HSE appoints directors of nuclear safety and hazardous installations

HSE press release E048:05 - 4 April 2005

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today announced appointments to two of its Board roles with the news that Mike Weightman is to become HSE's Director of Nuclear Safety and HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, and that Kevin Myers is to be Director of Hazardous Installations.

Kevin Myers joined HSE in 1976 as a factory inspector. Following a range of operational posts in the field he transferred to HSE's London headquarters to support the Deputy Director General. In 1991 he moved to the Offshore Safety Division to support its establishment in HSE following the transfer of regulatory responsibility from the Department of Energy. He was seconded to the European Commission in Brussels in March 1993 to work on the development of the 'Seveso' Directive. He returned to HSE in 1995 to help set up a new Chemical and Hazardous Installations Division and was subsequently posted to it as unit manager for the South, South East and East Midlands. In 1998 he was promoted to the post of Regional Director in HSE's Field Operations Directorate. He has been Chief Inspector of Construction since January 2000. Kevin, 50, is married with five children and lives in Essex.

Mike Weightman joined HSE in 1988 after working in the nuclear industry for 13 years in a variety of roles in research, operations and engineering projects. In HSE he initially acted as a site inspector for a variety of nuclear sites. Mike headed up a policy unit in HSE's Rose Court headquarters before returning to Bootle to set up a strategy unit in NSD. Later he ran a site inspection unit covering Ministry of Defence nuclear facilities. On promotion to Deputy Chief Inspector, Mike was in charge of the NSD Division regulating BNFL and nuclear chemical sites, and later moved over to head up the regulation of operating nuclear power stations. Since 2002 he has also chaired the independent board overseeing the HSE investigation into the Potters Bar derailment. He is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Physicist. Mike, 56, is married with two sons, aged 19 and 22, and lives in south Cheshire.

Timothy Walker, HSE's Director General, said:

"I welcome both appointments to the Board. Mike Weightman brings great experience and knowledge of the nuclear sector and is widely respected in the industry. I am sure that he will provide the right leadership for the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate so it maintains its role in securing nuclear safety.

"Kevin Myers brings with him a wealth of experience from regulating a range of industries and is well placed to continue our work of ensuring that the risks from major hazards are properly managed."

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office