Two new non-executive directors have been appointed to the Board of the Health and Safety Executive.
Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB trade union, has been appointed as one of the Board’s employee-interest representatives, and Frances Outram Wright as an employer-interest representative, with particular responsibility for the health and safety interests of small firms.
Mr Kenny has worked for the GMB for more than 30 years. He became London regional secretary in 1991 before being elected general secretary in 2006. He said: “I am proud to be appointed to the HSE Board. These days we hear too little about the very real improvements health and safety has brought over the years. As a Board member, I will do my best to shift the focus to the true value of protecting workers from unsafe working practices, and to the wider benefits for business and society.”
Mrs Outram Wright has more than 20 years’ experience – primarily in human resources management – as an executive director, non-executive director and consultant. She ended her private-sector career in 2007, as Group human resources director at the SHL Group Ltd, and is currently a non-xecutive director with the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.
She commented: “I have enjoyed a wide-ranging career in industry and am committed to the importance of occupational health and safety. I look forward to using this experience to ensure that employers‘ health and safety interests – particularly those of SMEs – are embedded in the work of HSE.”
Both appointments are for a three-year term, starting 1 October 2010. The HSE Board has nine non-executive director members. Board members receive an annual remuneration of £16,781 for up to 30 days work a year.
