The document summarizes a workshop to prepare for the Board of Hygiene Standards diploma exam. It discusses the exam format, including written exams on chemical and physical agents with essay and short questions testing extensive knowledge and practical experience; and an oral exam with scenario-based questions assessing data interpretation, control strategies, and application of legislation. Example micro-essay questions are provided covering topics like vibration white finger, noise-induced hearing loss, exposure modeling, and carcinogens vs teratogens.

1. BOHS Diploma Exam Preparation Workshop Harrogate 26 April 2010 www.diamondenv.co.uk

2. Objective 1 Provide an introduction to the exam format

3. Objective 2 Discuss how to approach the exam(s)

4. Objective 3 Discuss example questions and approaches to answering them

5. Objective 4 Identify areas for further study

6. Diploma Examination No syllabus

7. Occupational Hygiene Recognition Evaluation Control Chemical, physical and biological agents

8. Written Exam “The standard of answer expected to pass this examination should show extensive knowledge of the subject and indicate practical experience in the assessment and control of the hazard described in the question.”

9. Written Exam “The standard of answer expected to pass this examination should show extensive knowledge of the subject and indicate practical experience in the assessment and control of the hazard described in the question.”

10. Written Exam “The standard of answer expected to pass this examination should show extensive knowledge of the subject and indicate practical experience in the assessment and control of the hazard described in the question.”

11. Written Examination Extensive knowledge Practical experience

12. Written Exam Paper 1 Chemical Agents Paper 2 Physical Agents 3 hours per paper

13. Written Exam One “compulsory” essay question (from a choice of two) 25 marks

14. Written Exam Two other essay questions (from a choice of three) 25 marks

15. Written Exam Five micro-essay questions (from a choice of eight) 5 marks

16. Written Exam One “compulsory” essay question Two other essay questions Five micro-essay questions

19. Oral Examination One hour duration Three panellists Questions based on scenarios

20. Oral Examination Answers must demonstrate “deep and broad experience”

21. Oral Examination Strategy Data interpretation Practical control measures Application of legislation/good practice

22. Example Micro – Essay Question Briefly outline the symptoms of vibration white induced white finger. What factors are important in assessing the risk of a worker developing vibration induced white finger?

23. Example Micro – Essay Question Standard audiometry only measures hearing levels down to -5dB. Briefly explain why this may present a problem when using audiometry to assess noise induced hearing loss.

24. Example Micro – Essay Question Briefly outline how exposure modelling could be used for estimating the likely airborne concentration resulting from an accidental solvent spillage.

25. Example Micro – Essay Question Briefly explain the difference between a carcinogen and a teratogen. How might this affect our approach to control of substances with these properties?