HSE Chief Inspector Retires

THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS at the Health and Safety Executive, Peter Baker, has retired.

Current director of regulation and former head of construction division at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Philip White, will temporarily take over Peter’s role, pending recruitment of the next Chief Inspector of Buildings.

HSE says this paves the way for a smooth transition of senior leadership of its construction operations and building safety responsibilities. It follows reports that the retirement was unplanned and sudden. HSE states that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) programme “continues to remain firmly on track”.

Building Safety Regulator

Philip White

Interim boss, Philip White joined HSE as a trainee inspector in 1985 and has experience of regulating a broad range of industries. As director of regulations, Philip has played a leading policy role in setting up the BSR over the past three years.

Philip said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the regulatory programme for building safety, at a time when stability will be key to the delivery of our new operational services, until an open competition for the permanent position is held.”

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