19.09.2005

New Construction head at HSE

Stephen Williams, the new Chief inspector of Construction at the Health and Safety Executive takes up his appointment today.

Williams takes over from Kevin Myers who has been promoted to director of hazardous installations Directorate in HSE's Bootle headquarters.

Williams, is 51 and joined the HSE as a front line inspector in 1977, inspecting a number of industries including construction. He has held a range of posts within HSE and in central government, advising Ministers on health and safety policy.

Most recently he has been involved in overseeing or supporting a number of programmes within the rail industry, including the removal of slam door trains from the railway network and the policy relating to the introduction of the train protection warning system (TPWS).

In 1993, he was responsible for developing and maintaining the regulatory framework for the construction industry, including the implementation of the Temporary or Mobile Worksites Directive, which was implemented by the CDM regulations; He has three children, and lives in Dorking, Surrey

“I am delighted to be taking on this position at such a challenging time for the industry. The world will be focusing on our safety record during the construction of the 2012 Olympic sites and the revised ConstructionDesign Management (CDM) regulations will mean new ways of working."
Said Willams.

"My aim is to see an industry that gets health and safety right first time, right from the start, and with the right people involved. It is only by the industry showing leadership, working in partnership and taking ownership of the management of risk that improvements will be made. I look forward to working with the industry to achieve the challenging targets it agreed at the Construction Summit."