HSE appoints new head for waste team

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced the appointment of a new head for its waste and recycling division, with former head Graeme Walker having retired from the organisation.

Mr Walker, who has spent five years heading the waste and recycling team, as well as the agricultural unit, has stepped down after 37 years at the organisation. He has been replaced by the HSEs head of operations for North West Scotland and Northern England, Rick Brunt.

Mr Brunt joined HSE as a trainee agricultural inspector in 1989 after completing his degree in agriculture at London University and a short spell at the Ministry of Agriculture. During his time with HSE, he has worked as an inspector in a number of other industries, including engineering, utilities and domestic gas.

He was promoted to head of operations for the North West in 2009, where he led the delivery of HSEs inspection, investigation and enforcement activities for the region.

Commenting on his new role, Mr 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.

I am looking forward to working with the industry and supporting them in tackling the issues that sit behind the injury statistics.

Record

Outgoing head of waste and recycling Mr Walker has been in charge during what has been a testing period for health and safety in the waste sector, with figures published by the HSE in October revealing that the number of deaths in the industry had doubled in 2012/13 compared to the preceding 12 months (see letsrecycle.com story). A total of 10 worker deaths were recorded during the 2012/13 period.

This came despite a fall in the number of major injuries, down from 512 in 2011/12 to 500 in 2012/13.

Progress

Commenting on his time in the department, Mr Walker, said: 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.

Im 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.

One area that the HSE has been particularly active on in recent months is the safe usage of skip or container loading vehicles, with advice on the subject issued by the body last month.

A pocket card advice leaflet which outlines best practice for the safe use of skip loaders contains practical guidance on the operation of the equipment.