Gerald Black MIIRSM MaPS
Senior Health & Safety Consultant
Gerald has over 30 years of civil engineering design, construction and management experience. He is a key member of Connaught's Construction Consultancy and Training Team, with extensive experience in construction training, safety auditing and inspections at construction sites. He also has experience in safety management at sporting and entertainment events.
Close-up on...Gerald Black (featured in May 2007 Connaught Connection Newsletter)
Connaught Connection: You've worked for Connaught for 11 years, how has the company changed in that time?
Gerald Black: Well, the company has grown from a small consultancy and training company, servicing clients in the UK, to an international business using UK legislation as best practice across the globe. For Consultants like me, it means that there's less time travelling up and down the M5 and M6 and more time flying on bmi and Emirates to places like Dubai , Gibraltar and Amsterdam .
C.C: You specialise in consultancy and training in the construction side of health and safety, can you tell us what you do for some of your clients?
G.B: At the moment, I'm getting ready to present the new CDM courses, as that is the most crucial change in regulations we've had for twelve years and the changes will have an effect on everyone in business and many of our existing clients are booked up for these courses. On a consultancy basis, the first thing I do for most clients is a GAP analysis, which is almost always followed by a technical audit. Quite often I do site work and design and implement management systems to ensure that health and safety regulations are met. My work is varied and interesting and I'm regularly working with some of the most well known business names in the world.
C.C: Before you worked for Connaught, in what sort of work were you involved?
G.B: I worked for the Government's Property Services Agency as a Civil Engineer and during my time there I was involved in designing buildings which would function during nuclear, chemical and biological warfare situations as well as the more mundane Government office buildings. I also worked at the nuclear submarine base in Faslane.
C.C: Can you tell us about some of the more unusual jobs you have done whilst with Connaught?
G.B: I guess in comparison to many people, a lot of what I do is unusual and certainly stimulating work, which is probably why I've been with Connaught for so long; the work is constantly challenging. Some of the more original jobs have been working on the design for Bristol Zoo's Gorilla Island, Penguin and Seal Enclosure, Elephant House, Aviary and Education centre that certainly required extensive research and the final result was very rewarding, allowing people to get close to the animals and allowing the animals freedom in a safe environment. At the moment, I'm regularly working in Dubai , safety auditing the 24,000 people who are working on the re-development of Dubai International Airport , in preparation for the new Airbus arrival.
C.C: What about life outside of work?
G.B: What's that!
Seriously, though my family is the most important factor in my life and spending time with my wife and son and daughter is how I like to spend any spare time. However, spare time is rare, as since 1999, when I was involved in the health and safety aspects of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff; I became Senior Deputy Chief Steward, which means, I'm the 'man on the ground' at every event, whether that be a concert, boxing match or rugby. Not surprisingly, I'm a Welsh rugby fanatic, but the job actually prevents me from watching the whole match; I do however, get the real sense of atmosphere.
Both my wife and I have been involved in youth work throughout our lives including helping out with the Boys and Girls Brigades and Duke of Edinburgh's' Award Scheme at a national level but also locally with boards of governors and PTA's at Schools. I also used to teach Judo at the local University, but I guess I'm getting older and I'm valuing the time I have with my own family. | 
