20 December 2004 - HSE Rail Chief to Remain for ORR Merger
Dr. Sefton has headed HMRI since October 2003 and has a long standing service since joining the Factory Inspectorate in 1969, working in many senior posts within the HSE, Head of HSE's Offshore Safety Division and serving as HSE Director for Scotland.
Dr. Sefton commented:
“I am very happy to stay on in HSE until the HMRI merger with the ORR. HSE is committed to ensuring that rail health, safety and welfare standards are maintained throughout the transition period and to manage the change process effectively. HMRI is currently implementing a major internal reorganisation to improve its own effectiveness, and to discharge its changing statutory functions with greater consistency and timeliness. These new arrangements will be in place from April. My aim is to lead into ORR a re-invigorated inspectorate that is adding real value to the industry’s continuing efforts to improve its management of risk and deliver a reliable and therefore safe railway.”
In 1990, the Railway Inspectorate Department of Transport division was transferred to the HSE and became the then HM Railway Inspectorate.
The HMRI, located within HSE offices, comprises of inspectors and other staff throughout Great Britain, promoting health and safety law compliance.
The re-organisation of HMRI, set out in the white paper "The Future of Rail", published on 15 July 2004, was set out by Mr. Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport and his decision was that responsibility for Rail Health and Safety regulations should be transferred from HSC and HSE to ORR, with the date for the merger to take place in December 2005.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
