Dr Chris Nelson

A Consultant with over 30 years of experience in the field of noise and vibration, mostly in the investigation and prevention of occupational exposures associated with ill health.

Principal Consultant (Noise & Vibration) with Finch Consulting (formerly RHMA) since 2007.

Ten years with the HSE as HM Specialist Inspector (Noise & Vibration). Involved in the development of HSE's technical policies on noise, hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration, with lead responsibility for the topic of hand-arm vibration. Developed HSE guidance, Regulations, and benchmarks for good practice on control of risks. Supported HSE workplace and supply side inspection, investigation and enforcement as a specialist investigator.

Five years with the Institute of Naval Medicine, providing specialist advice to Ministry of Defence (Navy) on all aspects of human effects of noise and vibration, including specialist noise and vibration measurements, training of noise assessors and technical advice to MoD policy makers.

Eight years with the ISVR, University of Southampton, conducting research and consultancy activities in human effects of hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration. Included an epidemiological study of vibration white finger and investigations of personal injury claims.

Experience of International (ISO) and European (CEN) Standards making as UK-nominated expert to various working groups dealing with hand-transmitted vibration and vibration emission of machinery. Convenor of hand-arm vibration working groups of ISO (1993-2007) and CEN (1997-2007). Project leader

Expertise
Noise:
Occupational exposure evaluation
Occupational risk assessment and control
Machinery safety & conformity
Vibration (hand-arm vibration, whole-body vibration and shock)
Occupational exposure evaluation
Occupational risk assessment and control
Machinery Safety & Conformity

BSc(Hons) Physics with Musical Acoustics, University of Surrey, 1981. PhD, University of Southampton, 1992. Title of thesis: Vibration-induced white finger in dockyard employees.

Corporate Member of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA), elected 1993. Member, British Standards Institution (BSI) subcommittee GME/21/6 Mechanical vibration, shock and condition monitoring – Human exposure to mechanical vibration and shock, since 1993. Chairman, British Standards Institution (BSI) Panel GME/21/6/1 Hand-arm Vibration, since 1993. Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, Aston University, 2001