Our People

Brian Kazer, BOHRF Chief Executive

Brian Kazer"My aim is to work with others to ensure that BOHRF funds work which can make a real contribution to the right of people to be 'healthy, motivated, and at work' "

Brian Kazer joined BOHRF in December 2001 from Blue Circle Industries, where he was Head of Health and Safety, latterly also being responsible for global management of personal security.

Brian's first job was as paid beer taster at Frederic Robinson Ltd, a family owned brewery based in the north west, and still going strong today. He started his career in health and safety in 1975, later working in risk management for an insurance company and then in construction and quarrying, before joining Blue Circle as global head of health, safety and security.

During his career, occupational health issues have represented about 70% of his work. Brian's career in health and safety has been marked by achieving major improvements in performance, for example over 75% improvement in performance in the last four years at Blue Circle; and by achieving improvements in reputation.

During his last year at Blue Circle, occupational health joined safety as a key item on the Board agenda. He comments "Occupational health deserves to be on the agenda of every Board. Not only do people have a right to be 'healthy, happy and at work'; but also having people who are not fully productive because they are either off work or because they are below par due to having ill health or low morale reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of their organisation and gives an advantage to competitors. It really is a fact that 'good health is good business' "

Brian was President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in 1992, and was Chairman of its Professional Affairs Committee for three separate periods. During that time he introduced and, with others, developed the IOSH CPD (Continuing Professional Development) scheme; had the idea for flexible training with a core content and then content specific to the sector, which could be delivered either in a week block or on separate days (developed into Managing Safely); "sold" the idea of post graduate health and safety diplomas, MSc and BSc courses to the newer universities and developed the associated accreditation standards. He was invited to lead the Technical Advisory Group which advised the Occupational Health and Safety Lead Body on the original vocational qualifications in health and safety. This was the first VQ where levels were distinguished by underpinning knowledge. Brian is currently a Trustee of IOSH and a member of its Research and Development Committee.

Whilst Brian was at Blue Circle the opportunity arose for their Charities Committee to support work in health and safety. This led to Blue Circle funding BOHRF to produce the Back Pain Guidelines by Professors Gordon Waddell and Kim Burton, developed by a multi-discliplinary team led by Dr Tim Carter on behalf of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.

BOHRF Trustees

Our Trustees are:

  • Sir Bill Callaghan – Chairman
  • Professor David Coggon – Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, MRC Southampton
  • Dr Neil Davies – Chief Medical Officer, British Energy
  • Mrs Jackie Douglas – Director, The Colt Foundation
  • Dr David Murray Bruce – Occupational Physician
  • Mr Giles Quartly – EL Portfolio Manager, QBE Insurance
  • Mr Hugh Robertson – Senior Health & Safety Officer, TUC, Lay Board Member, Faculty of Occupational Medicine
  • Dr Alister Scott – Group Occupational Physician, Johnson Matthey
  • Surgeon Commodore Jim Sykes – Medical Officer in Charge, Royal Navy
  • Mr Richard Tapp – Legal Director, Carillion plc

We also have a number of Honorary Vice Presidents who include:
Lord Hunt of Wirral MBE – President of The English Speaking Union
Mr Tim Boswell MP

FOM Research Committee

BOHRF is advised on all grant applications by the Research Committee of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine. BOHRF is independent of FOM. The Research Committee exists to advise organisations generally (not just BOHRF) on research grant applications in the field of occupational health. Its membership is not necessarily restricted to members of FOM in order to ensure that it has sufficient breadth and depth of expertise to be able to advise on the full spectrum of grant applications likely to be received.

The members of the Research Committee are:

  • Professor Tony Pickering (Chairman) – Consultant Respiratory Physician
  • Dr Rob Thornton – FOM Director Research Methods
  • Professor Amanda Griffiths – I-WHO, Nottingham University
  • Professor Sayeed Khan – Chief Medical Adviser, EEF
  • Dr Peter Graham – FOM Board lay member (nominated by CBI)
  • Brian Kazer – Chief Executive, BOHRF
  • Professor Mike O'Donnell – Chief Medical Adviser, Unum
    Dr Lesley Rushton – Imperial College London, Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health
  • Linda Seymour – Research Manager, Mentality at Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
  • Dr Sheila Stork – Consultant Occupational Physician
  • Dr Paul Oldershaw – Past President British Occupational Hygiene Society

Last Update: 28-Jan-2008