She is only the second person to take up the role following Christopher Buxton, CEO of the British Fluid Power Association, who has been in the chair since the partnership was set up in 2018.

Crosland is Head of Health and Safety at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), which is one of SHEP’s trade association members.

The partnership provides a focus and communications platform for all issues relating to health & safety in the engineering sector and supports the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) with expert guidance and feedback to help it improve standards.

BESA hosts a series of SHEP webinars, which are now established as key health & safety focal points for engineers and proved particularly popular during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Becky has played an integral part in helping to shape SHEP over the past few years and I am confident that her enthusiasm and commitment will help to ensure that it continues to be a very useful forum for all involved,” said Lydia Barber, acting SHEP secretary.

Honours
Crosland received one of the building services industry’s top honours last year for her tireless work throughout the pandemic to ensure the sector’s workforce was able to operate as safely as possible.

She received an industry award for Outstanding Achievement in recognition of the speed with which she produced vital safety guidance and then kept up a relentless pace to ensure the guidance evolved and developed in line with the rapidly changing situation.

She set up an expert panel – the BESA/ECA Health & Safety Managers’ Group – to capture the best available knowledge across the sector; and has chaired the Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum, which led the industry’s response to the crisis. Her “formidable energy” was critical in keeping up dialogue between the industry and the government at the height of the crisis, according to the Awards organisers.

“I am so proud to have been elected as the new chair of the group and have no doubt that SHEP and its members will continue to provide vital information and guidance in the years to come,” said Crosland.

“Chris has done a fabulous job and SHEP has become a highly valued organisation under his leadership. I have a very hard act to follow.”