{"id":615,"date":"2012-08-15T12:02:56","date_gmt":"2012-08-15T11:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hazards.org\/blacklistblog\/?p=615"},"modified":"2012-08-17T09:47:38","modified_gmt":"2012-08-17T08:47:38","slug":"firm-linked-to-blacklist-given-a-seat-on-the-hse-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazards.org\/blacklistblog\/2012\/08\/15\/firm-linked-to-blacklist-given-a-seat-on-the-hse-board\/","title":{"rendered":"Firm linked to blacklist given a seat on the HSE board"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A blacklisted construction worker has expressed concern at the appointment to the Health and Safety Executive\u2019s board of a top director with construction giant Laing O\u2019Rourke, one of the companies named in a major UK safety blacklisting scandal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Howard Shiplee (right)<\/a>, who joined Laing O’Rourke as an executive director in October 2011, took his place on the HSE board on 13 August 2012<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Information Commissioner\u2019s Office, which provided former site worker Dave Smith with a copy of a blacklisting file<\/a> held on him by The Consulting Association, said Laing O\u2019Rourke was one of the major firms identified by code numbers in his file.<\/p>\n

Smith said he \u201cnearly choked\u201d when he heard Laing had a director on HSE\u2019s board. \u201cLaing O’Rourke has one of the worst reputations in the entire construction industry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are proven blacklisters of union safety reps. If the HSE Board don’t believe me, I will be happy to send them a copy of my blacklist file, where the company they have just invited into their fold are specifically identified as supplying information.\u201d Also on Shiplee\u2019s CV is a stint at Amec, another prominent user and supporter of covert blacklisting outfit The Consulting Association.<\/p>\n

Smith said the appointment of a top Laing director to HSE\u2019s board compounded his dismay at HSE\u2019s failure to \u201cto take any action or even investigate the systematic victimisation and blacklisting of safety reps since the scandal was uncovered in 2009. Now the guilty men are making the policy decisions. It reminds me of the film China Town and makes me feel physically sick to my stomach.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Department of Work and Pensions said Shiplee \u201chas been appointed as one of the Board’s employer interest representatives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new board member, whose last job prior to joining Laing O’Rourke was as the \u00a3258,750 a year construction director for the Olympic Delivery Authority<\/a>, said: \u201cIt is a privilege and responsibility to be appointed to the board of the Health and Safety Executive and I am looking forward to playing an active role in support of their important work.”<\/p>\n

Shiplee added: \u201cI firmly believe that high standards of health and safety are not only statutory requirements and morally right, but are also good for business – a healthy, safe and engaged workforce is more productive and committed to the objectives of its employers as conclusively demonstrated by the London 2012 construction programme.\u201d<\/p>\n

TUC\u2019s Sarah Veale has also been appointed to HSE\u2019s board as an employee interest representative. She takes up her post on 1 October.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A blacklisted construction worker has expressed concern at the appointment to the Health and Safety Executive\u2019s board of a top director with construction giant Laing O\u2019Rourke, one of the companies named in a major UK safety blacklisting scandal. Howard Shiplee (right), who joined Laing O’Rourke as an executive director in October 2011, took his place … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Firm linked to blacklist given a seat on the HSE board”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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