New health and safety manager aims to take standards to next level

Lanes Group has appointed Paul McParland as its new health, safety and environment manager to build on the company’s already good safety record and take standards to the next level.

Paul joins the drainage and maintenance solutions provider from Veolia Environmental Services, where he was a divisional health, safety, environment and quality manager.

Lanes Group Operations Director Allan Wallis said: “Paul brings to Lanes a wealth of experience and expertise, and will help us take our already strong performance on health and safety to the next level.

“Standing still is not an option in health and safety management. Safety is a key priority in our industry, and we are determined to set the highest standards.

“We will be looking to Paul to lead our process of continuously improving our strategy and systems for keeping our staff, clients and the wider public safe while we are carrying out our operations.”

Paul, who is a chartered member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, will be responsible for leading on health and safety across Lanes Group’s 18 regional operational depots.

He has joined just as Lanes Group has achieved its sixth successive RoSPA Gold Award for occupational health and safety, which means the company qualifies for a RoSPA Gold Medal for the second year.

He said: “Excellence in health and safety has to be the priority for everyone in the company. It is a team effort, which is why I am looking forward to working closely with everyone in in Lanes across the UK.

“Just before I arrived, the company took the sensible decision to invest in an integrated health and safety software management system, called SHE, which is already realising benefits.

“As well as embedding this system into the operation, I will be looking specifically at reviewing and supporting training, supporting involvement of all staff in health and safety decision-making and ensuring Lanes is compliant with current legislation, for example the latest CDM regulations 2015.

“Our aim must be to work continuously to embed health and safety in our culture at all levels of the company from point of works in the field to the boardroom, and I will support this process all the way.”

Last month, Lanes Group’s Utilities Division was named as a finalist in the Construction News Awards for Health and Safety Initiative. The division won the same award in 2013, and a Construction News Specialists Award for Health and Safety in 2014.