Mr Iain Williams

CMIOSH

Overview

I am a Chartered Member of IOSH with over 24 years’ experience managing operational risk, health and safety and complex work activities across the UK.

Before establishing Action Safety, I spent more than two decades in a director-level operational role within the commercial window-cleaning, specialist access and work-at-height sector. My experience includes planning and overseeing high-risk contracts involving rope access, façade access, road closures, tram isolations, contractor management and work in busy commercial and public environments.

Through Action Safety, I now provide practical and proportionate health and safety support to small and medium-sized businesses. This includes acting as a competent person, developing health and safety policies and management systems, completing compliance audits and workplace inspections, preparing risk assessments, RAMS, safe working procedures and COSHH assessments, supporting incident investigations and helping businesses manage contractors, training requirements and SSIP accreditation.

My experience also covers construction, engineering, facilities management, commercial cleaning, agriculture, food and drink manufacturing, landscaping, leisure, hospitality and other operationally demanding sectors.

My approach is practical, commercially aware and tailored to the individual business. I focus on turning legal requirements into workable controls that protect people while supporting efficient business operations and sustainable growth.

Based in East Lothian, Action Safety supports businesses throughout Edinburgh, the Lothians and Central Scotland, with wider UK support available for specialist projects.

Specialisms

Industry Years Experience
Cleaning 24
Construction 5
Agriculture 5
Manufacturing 3
Food and drink manufacture 3
Engineering 10
Topic Years Experience
Falls from height 24
Equipment at work 24
Managing for health and safety 24
Risk management 24
Leadership 23
Involving workers 23
Hazardous Substances (COSHH) 28
Workplace health advice 10

Services

Audits

Workplace and site inspections examining working practices, equipment, work areas, documentation and the implementation of health and safety controls.

  • Written inspection report
  • Photographic evidence where appropriate
  • Record of hazards and non-conformities
  • Prioritised corrective actions
  • Recommendations for immediate and longer-term improvements
  • Follow-up inspection where required

Inspections

Workplace and site inspections examining working practices, equipment, work areas, documentation and the implementation of health and safety controls.

Written inspection report Photographic evidence where appropriate Record of hazards and non-conformities Prioritised corrective actions Recommendations for immediate and longer-term improvements Follow-up inspection where required

Investigations

Independent support with workplace accident, incident and near-miss investigations. Investigations consider immediate, underlying and organisational causes rather than focusing solely on individual actions.

  • Investigation report
  • Evidence and witness-information review
  • Root-cause findings
  • Corrective and preventive action plan
  • RIDDOR advice where applicable
  • Recommendations for updating risk assessments, procedures or training

 

Construction Work

Health and safety support for contractors and other SMEs undertaking construction, maintenance, refurbishment and specialist access work. Particular experience is available in work at height, commercial façade access, contractor control and complex operational environments.

 

  • Project-specific RAMS
  • Site inspections and reports
  • Contractor and subcontractor assessments
  • CDM compliance guidance
  • Work-at-height and access arrangements
  • Permit and emergency arrangements
  • SSIP, CHAS and SafeContractor support

COSHH

Assessment and management of risks arising from hazardous substances used or generated at work, including cleaning chemicals, construction products, fuels, dusts and other workplace substances.

  • COSHH substance inventory
  • Individual COSHH assessments
  • Review of safety data sheets
  • Recommended handling and exposure controls
  • PPE and RPE recommendations
  • Storage, spill-response and disposal arrangements
  • Employee briefing information

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

Assessment of workstations used by office-based, mobile and home-working employees to identify unsuitable equipment, layout, posture or working arrangements.

  • Employee DSE questionnaire
  • Individual workstation assessment
  • Written recommendations
  • Equipment and adjustment guidance
  • Record of actions completed
  • Follow-up assessment where necessary

Risk Assessments

Preparation and review of suitable and sufficient risk assessments covering routine operations, higher-risk activities, workplace hazards and specific groups of employees.

  • Task or workplace risk assessment
  • Initial and residual risk ratings
  • Practical control measures
  • Action plan and responsible persons
  • Review date and document-control information
  • Employee communication or briefing record

E-learning

Flexible, interactive e-learning through an online learning management system. Courses can be allocated to individual employees and completed remotely at the learner’s own pace, with the ability to revisit course content when required.

The course range covers health and safety, business skills, food safety and health and social care. Available subjects include working at height, asbestos awareness, COSHH, manual handling, display screen equipment, fire safety, hand-arm vibration, workplace health and safety, food safety, safeguarding, infection control, mental health awareness, equality and diversity, data protection, customer service and management skills.

 Individual learner access to the online training platform
• Allocation of courses based on job role and training needs
• Interactive video-based learning content
• End-of-course knowledge assessment
• Certificate following successful completion
• Centralised training and completion records
• Management visibility of learner progress
• Reports identifying outstanding or incomplete training
• Support with developing a role-specific training programme
• Recommendations for refresher training and renewal intervals

Membership of Professional Bodies

Professional Body Membership Member since OSHCR Eligible Since
IOSH Chartered Member (CMIOSH) 01.2026 07.2026

Qualifications

Accrediting Institute Type Qualification Date passed
NEBOSH Certificate H + S Managment for Construction 03.2026

Case Studies

Title / Description PDF Download
  • Case Study 5 Golf and Leisure
  • Ongoing competent-person support for a community golf and leisure facility, including workplace inspections, policies, grounds-machinery procedures, HAVS controls, employee briefings, COSHH, contractor management and emergency arrangements.
(PDF 209.53 KB)
  • Case Study 4 Construction
  • Development of a bespoke construction health and safety policy and management framework, including defined responsibilities, CDM arrangements, RAMS, workforce training, controls for apprentices and trainees, and subcontractor assessment and monitoring.
(PDF 209.01 KB)
  • Case Study 3 Work at Height
  • A summary of more than 24 years’ experience planning and managing complex work-at-height and specialist-access operations involving façade access, rope access, public protection, road closures, tram isolations and occupied buildings.
(PDF 211.87 KB)
  • Case Study 2 - Landscaping
  • Retained competent-person support for a landscaping and grounds-maintenance contractor, covering company policies, task-specific RAMS, employee induction, training requirements, plant, pesticides, tree work and subcontractor controls.
 (PDF 255.90 KB)
  • Case Study 1- Food Production
  • Development of a structured health and safety management system for an expanding food manufacturer, including a detailed gap analysis, policies, RAMS, workplace-transport controls, contractor arrangements and a prioritised improvement programme.
 (PDF 266.71 KB)