EVH and ACS Setting The Standard

In 1977 I began work on developing tests to identify asbestos. At the time there were no HSE guidance notes and no industry standards. My investigations took in x-ray diffraction, infra red spectroscopy, polarised light microscopy and electron microscopy. Eventually I helped choose the dispersion staining microscopy technique; the current standard set out in HSE Guidance. 

This was just the start of a much longer journey. Fast forward  20 years and  I was approached by Foster Evans,  who many may remember. Foster was the then Director of EVH and he recognised the need for Health & Safety Management in the rapidly growing RSL sector. After two years of research, development and testing the EVH/ACS Health and Safety Manual was introduced. 

The Manual, backed up  by training and technical services from ACS, gives guidance on managing all aspects of H&S within RSLs.  The system has been installed in over 160 RSLs. 

It has been applauded by EVH members, the HSE, the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland and the Association of British Insurers. Our system has very much become the benchmark for Health and Safety Management in Scotland.