The new man charged with heading up the HSE’s enforcement arm has been named as David Ashton.
With 30 years’ experience of workplace inspection, team leadership and health and safety research, Ashton takes on the role of director of field operations at a time when the regulator is promising to put investigation and enforcement at the heart of its strategy for the coming years.
Said HSE chief executive, Geoffrey Podger: “I am delighted that David is taking up this post. His experience across a wide range of sectors, particularly given his initial grounding as an inspector, means that he is well placed to make a successful and significant contribution to the HSE’s work.”
Ashton himself commented: “I am very pleased to move into this role at a time when there are some exciting opportunities, and when the current economic climate creates real challenges too. I look forward to working with my HSE colleagues to ensure that good health and safety practices continue.”
Prior to his new appointment Ashton managed the North West and HQ Division of the Field Operations Directorate (FOD) and sat on the independent Investigation Board into the Buncefield explosion. The FOD is the largest operational inspectorate in the HSE and is based in Bootle, Merseyside.
