• Health and safety management support
• Health and safety training
• Health and safety and ergonomics risk assessments and auditing

Biography 

Karine Yates is a consultant with System Concepts Limited.  She holds a degree in Occupational Health and Safety and Ergonomics from Bordeaux University, France and a BSc (Hons.) in Environmental Health from King’s College London.  Karine is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) and is bilingual in French and English. 

She has over eight years experience in health and safety having worked for both the public and private sector.  Prior to joining System Concepts, she was employed by Accor UK, the British Library and Nottinghamshire County Council where she provided advice, guidance and support to management and staff on all aspects of health and safety.  In doing so, she:

• Set up and managed comprehensive auditing and health and safety inspections
• Carried out and documented various risk assessments, including manual handling, hazardous chemicals, display screen equipment, fire safety and general risk assessments and ensured that health and safety improvements were implemented
• Developed and delivered health and safety training programmes
• Developed and implemented entire accident investigation procedures including conducting comprehensive accident and hazard investigations
• Organised and chaired health and safety committee meetings
• Organised and coordinated a number of conferences focusing on accident prevention at work whilst at Accor UK.  This involved practical workshops and presentations across the three hotels for which she was responsible.
  

Client Projects

Karine joined System Concepts in 2005, and has been involved in a wide range of health and safety related projects including:

• Working on the innovative Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Workplace Health Connect Project as one of the team of Occupational Health, Safety and Return-to-work Advisors, Karine provided small and medium-sized businesses across Greater London with practical advice and support on occupational health, safety and return to work issues.  For this project, Karine visited many different workplaces, including manufacturers, offices, retail outlets, nurseries, restaurants, hotels, printing companies and charities, to provide tailored support to help them improve the way they manage health and safety.  Main focus areas were to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, stress, sickness absence and other health and safety risks.
• Carrying out detailed stress risk assessments using the HSE Stress Management Standards questionnaire and running focus groups to generate constructive solutions to issues identified by staff, for organisations including a major oil company and a professional services firm.
• Conducting training courses and presentations on safe manual handling and display screen equipment for a range of clients including the Housing Corporation, the Museum of London and Ernst & Young.
• Providing on-site health and safety advice, support and training for Ernst & Young at their two London sites.
• Carrying out manual handling, display screen equipment, fire and general workplace risk assessments.
• Writing published articles on accident reporting and stress.

Real life interests

• Travelling
• Cinema
• Enjoying international cuisine and red wines (especially French ones!)