultants MUST be registered on some kind of consultants list. The idea being that to be freelance chartered membership must have been attained therefore competent H+S would be assured and negate the cowboy element within the industry. From what I can gather this is on a voluntary basis at the moment but have heard that it will be compulsory. Can anyone shed further light on this and point me in the right direction so I can do further research myslef. cheers

There is no law saying that any free lance people have to be on any kind of register/list so if you can go on getting work get it; as word of mouth and direct marketing and sales to get business is the usual way in any case and noting that bad decisions are not made by H&S [on the whole] but by managers etc so irrespective of any lists etc things will not really change in my personal view as good advice will still be disregarded and the press will still be as they are As a person to date I have operated via my various clients insurance cover which is perfectly legal and acceptable provided its suitable [the same system that is used for in-house H&S people] however to be on the official register/ list there is a requirement to have your own insurance cover which pushes up costs to your clients; cost increases being a thing that the government and every other area want us to drop not raise This subject has been discussed so do a search on this site and talk to IOSH direct noting that time and again people are doing work e.g. Supporting schools, shops, friends etc where they have no insurance cover, are not on any register/list nor in many cases are they competent Politically people in high places want H&S people to be on registers/lists but that is against the principal of free business enterprise and the people in high places appear to only want H&S people on registers/lists noting that you can open 'any' other type of business in the UK without being on any kind of list nor being competent in that area! All the above said if we as a profession do noting then we will not move forward so we need to get with insurers and others to push the facts to their clients; schools etc that even freebie H&S advice needs to be via competent people and that they will withdraw insurance where such advice is found to be lacking. Therefore we do need some kind of register As a chartered member I would like to see the parameters of the register re evaluated because a very cleaver person can get a degree/MSC etc yet give poor advice so competence should be more that just having insurance and a certain qualification Just my thoughts/best of luck

To answer the original question without getting into a huge discussion (again) on the merits of the OSHCR ;-0 this is just a rumour. Not to say it won't happen eventually - who knows - but right now if such a thing were to happen and be compulsory it would need a much longer lead-in time than 6 months.

Hello all just like to make a comment as a new member to IOSH , although I feel very confident advising and carrying out Health and Safety activities such as Risk assessments and reporting to clients,I have questioned do I need to be registered as a consultant!!

No requirement to be on a register. There are better ways to spend £60.00. Jon

Hi I think the register is useful for consultants to also find support from other consultants. Only yesterday I used the register to identify someone to potentially assist me with some construction work. You obviously need to do your own checking and get references etc. However, it's useful as an initial filter. I accept that it's not a final measure of competence, but would encourage its use.

sorry should be Heather not Helen, damn, wrong potion again! Wizard

Totally agree with you jharrison - I have had a very good relationship with a consultant in recent years and he has asked me on occasions to do some work where he doesn't feel comfortable, which is admirable...... a man needs to know his limitations..... this has worked very well but now here comes the crunch; one of the consultants’ clients has now asked me to do ALL the work including that of the consultant. This is due to the fact that I'm on the OSHCR and he isn't. I've asked them why....? when he's been doing such a good job and the response is that he isn't on the register so can't be good enough........ I suppose the phrase that springs to mind for those bodies that have decided who and with what qual's get on the register is the six 'Ps'......Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance....I’ve left one 'P' out obviously ;-)