Jeff Fowler CMIOSH AIEMA
Position
Secretary
Place of birth
Sunderland
IOSH background
- I joined IOSH in 2001, after completing the NEBOSH
Certificate.
- Self-funded through the NEBOSH Diploma at Integra in
Sunderland.
- I gained Chartered status in July 2006.
Branch activity
- Member of Tyne and Wear Branch 2001 to date
- Member of Tyne and Wear Executive 2006 to date
- Branch Assistant Secretary 2008–2009
- Branch Secretary 2009 to date.
Professional experience
I started work as a technician apprentice at North East
Shipbuilders in 1986. Unfortunately the shipyards did not last long
and 1989 I was transferred to Grove Coles. I completed my
apprenticeship and left Grove as a quality technician to study
for my HND at the University of Sunderland.
After two years of fun I couldn't break back into the
engineering job market and took several sales jobs. I finally got
back into a quality engineering role with Pascon in 1997. Pascon
was a group of companies that did plant hire, some manufacturing
and scaffolding. The scaffolding side of the business, Palmers, was
bought out by ThyssenKrupp in 1999 and I continued with this
business until 2004. It was with Palmers where my safety career
really started with the integration of quality, safety and
environmental management systems. Palmers offered a
multi-discipline service to all industries, working on some of the
most important sites and prestigious projects in the petrochemical,
power generation, construction, offshore fabrication, marine,
nuclear, railway and airport market sectors. Major contracts that I
worked on included St Pancras Station regeneration, St Paul’s
Cathedral, Blackfriars Bridge, Waterloo Station, Forth Rail Bridge
and numerous petrochemical sites nationwide, as well as more
general construction sites.
I left Palmers in 2004 to join Marshalls plc, working in the
Street Furniture Division as SHEQ Manager. The role
covered five manufacturing sites plus installations all over
the country. I moved on from Marshalls in 2008, having a short
spell with GallifordTry before my current role came to fruition. I
am now working with the Banks Group as the Group Health and Safety
Manager. It is an exciting and challenging role covering diverse
operations such as property development, surface coal mining, wind
farm development, wind farm operations, transport, haulage and
construction.
Professional interests
- Integrated management systems
- Audits, inspections and management reporting
- Employee involvement and empowerment
- Accident investigation and root cause analysis
- Hand-arm vibration issues
- Sustainable supply chain and other environmental
initiatives.
Other interests
I'm married with two kids (one of each). I enjoy the odd ride
out with the kids on the bike but my main passion outside of my
professional life is golf. I am a member of Boldon GC and have won
the odd trophy but am still very much a 'hacker'.