Health & safety champions recognized in New Year’s Honours

British Safety Council congratulates individuals who have helped keep people safe and healthy at work

THE British Safety Council has welcomed the recognition of individuals who have made a significant contribution to keeping people healthy and safe at work in the New Year’s Honours list.

Alex Botha (pictured), chief executive of the British Safety Council, said: ‘The 2014 New Year Honours recognize those many hundreds of people from all walks of life who have helped make a difference. The individuals upon whom awards have been bestowed have all made a contribution to improving a particular aspect of our lives.’

He continued: ‘The British Safety Council is particularly pleased that individuals who have helped keep people healthy and safe in the workplace are recognized in the New Year Honours.

‘While health and safety has, unfairly, attracted unjust criticism in recent years, we must not forget that the sensible and proportionate management of workplaces helps keep us healthy and safe. Many people are alive and healthy today thanks to the contribution of Honours recipients and thousands of others who together play an important part in preventing injury and ill-health in the workplace.

‘We would like particularly to congratulate Graham Jukes, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, and Pam Waldron, formerly the HSE’s head of operations in Yorkshire and Humberside, on their OBE awards.

‘Congratulations too to Louise Brearey, head of the London 2012 Games team at the HSE and to Christopher Seddon, director of our member organization the Seddon Group Ltd on their awards of the MBE for their services to health and safety and young people.

‘We are pleased too to recognize the contribution of Geoff Hooke, formerly chief executive of the British Safety Industry Federation, and Paul Webster of HSE, who were both awarded the British Empire Medal. Our congratulations to all of the recipients of honours.’