Dr Alex Hills GRSC PGCE PhD CMIOSH MFOH
Principal Health & Safety Consultant
Alex has a background in the rail and electricity industries as a Scientist before moving into health, safety & environment work. His particular specialisms include occupational hygiene, hazardous area classification and risk assessment, including HAZOP studies.
Close up on Alex Hills (featured in January 2007's Connaught Connection Newsletter)
In this newsletter we speak to Dr Alex Hills who before joining Connaught was Risk Strategy Manager at Network Rail. Alex has almost 20 years experience in the Health and Safety market and is certainly one of the most qualified individuals in his field.
Connection : When did you join Connaught and what were you doing before that?
Alex Hills: I joined exactly three years ago. I'd been working for the London North Eastern region at Network Rail mainly on the implementation of risk management initiatives. Before that, I was with the Electricity Association as a Health and Safety Advisor, specialising in occupational hygiene.
Connection : So how has your career developed and which is your area of expertise?
AH : I studied Chemistry as an undergraduate, and then I did a post-graduate teaching qualification followed by a Doctorate in Applied Chemistry. My first step into industry was as an analytical chemist with British Rail Research. From there I moved into Health and Safety, gaining my CMIOSH (Chartered Member of Institution of Occupational Health and Safety) and LFOH (Licentiate of Faculty of Occupational Hygienists). Since then I've mostly specialised in occupational hygiene, but get involved in a number of other areas of H&S too.
Connection : You enjoy speaking French. Have you used this in your work?
AH : I spent a few months working in a laboratory in Lyon, researching the recovery of oil; but apart from that, I haven't as yet had the opportunity to use the language for Connaught. However, with the expansion of Connaught work across the Gulf and particular North Africa , it is likely that I will be able to do so soon.
Connection : What interesting jobs have you done, since working for Connaught?
AH : One of the most exciting is the project I'm working on at the moment, with bmi; I've been travelling on a number of short, medium and long haul flights using specialist noise assessment equipment as part of the review compliance for the updated 'Control of Noise at Work' 2005 regulations. As part of the tests, some members of both ground and airborne bmi staff will wear noise 'dosimeters', sensitive equipment which will monitor the noise levels they are subjected to throughout the day and I'll be analysing the readings. I recently had to fly to Chicago to carry out some noise measurements on the aircraft - it's a tough job sometimes!
One of the most interesting and challenging projects I've worked on involves working with a Housing Association who specialise in re-housing the homeless. I was required to assess how they could limit dangers from being assaulted by clients. Although this isn't a regular problem, the abuse of drink and drugs by some individuals may affect their behaviour to the Housing Association employees. Part of the risk assessment looked at the importance of good training for staff, particularly in their approach to individuals; it was essential that they were resolute in their manner, but not aggressive.
I have also worked in some food production environments including measuring noise in a Slaughterhouse and meat processing facility; I was pleasantly surprised at the standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
Connection : So what are your interests outside of work?
AH : I'm married with three grown-up children, the youngest of whom is now sixteen and family life is very important to me. I'm also anxious to try and hold back the tide of creeping weight and lack of fitness and at 44, this is now getting more difficult, but I try to regularly go to the gym and cycle and I love hill walking, particularly in the Yorkshire Moors or in the Lake District . I live in the beautiful city of York and getting to stunning countryside and finding some good walks is not too difficult. I also like to help my wife, who at the beginning of 2006 took a job as Youth and Children's worker at our local church, with some of the activities she organises. I find this a bit different to the day job.
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