Safety Groups UK (SGUK) - coordinator of the country's largest network of voluntary occupational health and safety groups, has appointed Alan Murray as its new President.
Murray brings a wealth of experience in the safety and health industry to the new role, having been a prominent leader in the field since the 1980s.
SGUK, a registered charity originally established in 1947, plays a crucial role in promoting awareness and knowledge about work-related health and safety risks.
It achieves this by bringing together diverse groups of people to share important messages, experiences, concerns, and solutions.
Some 73 Local Safety Groups, some dating from the 1920s and '30s, are a well-established part of the UK's health and safety system.
An important part of their work is educating and supporting non-specialists who have health and safety responsibilities as part of their wider roles, including directors and partners of small firms, general managers, HR managers, contractors, and suppliers.
Murray has been the Chief Executive of the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) since 2014 and recently completed his second term as President of the European Safety Federation in April 2023.
Under his leadership, the BSIF has been dedicated to supporting those who ensure workplace safety and health, advocating for the appreciation of safety and health as a critical force for good in the UK.
The BSIF, through initiatives like the Registered Safety Suppliers Scheme, works to ensure quality safety products are available through capable suppliers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Murray and the BSIF were instrumental in addressing PPE challenges, supporting authorities in sourcing fit-for-purpose PPE, demonstrating his leadership in times of crisis.
Visit www.bsif.co.uk.
SGUK is committed to reducing the toll of deaths, injuries, and illnesses caused by work activities.
Despite the UK's reputation as a world leader in workplace health and safety, significant challenges remain, with £13 billion lost annually due to preventable occupational injuries and diseases.
Every year, over a million people suffer from work-related illnesses, thousands die from past exposures to hazardous substances, and hundreds are killed or severely injured in the workplace or on the roads.
Visit www.safetygroupsuk.org.uk.
SGUK holds up to three open meetings annually, including an annual awards ceremony in January, and organises special seminars and events on key topics.
Visit www.bsif.co.uk.
About the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)
With nearly 400 members representing manufacturers, importers, distributors and providers of specialist services, the BSIF is the trade organisation for the Safety and Health industry in the UK.
Its mission is to ensure that those who rely on PPE and safety equipment receive fit for purpose products through a capable and competent supply chain, ensuring their immediate protection and safeguarding current and future health.
BSIF administers the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme providing duty holders with a means of recognising suppliers who supply PPE and safety equipment in line with their regulatory duties and responsibilities.
BSIF also administers the Fit2Fit respiratory face fitting qualification.
Visit www.safetygroupsuk.org.uk.
