British Safety Council appoints new chairman
Lawrence Waterman to take over from Lynda Armstrong, who retires on 24 November after seven years in post
LAWRENCE Waterman OBE has been appointed as the new chairman of the British Safety Council, which is this year celebrating its 60th anniversary. He will succeed Lynda Armstrong OBE, who has been chair of the Council since October 2010 and is due to retire on 24 November 2017 after seven years in post.
A passionate health and safety campaigner, Mr Waterman (pictured) is a founding partner of the Park Health and Safety Partnership, and was formerly head of health and safety for the London Olympic Delivery Authority.
He is also a visiting professor at Loughborough University, where he both teaches and participates in research, and a past president of IOSH. He was awarded an OBE for services to health and safety in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Honours.
Welcoming Mr Waterman to the board, Mike Robinson, chief executive of the British Safety Council, said: ‘Lawrence will be joining the charity at a time of significant domestic and international developments and wide-ranging public debates, which present both challenges and opportunities for health and safety professionals.
‘He has considerable health and safety experience, and will help the British Safety Council have its voice heard on key issues and promote its vision that no one should be injured or made ill at work, both in Britain and abroad.’
Mr Robinson added: ‘Over seven years as chair of the British Safety Council, Lynda Armstrong has presided over a period of transformation that has seen the charity become a leading voice of health and safety. We are very grateful for her leadership and hard work in raising the profile of the Council, and promoting the business case for sensible and proportionate health and safety management.’
Describing it as a privilege to have served as chair for the last seven years, Lynda Armstrong said: ‘The organization has remained as relevant today as it was at its foundation 60 years ago, by growing its reach and adapting to new challenges in promoting health and safety. It’s an exciting time for the organization and it will be a wrench to leave, but I can’t think of a better person than Lawrence to steer the organization through the challenges ahead.’
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Waterman said: ‘I’m looking forward to taking on the role of chairman of the British Safety Council, which focuses on protecting vulnerable people in the workplace and empowering them to better manage risk, well-being and mental health. The Council, together with its member organizations, is a powerful force for good and I am proud to take on a leading role within it.’
