Director Profile - Des Alford

Name : Des Alford

Memberships:

CMIOSH, MIIRSM, RFaPS
Member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.
Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Registered Fellow of the Association for Project Safety.

Qualifications:

NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) General Certificate.
NEBOSH Construction Certificate.
NEBOSH Diploma Modules – Law, Occupational Health and Hygiene, Safety Technology.
Level 4 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.
7302 Certificate in Delivering Learning.

Courses Attended:

IOSH Hand-Arm Vibration: Risk Assessment and Management.
IOSH Principles of Auditing for Health and Safety Practitioners.
Design Risk Management in Context.
Scaffolding Safety Inspection.
Training Instructor Course in Lifting and Manual Handling.

Lead Tutor of Various Health and Safety Related Courses including:

CITB: The Site Management Safety Training Scheme, 2 Day Refresher and CSCS.

Summary of Role:

As Director, Des is responsible for liaison, reporting and interfacing with Clients at a high level. Des leads our Training Division and is very passionate in his approach to training for both our clients needs and for the personal development of his staff, thus ensuring that M.E.L. lead by their own example.

Des also heads the Health and Safety Management System team who are responsible for producing management systems for clients who wish to acquire 18001 accreditation or similar. This team also undertakes Health & Safety Audits for large and small clients alike.

Audits may be undertaken on individual companies to assess compliance with legislation, safety management systems, commercial, residential properties (etc.) to ensure compliance with current statutory and common law.

An Example of Relevant Experience includes:

The Wembley National Stadium Project value: £365,000,000

Des’ involvement in the Wembley National stadium began at the inception of the construction process. He was in charge of approving the demolition sequence of the old stadium as well as addressing the design issues of the new build. Des also produced the initial construction phase plan for the stadium and undertook a failure modes and effect analysis on the raising of the arch.

The Swiss RE Building Project value: £150,000,000

Des headed a team of safety consultants supervising the construction of this now very famous landmark. His duties included undertaking a design presentation to the Health & Safety Executive.

The Ascot Racecourse Project Value: £200,000,000

The new stand at the Ascot Racecourse features a complex roof structure. Des was responsible for implementing fall prevention and fall arrest systems to protect the operatives working on the roof structure and other trade contractors working below. In addition, Des liaised with the Principal Contractor to introduce a rescue procedure in the event of a fall being arrested.

Thorpe Park Stealth Coaster Project Value: £11,000,000

At the time of construction, the Stealth Coaster was the tallest rollercoaster in Europe. Des was involved in this project at an early stage and was responsible for overseeing the complicated lifting operations involved with constructing a structure of this nature.

Peterborough District & Edith Cavel NHS Hospital Project Value: £360,000,000

Des is lead CDM-Co-ordinator for this PFI project. He and his team are involved in managing the flow of information between the Principal Contractor, Contractors, Designers and the Client to ensure that the project is designed and built in compliance with current health and safety legislation and building regulations.

Pre-Health and Safety Employment:

Design & Build Project Director

City Construction

Year: 1990 – 1995

Des spent five years working for City Construction on a variety of design and build projects situated in London and the South East. It was his responsibility to review and approve all new-build designs before construction began.