Martin Stear

Martin is a fully qualified occupational hygienist (Diploma of Professional Competence), with over 35 years of experience. He spent 10 years with the National Occupational Hygiene Services Ltd (NOHS), based in Manchester, where he gained experience of all areas of occupational hygiene with regards to the assessment and control of exposure to hazardous substances. This included extensive experience of all practical areas of asbestos from sampling to the management of major removal contracts.

In 1993, He joined HSE as a Specialist Inspector (Occupational Hygiene) and was promoted to Principal Specialist Inspector in 1997. He headed the Organic Chemicals and Asbestos section and gained extensive experience developing national risk management strategies aimed at reducing risks to health in various industry sectors. Throughout this work Martin has represented HSE nationally and internationally, developing workable and often innovative solutions, aimed at reducing workplace risks. Key areas of work have included solvents, coating powders, metalworking fluids in the engineering industry, cytotoxic drugs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, amongst many others. With regards to asbestos he provided technical expertise to all parts of HSE, other government departments and ministers, as well as sitting on various joint industry liaison groups and committees.

He provided technical expertise to the development of legislation and has authored various guidance documents on asbestos. He left HSE in 2004 and has since provided expertise to companies on all areas of occupational hygiene, including advising clients on asbestos management and compliance with Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. He has acted as an expert for the Court with regards to asbestos incidents, surveying practice and cases of asbestos related diseases.