Dr Paul Lemon

During his first degree, Paul spent a year with the Health & Safety Executive as part of a small team which developed HSE's understanding of the causes of pedestrian accidents. On completion, Paul moved to the Materials Research Institute (Sheffield) to study the effects of microstructure on the electrical characteristics of conducting polymers used to detect odours in the first commercially available 'electronic nose'.

During his PhD, Paul returned to the Health & Safety Executive's Laboratory (HSL) as a Higher Scientist, and led research into the causes and means of prevention of slips, trips and stair falls, resulting in the production of HSE Guidance and feeding into numerous British Standards. After becoming a Senior Scientist, Paul led HSL's slips trips and stair falls forensic investigation team and acted as HSE's principal Expert Witness for cases involving pedestrian accidents. On becoming HSL's Research Technical Leader for pedestrian safety, Paul headed HSL's research into this subject, including their input into a large pan-European research project and the two largest research projects into slips and falls ever undertaken by HSE.

In his later years with HSL, Paul maintained responsibility for the authorisation of their slip, trip and stair fall forensic reports and represented HSE on several British Standards Committees, taking part in the production of numerous National Standards and HSE Guidance documents. Paul has developed a substantial list of publications in this subject area, and still regularly writes a column in the trade press.