Helen Vangikar
Toxicology Consultant
Technical Assessor
Trainer
Profile
Helen Vangikar is an independent Toxicology Consultant who has worked in the field of analytical chemistry and toxicology since 1988.
Helen gained her MSc in Forensic Science from Strathclyde University in 1988 and started her employment in research with the Medical Research Council (MRC). She became a graduate Member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB) and Chartered Biologist (CBiol) in 1992.
Since 1990 Helen has commissioned two laboratories from concept to accreditation, successfully gaining United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. Both laboratories complied with the United Kingdom Laboratory Guidelines for Legally Defensible Workplace Drug Testing to which she contributed as a founder member. This document later became the foundation of the European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS) guidelines.
Since 1994, Helen has developed a number of training courses, including her well respected Medical Review Officer (MRO) courses gaining Faculty of Occupational Medicine accreditation, for occupational health professionals. These courses have been delivered to UK and International delegates, within the UK and overseas.
Helen has published over 20 articles on various aspects of substance misuse, policy development and implementation, the need for appropriate education and so on. These have been published in journals appropriate for personnel and human resources, Health and Safety, and Healthcare professionals. Past projects include contributing a chapter dealing with ‘Report Interpretation and the Role of the Medical Review Officer’ as part of a book written by members of the European Workplace Drug Testing Society and published by the Pharmaceutical Press.
Currently Helen is a Technical Assessor for UKAS assessing ISO/IEC 17025, the Forensic Codes of Practice and Conduct, ISO 17043 and a number of ILAC and WADA supporting documents. In addition she is contributing to the workplace drug and alcohol groups for the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and the Society of Occupational Medicine.
Helen has been President of the European Workplace Drug Testing Society (EWDTS) and is a past committee member of the LTG, formally the London Toxicology Group. She remains active in both groups.
