NEWS HSE APPOINT NEW CHIEF


EXECUTIVE Britain’s workplace health and safety regulator has hired a new Chief Executive.


The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed the current Inspector General and Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service, Sarah Albon will join the organisation on 1 September.


Ms Albon joined The Insolvency Service in February 2015, implementing its strategy to improve service to its customers, lower its costs, and further strengthen the UK’s insolvency regime.


She will be replacing outgoing Acting Chief Executive David Snowball who has held the post since June 2018 and will be retiring from HSE at the end of the year.


Sarah said: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the executive of this important and hugely respected regulator. Working together with my new colleagues across HSE, I’m looking forward to getting to grips with the vital mission we deliver on behalf of Great Britain’s workplaces. My focus will be on continuing to deliver improvements in health and safety performance as our workplaces move into a future with new challenges, new technologies and new opportunities.”


Sarah’s previous roles in government include, Director of Strategy and Change at Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, Director of Civil Family and Legal Aid Policy at the Ministry of Justice, Deputy Director of


Criminal Legal Aid Strategy, Ministry of Justice and has also served as principal private secretary to two Lord Chancellors.


Martin Temple, HSE’s Chair welcomed the appointment: “I am delighted to welcome Sarah Albon to HSE as our new Chief Executive and look forward enormously to working with her.


“Sarah’s CV speaks for itself and her valuable experience in leading organisations through change and planning for the future will stand her in good stead leading this regulator of workplace health and safety.”


HSE is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).


www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/people.htm


OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH FIGURES – A “WAKE-UP CALL” FOR RAIL


INDUSTRY The rail industry needs to do more to protect workers from serious occupational and mental health issues, an experienced health and safety professional has warned.


IOSH Railway Group member Keith Morey believes recently-published figures from the UK’s Office of Road and Rail (ORR) are a “wake-up call” for the industry.


There were 91 reported cases of hand arm vibration syndrome in 2018-19, according to the new data. Since 2010, there have been 662 reports of the debilitating condition, caused by the repeated use of hand-held vibrating tools.


The figures also highlighted the fact that there were 483 injuries relating to manual handling – 157 of which led to employees needing time off work – while there were 1,054 cases of shock/trauma, relating to someone


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who has tried to commit suicide or has been affected by someone who has attempted it.


Mr Morey said that while there has been a recognition from the industry of the need to prioritise occupational and mental health – including the launch of a five-year project to encourage staff in the industry to donate time to support the Samaritans – more needs to be done.


He said: “These figures are a wake-up call. For some time, we have been focusing on occupational health and mental health, but clearly there remain significant issues so we must continue to strive for improvement.


“It is clear where the major issues are. We have to look at why there are still a large number of shock/trauma cases as well as injuries caused by manual handling.


“In terms of occupational health, anyone who suffers from HAVS will tell you how much of an impact it has on their life. It is unacceptable that people are suffering when it is entirely preventable. As an industry, we need to ensure that proper controls are in place to prevent people from suffering the terrible effects of HAVS.”


www.iosh.com www.tomorrowshs.com


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