The Health and Safety Executive's deputy chief executive Kevin Myers has been recognised in 2015's New Year's Honours list. He has been awarded a CBE for services to occupational safety and health some 38 years after joining HSE as a trainee factory inspector in 1976.
Myers has held a number of diverse roles within the organisation following a range of operational posts in the field in London, East Anglia and the South West.
In the late '80's he transferred to HSE's London headquarters to support the deputy director general in setting up HSE's Field Operations Directorate (FOD). In 1991 he helped set up the newly created Offshore Safety Division following the transfer of regulatory responsibility for that sector from the Department of Energy to HSE.
In 1993 Myers was seconded to Brussels help develop the 'Seveso' Directive and environmental auditing. Returning to HSE in late 1995, he initially project managed the creation of a new chemical and hazardous installations division established to implement 'Seveso', and then took up a management post in the new division.
In 1998, he was promoted to home counties regional director in HSE's Field Operations Directorate (FOD). He was HSE's chief inspector of construction from January 2000 to April 2005.
In May 2005 he became director of HSE's Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID), with responsibility for HSE's regulation of various 'major hazard' sectors including the onshore chemical industry, offshore oil and gas, high pressure gas storage and distribution, explosives, mining and biological agents. In October 2008 he was appointed HSE's deputy chief executive to oversee the work of FOD, HID and Nuclear Safety.