The Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Formerly the Institute of Occupational Health) was founded in 1982 by the Inaugural Director, Professor Malcolm Harrington; the Chair endowed by the largesse of the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund (BHSF). The Institute grew rapidly during the 1980's both in terms of the number of staff and the range of disciplines represented.
Professor Jouni Jaakkola, whose five-year tenure ended recently, expanded the domain of the Institute to also cover non-occupational environmental health, which was reflected by changing the name to The Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The Institute develops and conducts research and teaching programmes in occupational and environmental medicine, epidemiology, ergonomics, toxicology, hygiene, and other related disciplines in order to prevent health hazards in the workplace and in the common environment.