New Chief Executive for HSE

HSC press release C020:05 - 1 August 2005

Geoffrey Podger, currently Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority, has been appointed Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Mr Podger will take up his new role at the HSE on 28 November.

Before joining the European Food Safety Authority in 2003, Geoffrey Podger was Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Britain from its inception in 2000. Prior to this, he spent 18 years in the Department of Health, including a period heading up their health promotion work. The current Chief Executive of HSE, Timothy Walker, retires at the end of September this year.

The appointment was made by the Health and Safety Commission whose Chairman, Bill Callaghan, said:

"I am extremely pleased that Geoffrey Podger is joining HSE to become its Chief Executive and the Commission look forward to working with him. He brings valuable experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and also in working with a wide range of stakeholders. I am confident that he will be able to build on his many successes, particularly at the FSA which faces similar issues to ourselves, and help HSE become even better at protecting people in the changing world of work."

Endorsing the appointment on behalf of the Government, the Minister responsible for health and safety, Lord Hunt, said:

"I am delighted with this appointment. Geoffrey understands the contribution that good, sensible regulation can make to a fast moving and complex society like ours. As a former Chief Executive with the Food Standards Agency, he has a track record in risk-based regulation - focusing effort where it is most needed. This fits very comfortably with the approach to sensible health and safety which the Health and

Safety Commission and Executive have been pursuing as part of the Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety to 2010. Coupled with his understanding of Europe, from where much new health and safety regulation stems, this makes him an ideal leader for HSE. I very much look forward to working with him."

Mr Podger, who is 52 years old, said of his appointment:

"I am delighted to be given the chance to lead the HSE. I regard the work of the Commission and Executive as being an important component of a civilised society. I look forward to working with high calibre colleagues within the HSE and HSC to continue to deliver improvements in health and safety."

Notes to editors

1. The appointment of the Chief Executive (or Director General as the post used to be known) is made by the Health and Safety Commission, subject to approval by the Secretary of State.
2. Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.
3. Together, HSC and HSE look after health and safety in nuclear installations and mines, factories, farms, hospitals and schools, offshore gas and oil installations, the safety of the gas grid and the movement of dangerous goods and substances, railway safety (soon to transfer to the Office of Rail Regulation), and many other aspects of the protection both of workers and the public. Local authorities are responsible to HSC for enforcing health and safety regulations in offices, shops and other parts of the services sector.

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