WIREDGOV

A Carlisle-born safety expert has returned to his roots to oversee health and safety across Cumbria.

Mark Dawson, 39, is settling in to his new role in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Carlisle office on Victoria Place in the city. As Principal Inspector, Mark is leading a team of inspectors based in Carlisle and Preston who are responsible for the Cumbria and North Lancashire area. 

Mark said: "I grew up in Carlisle and my family still live here so I know the area well. I'm looking forward to helping local businesses improve health and safety.

"There's quite a varied mix of businesses we'll be working with from multinational companies, like BAE Systems and Sellafield, to self-employed workers in more rural areas.

"We're here to offer advice and guidance to local businesses so I hope they'll come to us to ask for help when they need it. We'll also continue to take action against companies who ignore health and safety laws, putting their employees and the public at risk.

"I'm delighted to be joining the team in the Carlisle office and we'll be working together to help make Cumbria and North Lancashire a safer place to live and work."

Mark trained as a Quantity Surveyor working in Carlisle and Liverpool before becoming an inspector at HSE's Nottingham office in 1997. As an inspector, he worked closely with local engineering and construction companies to improve health and safety.

In 2005 Mark joined HSE's Policy Group, taking on the role of National Lead Inspector for the water, telecommunications and postal industries. Mark has moved to the Carlisle office from Birmingham, where his last post was as Principal Inspector for Construction across the West Midlands.

He is taking over from Steven Smith, who has moved to HSE's Preston office to become North West Head of Operations.

There was one death and 1,231 serious injuries in Cumbrian workplaces in 2008/9. As Britain's national regulator for health and safety, HSE aims to reduce injuries and illnesses at work. More information is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm

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