Following elections held at the end of 2001, PLASA (the Professional Lighting and Sound Association) has announced two new appointments to its executive committee. With effect from January 1, 2002, the Association is pleased to welcome Tim Brown of Apple Sound and Tracey Patterson of Artistic Licence to its executive body.
PLASA’s managing director Matthew Griffiths welcomed the new appointments, commenting: “It’s a great strength of the Association that we are able to attract such quality candidates to stand for election, and I am very pleased to be able to welcome these new additions to the team. Both Tim and Tracey are valued members of PLASA, and are well known in their respective fields. I’m sure they will make a significant contribution to the running of the Association.”
The new places were made available by the departure of Paul Adams (PAI Group) and Paul Hinkly (LMC Audio) from the committee. Paul Adams stepped down at the end of 2001, having served on the committee for 11 years, including four years as chairman (1995-98) and three years as vice-chairman (1999-2001). Paul Hinkly, who took the decision not to re-stand for election at the end of 2001, had served on the committee for 18 months and had been a valued member of the team during that time. At the December 2001 meeting of the committee, PLASA Chairman Mick Hannaford acknowledged the valuable contributions that both men had made to the Association, and thanked them for their efforts.
Furthermore, PLASA has announced that following the committee’s internal vote to elect a new vice-chairman, Diane Grant of DHA Lighting has been elected to that position for 2002, thereby becoming the first female to hold the role in the Association’s history. Mick Hannaford of LightProcessor continues as PLASA chairman.
PLASA Appoints Health & Safety Officer
Members to Gain From Another Major PLASA Membership Service
In the latest addition to the range of services offered to its members, PLASA (the Professional Lighting and Sound Association) has appointed a full-time health and safety standards officer to provide advice and guidance to members on this increasingly important issue.
Commencing his role at the PLASA Head Office in December 2001, Ron Bonner comes to the Association from his previous role as health and safety manager for a local hospital trust, where he had responsibility for health and safety management for 3,000 employees across two sites. Ron’s career has been very much rooted in fire safety, beginning in 1972 when he began serving as an aircraft firefighter with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. In 1977, Ron joined the London Fire Brigade, where he spent 17 years, serving at Mill Hill, Tottenham and Stoke Newington fire stations. During this time, he attended a number of notable incidents; including the Kings Cross underground fire in 1987 and the Marchioness disaster on the Thames in 1989. After receiving a serious injury in 1994, Ron retired from the Fire Brigade, having attained the rank of Sub Officer.
Ron then joined the NHS as a fire safety adviser and began to study for a professional health and safety qualification; he was awarded the Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health in 1999. He is a member of the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) and of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM). He is married and lives in East Sussex.
Commenting on behalf of PLASA, managing director Matthew Griffiths said: “PLASA aims to provide real, practical services to its membership, and Ron’s appointment is an important step in that direction. His expertise will go a long way towards addressing a whole range of requirements identified by our members. Health and safety has become, quite rightly, a major area of responsibility for company management, and we want to help PLASA members cope with that responsibility. We are very pleased to have Ron on board, and we look forward to our members benefiting from having Ron available at the end of a phone line.” Ron comments: “It’s an exciting prospect to work with PLASA members who undertake such a huge range of unusual projects within this industry. I’m looking forward to being able to assist them with health and safety queries, and help to ensure that their personnel are able to carry out their work as safely as possible.”
Ron’s expertise in health and safety issues will also provide a valuable complement to the service already provided by the PLASA Standards Office, as standards manager Tim Cox explains: “This new position was created following recognition that both safety and health are important subjects for PLASA Members. Until now, we have not had sufficient expertise or resources to offer expert advice, but a dedicated member of staff will allow us to add to the services that we offer members.”
Initially, Ron will be able to offer specialized support and advice covering all aspects of health and safety legislation, for both the UK and the European Union. Ron also plans to build a database of international health and safety issues and solutions, with a view to offering a comprehensive information resource for the PLASA membership worldwide, and would therefore also welcome discussion on international health and safety issues in relevant areas where it is felt that PLASA could play a useful role.
Ron Bonner can be contacted at the PLASA Head Office in Eastbourne, telephone +44 (0)1323 410335, or via e-mail: ron@plasa.org
Information on PLASA services and activities is available at www.plasa.org