Safety Group · West Scotland is the oldest employer’s health and safety organisation in Scotland and second oldest in the UK. Founded in 1937 it is non-profit making, self-supporting and affiliated to RoSPA, Safety Groups UK and the Scottish Chamber of Safety.
History
In November 1937, a small number of executives from industrial firms throughout Scotland met in the Offices of Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd, Glasgow. The purpose of the meeting was to hear about the Local Industrial Safety groups that had been formed in England. The object was to discuss accidents at work and find ways of preventing recurrence. Membership of these groups was confined to subscribers to the national Safety First Association’s Industrial safety service (now called RoSPA).
In 1946, local Groups became autonomous and self-supporting, with memberships available to firms whether or not they were subscribers to RoSPAs industrial service. Through the early 50’s local safety groups expanded throughout Scotland and by 1964 there were 150 firms in the Glasgow group and 400 firms associated with Safety Groups in Scotland.
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 revolutionised industry’s attitudes and helped the group further promote good safety in the work place.
In 1986 the Lanarkshire group was incorporated into the group known as Strathclyde Health & Safety Group. The group celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1987 at a civic reception hosted by Glasgow’s Lord Provost Robert Gray.
In 2001 the Group name was changed to Safety, Health & Environmental Forum (Scotland) to demonstrate the wider range of disciplines in which safety professionals were becoming involved.
Safety Group West Scotland 70th Anniversary
The group celebrated its 70th Anniversary in November 2007 with a Gala Dinner held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow. Guests included Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, Stewart Campbell, HSE, Hazel Harvey, IOSH, Roger Bibbings, RoSPA and guest speaker Brian Sweeney, Chief Fire Officer, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.
In March 2015 the group re-branded to Safety Group · West Scotland. This demonstrates closer links with the national Safety Groups UK movement and the locale in which the group operates.
We celebrated our 80th anniversary in 2017, we look forward to welcoming you as a member and continuing for the next 80 years.
Past Chairs
Member-elected chairs of the group serve to provide a figurehead and guide the strategic direction of the group on behalf of the members.
| Term | Name | Company |
| 2015-current | Alan Gunn | Banyard Solutions Ltd |
| 2013-2015 | Norman Stevenson | Mackenzie Construction Ltd |
| 2010-2013 | David McMahon | SHE Software Ltd |
| 2008-2010 | John Cairns | Strathclyde Fire & Rescue |
| 2006-2008 | Claire Allinson | Renfrewshire Council |
| 2004-2006 | Norman Stevenson Derek Duffy |
Motherwell Bridge Lovell |
| 2001-2004 | Norman Stevenson | Motherwell Bridge |
| 1998-2001 | Graeme MacGregor | Central Scotland Police |
| 1996-1998 | Peter Kerr | Tate & Lyle |
| 1994-1996 | Iain Wilson | Bearsden & Milngavie District Council |
| 1992-1994 | Harry Backhouse | Iron Trades Insurance Co. |
| 1990-1992 | James Caskie | Coatbridge College |
| 1988-1990 | Donald Campbell | Argyll & Bute District Council |
| 1986-1988 | Stewart Ferrier | Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd |
| 1984-1986 | Dan Lavery | Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd |
| 1982-1984 | Ken Smith | Ciba-Geigy AG |
| 1980-1982 | Jack M Johnsone | Iron Trades Insurance Group |
| 1978-1980 | Michael McGinley | Clydebank District Council |
| 1976-1978 | Robert Campbell | Scottish Development Agency |
| 1974-1976 | Firenza J Johnson | Johnson’s (Carmyle) Ltd |