19 March 2008 – Purnell announces appointments to the HSC

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell, is pleased to announce that David Gartside has been appointed to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC). He is also pleased to announce that Dr Sayeed Khan has been re-appointed for a further three years and that Judith Donovan’s re-appointment has been extended for a further 18 months.

Following an open recruitment exercise, Mr David Gartside, Vice-President of SHE (Safety Health and Environment) AstraZeneca has been appointed as Commissioner representing employers and business.  He takes up post on 1st April 2008.

On hearing of his appointment, Mr Gartside said:

“I am looking forward to playing my part supporting the existing strong efforts of the Commission.  I know the next few years will be particularly interesting for the Commission and health and safety as a whole. I am very much looking forward to making a positive contribution to the Commission and its work with stakeholders and partners in business at the forefront of health and safety in the UK.”

Notes to Editors

1. David Gartside

David is currently the Vice-President of SHE (Safety Health and Environment) AstraZeneca.  He is a Chartered Engineer, with 30 years experience in the Pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals sector, in roles with significant responsibilities for manufacturing, SHE (Safety Health & Environment), and corporate responsibility.  David is also a Director of ECETOC aisbl – a European Institute for toxicology/eco-toxicology research.  He has a long-standing record of active involvement with his local business community.

2. Dr Sayeed Khan MB BS, BMedSci, DGM, MRCGP, FFOM, MIOSH, DM

First appointed to the Health and Safety Commission on 1st April 2005.  His first job was as a machinist in a small engineering works in South Wales.  He then trained and practised as a GP before undertaking further training to qualify in occupational medicine.  Sayeed was awarded a Doctor of Medicine from Nottingham University.  He is on the BOHRF / FOM Scientific committee, NHSplus evidence based medicine guidelines advisory group, DoH sickness absence certification project advisory board and was a member of the Continuous Improvement Programme Action Group (Securing Health Together).

3. Judith Donovan

First appointed to the Health and Safety Commission on 1 October 2000. A Yorkshire businesswoman who founded her own direct marketing company in 1982, was Chairman of Bradford TEC from 1989-97, and the first female President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce from 1992-2001.

She has been Chairman of the Yorkshire Tourist Board since 1 April 2005 and is a director of the Northern Ballet Theatre, and member of the Programme Monitoring Committee for Objective 2 Funding for Yorkshire and the Humber.  She is also a Millennium Commissioner.

4. Health and Safety Commission

The HSC is an independent body set up under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.  Its operational arm, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is a separate statutory body.  Commissioners adopt the role of non-executive directors of the HSE.

The overall purpose of the HSC and HSE is to ensure that risks to people’s health and safety from work activities are properly controlled.  The Commission provides advice and information to Ministers and others on health and safety matters, and proposes new legislation after consultation with interested parties.  Commissioners receive a salary of £15,805 per annum and spend up to 30 days a year on Commission business. 

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public.  These appointments have been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment Code of Practice. 

 

Media enquiries:
Press office: 020 3267 5144
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Textphone: 020 3267 5145
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk