We are a small outfit but we pack a big punch when it comes to our health and safety knowledge, experience and authority. As former inspectors we have experience of working with micro businesses to multinationals; traditional industry to emerging technologies, and everything in-between.
At Osola we aim to provide high quality courses and advice, which you can implement and develop - we are not going to sell you generic risk assessments or off the shelf policies. We aim to be as flexible as possible in what we offer and we will do our utmost to serve you well.
Osola provides a personal one to one service, not an outsourced call centre. That means we get to know you and your business goals. Through our advice and training, we aim to equip you to manage your health and safety from a practical perspective, so that you can meet your day to day health and safety responsibilities. We aim to be as clear and approachable as can be.
OUR TEAM
Steph Rafferty
Advisor & Trainer
BSc(Hons) PG Dip (Occ H&S) Grad IOSH
Steph is a former HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety. She brings a wealth of experience from across the industrial spectrum.
With an HSE career spanning over 30 years she has extensive experience in health and safety management, inspection and accident investigation, including the multiple fatality ICL Explosion.
She has worked at national level developing operational policy. She was a key contributor to the CDM 2007 Regulations.
She has worked with industry leaders to produce guidance and written operational guidance and training on CDM.
Over the years Steph has trained cohorts of inspectors and was an author, tutor and assessor for HSE’s Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety. She has trained and educated workers, industry professionals and Inspectors.
In recent times she has moved into the world of film production. Starting in at the deep end as safety advisor on major film franchises and high end TV.
Marjory Mitchell
Associate Advisor
BSc(Hons) PG Dip (Occ H&S)
Marjory is a former HM Specialist Inspector in Occupational Hygiene.
Marjory started her health and safety career as a field scientist and forensic analyst.
During her 30+ years at HSE, she amassed extensive experience in accident investigation, inspection and health and safety management systems.
She was a key contributor in the implementation of Noise at Work Regulations, Vibration at Work Regulations, COSHH and Control of Asbestos Regulations.
She was involved in developing national policy and guidance on silica, asbestos, legionella, lead, welding fume, confined spaces, isocyanates, noise and vibration, all underpinned by her practical experience in the field.
Throughout that time she has trained and educated industry leaders, workers and HSE inspectors, in occupational health.
More recently she has been an adviser to major film studios on hazardous substances.
Jim Young
Associate Advisor
HND PG Dip (Occ H&S)
Jim is a former HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety.
Raised in a small Ayrshire fishing port, Jim studied and worked in agriculture under a few hard taskmasters, before putting his hard earned practical experience to good use at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
He moved to HSE, where over 28 years, he worked as a main grade inspector and then principal inspector. His inspection and investigation experience spans across industries and people – from small businesses to multinationals, traditional manufacture & fabrication to emerging technologies, private and public services and so much more.
He has trained and mentored many HSE inspectors and holds D33 and D34 qualifications for NVQ assessment and verification.
His most challenging but ultimately rewarding work was leading the investigation of the multiple fatality explosion at ICL Plastics, Glasgow.
Jim now works as an occupational health and safety consultant across a wide range of private and public service clients.
Pauleen Rafferty
Finance & Admin Manager
Pauleen is our administrator par excellence, she brings with her a wealth of experience from local & national government, charities and arts organisations.
Her heart is firmly with the arts, having negotiated her way through the contractual and financial complexities of the theatrical world.
Pauleen sees to it that our administrative systems are maintained shipshape and Bristol fashion, she is a stickler.
She ensures we are up to speed with the policies and processes that keep us in the good graces of the powers that be.
TESTIMONIALS
"Steph’s gift is distilling her judgement, experience and knowledge of safety improvement and risk management from time as a regulator and a top-class practitioner in a way your team can absorb and deliver in your organisation."
Simon Day
Environment, Health and Safety Director UK & Ireland Alstom SA
"Steph is an excellent trainer who fully understands her subject matter and delivers her training in a pleasant manner coupled with a high level of Integrity."
Hywel Williams CEng CMarEng
HM Inspector , Pipelines Specialist
"When I joined HSE as an Inspector, Steph was one of the trainers who helped guide me through the myriad of health and safety legislation, and how it is applied within the role.
She was always patient and knowledgeable, and able to bring the subject to life with engaging stories and examples that she had gained in the field as an inspector herself. With her support, I was able to successfully complete my HSE legal assessment at first sitting, and go on to carry out the full range of HSE's regulatory functions in subsequent years.
I have no hesitation in recommending her as an excellent health and safety trainer."
Ashley Hynds
Technical Director - Process Safety, WSP UK Ltd (Former HM Principal Inspector of Health & Safety)