HSC press release C029:05 - 9 November 2005

HSC CHAIR saddened by untimely death of george brumwell

Speaking from the Health and Safety Commission’s (HSC) Stakeholder Conference in London yesterday, Bill Callaghan, Chair of the HSC, passed on to colleagues the sad news of George Brumwell’s death. George Brumwell CBE served as a Health and Safety Commissioner between April 1998 and October 2004.  He was until October 2004 General Secretary of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) and had been a longstanding member of the TUC General Council. 

Before asking delegates to join him in a one minute silence, Mr Callaghan said: "I am saddened today, and I wish to extend my sincere condolences to George Brumwell’s family and friends on his untimely death. I first met George nearly 25 years ago and worked closely with him on the TUC’s Construction Industry Committee and latterly during the period when he was a Health and Safety Commissioner.

"My impression of him is confirmed by the Commission colleagues. A man of integrity, a man, who if you got too carried away in abstractions, would rapidly bring you down to earth.  He would remind you what it was like to be a brickie, a carpenter or a labourer on a construction site on a cold, wet winters day.

"Dedicated to his members, he was committed to health and safety. Safety is always an issue in construction but UCATT’s groundbreaking work to improve the health of construction workers is a testament to George’s drive, passion and ability to see the bigger picture.  There will be other times when we shall be able to pay a fuller tribute to George, but for now I wish a fond farewell to a true health and safety champion."

Notes to editors

1. George Brumwell CBE served as a Health and Safety Commissioner between 1 April 1998 and 31 October 2004.  He had previously been a member of HSC’s Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC).  He was a member of the Labour Party National Policy Forum and the TUC’s Executive Committee and General Council.  He was Chairman of the industry-led initiative Constructing Better Health that is piloting the provision of an occupational health service to the construction industry and its workers.  He was Board Chairman of the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) and a long-term member of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).  He was an executive committee member of the European and International Federation of Building and Wood Unions and a board member of the Building and Civil Engineering Benefits Scheme.

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