Multiplex’s Senior Health and Safety Manager succeeds Dr Andrew Sharman at the helm of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
James QuinnJames Quinn, Senior Health and Safety Manager for international construction contractor Multiplex, has been confirmed as the new IOSH President. Speaking at his appointment, James highlighted that, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing uncertainty, now is “an important time” for the profession, with businesses turning to safety and health professionals as they seek to protect their people and their futures.
He said: “Organisations around the world are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are having to deal with resurgences and localised lockdowns. It has been a very difficult time for businesses across all sectors.
“One key focus for them is the need to ensure they keep their people safe – managing the risks of COVID transmission and all other safety and health risks. Safety and health professionals are front and centre of this, guiding their businesses through these difficult times.
“Business leaders are turning to safety and health professionals to ensure they can navigate their way through this turbulent time. They want to ensure that they can protect their people, which, in turn, protects their business.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is unpredictable and provides us with uncertainty over what is going to happen in the next year. But the one thing we can be certain of is that IOSH will be right behind its members and the businesses they work for.”
His statement echo’s the thoughts of his predecessor, Professor Dr Andrew Sharman, who recently spoke in-depth to SHP in a two-part interview for the Safety & Health Podcast.
Andrew told SHP that “people are recognising that the OSH profession has this amazing opportunity right now, as organisations are asking practitioners to help to guide, to shape, to direct, how to get through the pandemic.
“Quite often, health and Safety practitioners are only asked to help out things have gone wrong. So being pulled into the mix and then trusted, I think is a great thing.”
