I work as an independent safety adviser specialising in visitor safety management in countryside and coastal environments and at gardens, historic buildings and structures. I also cover occupational safety and health issues in these environments. Currently, I provide health and safety advice to Historic Houses and the Landmark Trust.

 

I have over 30 years’ experience as a safety practitioner and manager, leading the health and safety function in the National Trust, the country’s largest conservation charity, before becoming established as a consultant in 2011. I also have several years’ previous experience as an Inspector with the Health and Safety Executive. Prior to that, I was a qualified deck officer in the Merchant Navy, working for Blue Star Ship Management Ltd.

 

I am a Chartered Member of IOSH (the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health - www.iosh.co.uk/).  I also hold a postgraduate diploma in Occupational Safety and Health from Aston University.  Back in the distant past, I gained a 2-1 degree in Geography at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

 

I represented the National Trust on the Visitor Safety in the Countryside Group (VSCG) (www.vscg.co.uk) from 1997 until 2011.  I maintain strong links with the Group (now known simply as the Visitor Safety Group (VSG)) and still attend meetings and webinars regularly. This includes the main meetings and also the meetings of the VSG sub-group on the Historic Built Environment.

 

I represented the National Trust as a member of the National Tree Safety Group's (www.ntsg.org.uk) Management Committee from 2008 to 2011. I was a member of the IOSH Rural Industries Group Committee from 2007 to 2011. I was also a member of the Inland Waters Advisory Group, part of the National Water Safety Forum, during 2010.

 

I am on the Occupational Health and Safety Consultants Register (www.oshcr.org/). I hold up-to-date professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

 

I am a corporate member of Historic Houses (www.historichouses.org), and I am listed in their Directory of Suppliers.  In January 2012, an agreement came into effect to provide health and safety advice to Historic Houses Members, who can find details on the Members' section of the Historic Houses web site or in the 2022 Directory and List of Members.