Rosi Edwards has been appointed as the new Regional Director for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the Midlands.

She has taken over the top job after seven years as Head of Operations for the Construction Division for Midlands, Wales and the South West. In her new role she will oversee the work of HSE's staff dealing with a wide range of activities including manufacturing, education and health services across both the West and East of the region. Her predecessor, Nick Ratty, has moved to the HSE’s operational policy unit in Manchester.


Ms Edwards said: "There is a common misconception that HSE is there to hamper businesses, to control them with ever more stringent rules and regulations, but this is simply not the case.

"Our role is to ensure that every employee and member of the public can go about their daily lives in as safe an environment as possible. There are still too many firms that needlessly put people at risk by failing to follow easy and straightforward practices and it is these businesses we need to target.

"With my new team, I want to work closely with colleagues in Local Authorities, who are responsible for enforcing health and safety in a wide range of premises, including shops and offices, to make sure we are using our resources to target the activities which really are a risk to workers and the public."

(CD/KMcA)