David Buchanan, Group Head of OHSE

David Buchanan

Group Head of OHSE

Dar Al Handasah (Shair and Partners) Consultants Ltd

Location
United Kingdom - London
Education
Bachelor's degree, Occupational Health and Safety
Experience
21 years, 0 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :21 years, 0 Months

Group Head of OHSE at Dar Al Handasah (Shair and Partners) Consultants Ltd
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • March 2019 to April 2023

Based at the Group Holding Company headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre and reporting to the Group Chairman and Executive Board, I provided professional leadership and advice on the Group’s global OHSE policy, governance, and performance. I developed top level policy for a professionally and internationally diverse Group of companies. I developed executive and senior management awareness and capability in the drive towards a mature and resilient safety and sustainability culture. This reinforced the shared overall vision of institutional integrity necessary to support future growth and promote brand awareness.
An initial 5-year cultural maturity strategy was proposed and supported. Key to success was the development of a network of senior directors and colleagues drawn from a range of non-specialist professionals. Working collaboratively, I developed a centralised reporting system essential for measuring and monitoring performance, trend analysis, benchmarking and peer comparison. This allowed Dar Group to assess and prioritise the HSE risk profile of the various business units enabling the justification and efficient allocation of resources and responsibilities. I implemented a training programme to support the non-HSE practitioners tasked with data capture and reporting to ensure a basic degree of competency, with additional support and guidance being provided on a one-to-one basis.
I also developed engagement tools to support the overall objective, leveraging in-house capabilities, to capture data supporting the Group commitment to the UN SDGs and GRI 403 Standard.

Head of PMC HSE at Dar Al Handasah
  • Egypt - Cairo
  • June 2017 to February 2019

I was responsible for strategic HSE policy, planning, leadership, and assurance throughout the Middle East, African, Central Asian and Indian regions. Providing Project HSE guidance and support, tender evaluations, and contract proposals as required. Setting HSE targets and objectives, directing policy, and monitoring performance on behalf of the PMC Director, for all project management and supervision activities at Dar project locations. Also led the process of migration from OHSAS18001 to ISO45001.

Corporate HSE Manager at Dar Al Handasah
  • Egypt - Cairo
  • November 2014 to June 2017

I was responsible for the Middle East, African and Indian regions, providing Project HSE advice and assurance, tender evaluations, and contract proposal support. The role also encompassed HSEMS maintenance, development and compliance assurance; the development of HSE Plans, and the provision of HSE support for projects and clients ranging from the construction of new buildings at an LNG terminal for Shell in Nigeria, to a multi-billion USD new Government Administration complex, and Commercial Business District in Cairo, Egypt; to a major highway expansion project for the Ministry of Investments and Development in Kazakhstan.

Director at OHS Solutions Ltd
  • United Kingdom
  • September 2009 to November 2014

Refer to CV

Project HSE Manager at Hanmi Global
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • May 2014 to November 2014

Construction phase HSE Manager for the PMC Consultant on the ITCC project.

SHE Manager at BAE Systems Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • June 2011 to April 2014

Refer to CV

SHE Advisor (Policy, Planning and Assurance) at BAE Systems Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • January 2010 to June 2011

Refer to CV

Group Risk & Safety Manager at Barrett Steel Limited
  • United Kingdom
  • January 2005 to December 2008

Refer to CV

Regional Health & Safety Manager at Planned Maintenance Engineering Ltd
  • United Kingdom
  • April 2002 to December 2004

Refer to CV

Health & Safety Advisor at Yorkshire Water Services Limited
  • United Kingdom
  • September 2001 to March 2002

Refer to CV

Education

Bachelor's degree, Occupational Health and Safety
  • at Leeds Metropolitan University
  • July 2005

I graduated with a first class honours degree and the Zurich Engineering award for the best overall performance by an honours graduate.

Bachelor's degree, Occupational Health & Safety
  • at Leeds Metropolitan University
  • July 2001

First Class BSc(Hons) degree. Awarded Zurich Engineering Award for the best overall performance by an Honours graduate.

Specialties & Skills

Safety Auditing
Safety Management
Safety Management Systems
Safety Planning
MS Office
Lotus Notes

Memberships

Institute of Occupational Safety & Health
  • Chartered Member
  • January 2001
International Instute of Risk & Safety Management
  • Corporate Member
  • January 2003

Training and Certifications

National Certificate in Construction Health & Safety (Certificate)
Date Attended:
October 2010
Valid Until:
May 2011
Certificate in Fire Safety Management (Certificate)
Date Attended:
July 2010
Valid Until:
July 2010
IEMA Cerificate in Environmental Management (Certificate)
Date Attended:
March 2011
Valid Until:
June 2011
P402 Asbestos Sampling and Surveying; P405 Asbestos Management (Certificate)
Date Attended:
May 2011
Valid Until:
May 2011
OHSAS18001 Lead Auditor (Certificate)
Date Attended:
April 2010
Valid Until:
April 2010