02.01.2006

Goodbye to David James

UK Industry veteran, David James, most recently quality and safety manager at Nationwide retired from the powered access industry at the end of December aged 62.

Over the past 22 years, James has made a significant contribution to heath & safety policy throughout the access industry; particularly in the area of training (Nationwide train more operators each year than any other company in Europe) as well as developing the British Standard for the Safe Use of Powered Access Machinery.

In his ten years with Nationwide Access, he also played a major part in developing an NVQ in Plant Mechanics in conjunction with the Construction Industry Training Board.
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Peter Jones (L) presents David James with his retirement award

James started out with PTP, the company that pioneered the self propelled hire industry in the UK and for many years the market leader. (Now Loxam). He joined Nationwide in 1995 and helped the company achieve Investors in People accreditation as well as a raft of other health & safety and quality standards including ISO 9000.

Commenting on his retirement he said: “Nationwide Access is undoubtedly a leader in the industry today. I am very proud to have been involved with its expansion from a small organisation to the fifth largest powered access company in the world.

“The industry has changed a great deal in terms of quality and safety over the past two decades. Knowing that I have helped develop a culture that values the quality of its service alongside training and health & safety gives me a real sense of achievement.”

To honour David James’s contribution, Peter Jones, operating standards and engineering manager for Nationwide Access, presented David with a caricature depicting some of his most memorable moments.
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A caricature of major events in the carreer of David James

In a tribute to him Jones said: “David James is one of the pioneers of the powered access industry and has been a guiding light for many people. He has been involved with a great deal of policy work with the Powered Access Industry Group, a working group run by Construction Plant Hire Association and IPAF.
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An emotional David James accepts an award from colleagues and freinds at his retirement party

While retiring from day-to-day operations, James will still work part time as a consultant within the industry on health & safety and quality matters. For the rest of the time he’s looking forward to relaxing and having the opportunity to travel.

Chris Wraith, a former training instructor with Nationwide Access, has been appointed as James’s successor.