RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

May 12 , 2006
HEALTH AND SAFETY CAMPAIGNERS HONOURED

Two experts renowned for their outstanding contribution to the world of occupational health and safety have been presented with Distinguished Service Awards by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The presentations to Gary Booton and Nina Wrighton were made at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of RoSPA’s Occupational Health and Safety Awards. The ceremonies at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel, NEC, on May 10 and 11 were sponsored by NEBOSH – the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health.

Gary Booton from Loughton, Essex, has played a major role in influencing both UK and EU health and safety policy and practice over many years. Before being appointed to his current position as Director of Health, Safety and Environment at the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF), Gary was its Head of Health and Safety, and previously worked for 11 years for HSE as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Health and Safety. He has striven to broaden the remit of health and safety in EEF, promoting the business case for effective health and safety management and developing and delivering good practice through seminars, training and publishing guidance. He has been a major force in representing UK business perspectives in the work of the Health and Safety Commission and in Europe. His influence has extended beyond the traditional limits of health and safety - for example in reform of worker compensation and rehabilitation. In addition, Gary has served as a member of the RoSPA Awards Panel, the IOSH Technical Affairs Committee and the HSE’s Workers’ Safety Adviser Management Board.

Nina Wrightson OBE, from Tadcaster, West Yorkshire, has helped to prevent injury and health damage to countless people at work and to save many lives. Her career began in January 1975 as a Factory Inspector, at the inception of the Health and Safety At Work Act. In 1988, she was appointed Regional Safety Adviser for the Government Office in Yorkshire and Humberside where she helped develop arrangements for safeguarding trainees. A move to Nestlé UK Limited as Safety Manager provided fresh challenges, and in 1997 Nina became Risk Management Director for Northern Foods plc. She was President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health in 1998/99 and currently chairs RoSPA's National Occupational Health and Safety Committee, where she leads the RoSPA Awards Judging Panel. She is also Vice-Chairman of the British Safety Council. While at Nestlé she initiated innovative approaches to partnership working with the trades unions. She has a strong personal commitment to ‘sensible safety’ and the development of practical solutions that help prevent injury and ill health and also enhance business efficiency. Nina was awarded the OBE for services to health and safety in 2005.