URS appoints international OH&S consultant and launches health and safety practice
SYDNEY, NSW — April 28, 2009 — Engineering and environmental professional services firm, URS has today appointed an international OH&S consultant, Mr Shaun Duffy, as part of the firm's launch of a specialist health and safety practice.
URS aims to become a leading OH&S consultant within the Australian heavy industry workplace environment, where companies are facing regular changes to an increasing number of health and safety conditions.
Mr Duffy joins URS from South Africa where he was managing director of his own OH&S consultancy, which project managed in excess of 250 audits for large to small scale mining and construction companies in recent years.
Commenting on Mr Duffy's appointment, URS regional manager NSW & ACT, Matt Coetzee, said a specialist OH&S service line will strengthen our existing engineering and environmental client service expertise. Shaun will be based in NSW, but operate nationally and will play a lead role in launching the new service.
"URS continues to invest in areas essential to our clients' business in the current environment. Health and safety risk management remain front of mind for managers despite budgetary pressures.
"This is not an area of running a business that can be switched on and off to manage costs. It requires sustained commitment and investment to protect your workers and the company's long-term profitability.
"Mr Duffy brings a high calibre of health and management system auditing and implementation expertise, with 14 plus years experience developing and implementing strategies and programs across a range of sectors," said Mr Coetzee.
"Our investment in Shaun is part of a broader commitment to delivering clients and staff best practice occupational health and safety standards. We will continue to invest in areas of our business where demand for specific services and expertise remains stable in the current climate," Mr Coetzee added.
URS health and safety manager John Petersen said the health, safety, environment and sustainability teams had worked together over the past 4 years to develop and improve 4sight and provide employees with a simple and effective tool to help identify and control hazards at the worksite.
"The program has achieved resounding success, which was recognised by industry late last year and we are confident the model will appeal to companies across a number of industries"
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Duffy said that it has been his dream to work for a large international corporation, and that working for URS represents a great opportunity.
"Considering URS's teams operate across a diverse spectrum of worksites, from native bushland and forests to major hazard facilities and construction sites to the office, the program is a truly proven model. The challenge for me is to make it even stronger, and to launch beyond URS and into our client workplaces which is a big motivation," said Mr Duffy.
Mr Duffy is the current health and safety auditor on the URS team to the Global Xstrata Coal SD/HSEC Program.