| Walsh and Briscoe step back from the frontline |
|
By co-incidence, two of the most influential figures in the
Irish health and safety world over the last 20 years, Tom Walsh and
Tony Briscoe, have retired from their fulltime roles in recent weeks.
For more than 20 years both men have been at the forefront of the
national effort to raise health and safety standards. Both have been
involved in the health and safety world since the time of the
Barrington Commission report and both have been highly influential in
the development of national health and safety policy. Both have also
made a significant contribution to health and safety at European level. TOM WALSH When the history of health and safety over the last 25 years is written, Walsh will undoubtedly be seen as the most influential figure of the era. While not on the Barrington Commission, he was closely involved with its work. Then when the HSA was established following the passage of the SHWW Act 1989, Walsh was appointed director general, a role he filled until 2001. During that time he guided the Authority through the economically difficult years of the early 1990s and faced what many involved in the health and safety world at the time say was a significant scaling back on the resources that had been anticipated would be available to the new Authority. Notwithstanding this, Walsh, aided by some very able colleagues, went on to establish a State agency that exhibited the best characteristics of the leading professional firms. He oversaw the move of the Authority from what can best be described as cramped offices in the old Department of Labour Building to offices at Hogan Place. During his period of office, the Authority grew from being a small organisation with a staff of about 70 to one with a staff of 160. Walsh, who was always noted for his attention to detail (a characteristic which some found difficult to deal with) and his knowledge of legislation, was on retiring from the HSA appointed to be a policy advisor with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. There he was a key figure in the framing of the SHWW Act 2005, the General Application Regulations 2007 and the Chemicals Act 2008, as well as being involved in developing a wide range of other legislation. During this time he was involved in numerous negotiations at European level. Walsh’s other great contribution was to the development of the Irish health and safety educational system and the Irish health and safety profession. There can be little doubt that the relationship that Walsh developed with Caroline Hussey, then registrar in UCD, was an important factor in the establishment of the health and safety courses at UCD: courses which were later developed in other universities and colleges. One of the important milestones in the development of the Irish profession was the recognition of Irish courses by IOSH. Also important was Walsh’s support for both NISO and IOSH. To talk to Walsh for any length of time was to become aware of his concern for the welfare and development of both organisations. TONY BRISCOE Briscoe’s role was different from Walsh’s. He joined the old Federated Union of Employers, which merged with the Confederation of Irish Industry, to become IBEC. Briscoe was specifically recruited, in anticipation of the enactment of the SHWW Act 1989, to develop the organisation’s health and safety policies and a unit to advise employers on health and safety issues. In this role, he has had a significant influence on the development of health and safety policies in many workplaces throughout the country. Briscoe’s other key role was as a member of the board of the HSA, from its establishment in 1989 until he had to retire in 2007 - following the passage of the SHWW Act 2005, which limits board membership to two terms. During his period on the board, Briscoe was influential in the drafting of legislation. He was recognised as a strong negotiator for employers, with a keen eye for the detail of legislation and guidance proposals which was something that at times may have frustrated some of his less patient colleagues. However, when the history of the last 25 years comes to be written, Briscoe’s most important contribution to the development of national policy will undoubtedly be the work he did in laying the ground for what eventually emerged, during Mary Harney’s term as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. While the credit for the establishment of the Board must go to Harney and Dorothea Dowling (now chairperson of the Board), without the groundwork undertaken by Briscoe in working with trade unions on developing a non-adversarial compensation approach with an emphasis on return to work policies, the establishment of the PIAB would not have been possible. The social partnership buy-in required would have been lacking. FUTURE DIRECTION While both men have retired from the front line, HSR expects that both will remain active members of the health and safety community. Given their experience and proven wisdom, both still have a valuable contribution to make. |
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