The national regulator for workplace health and safety, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has appointed Rick Brunt as its new Head of Waste and Recycling following Graeme Walker’s retirement.
Brunt (pictured, left) was previously Head of Field Operations for the North West, but will now lead a unit of inspectors, policy officials, and support staff (and work with the industry) to ensure safe working practice in the waste and resources industry.
HSE has previously branded the sector as ‘one of the most dangerous’ to work in, after finding 10 workers and three members of the public suffered fatal injuries in the waste and recycling sector in 2012/13, double that of the year before.
To reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured in the waste and recycling industry, HSE published the ‘Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) blueprint 2012-15’, which outlines 24 ‘immediate action points’ that companies dealing with waste and recycling need to take to provide clearer training and safer workplaces.
Speaking of his appointment, Brunt said: “As head of operations I have seen the consequences of poorly-managed risks in the waste and recycling industry, and while progress has been made in addressing these problems, the industry has plenty of scope to reduce the toll of injuries and deaths.”
He added: “I am looking forward to working with the industry, and supporting them in tackling the issues that sit behind the injury statistics.”
Walker, who has been employed by HSE for the past 37 years, said he was ‘confident’ in Brunt’s ability, adding: “During my five years as Head of Waste and Recycling, a great deal of progress has been made by industry in tackling the problems inherent in waste and recycling.
“I’m pleased to be handing over to Rick; he will have the full support of the dedicated and hard working sector team, and I am confident he will continue to provide vital support to industry to encourage them to bring about further improvements to their safety record.”
With a degree in agriculture from London University, and having worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, Brunt has also been appointed HSE Head of Agriculture.
Read more about HSE.
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