SAFETY Shield Global, which develops AI-powered solutions designed to reduce People Plant Interface (PPI) risks, has appointed Sean Scarah as its new chief operating officer.
The former Balfour Beatty director, who has more than 37 years’ operational leadership experience in the plant industry, takes on the newly created role as part of the company’s strategic growth plan.
Born out of a PPI tragedy which saw a close friend of founder and CEO, Jonathan Guest, crushed to death on a building site, the business has seen exponential growth across the UK as it develops safety solutions for industries where people work with moving machinery.
Over the past three years, the company has seen a 1,600% growth in turnover and has increased its headcount from 10 to more than 50 employees.
Sean Scarah, who has spent the last 16 years working as director of plant and logistics at Balfour Beatty, also has experience within the plant rental sector, having worked for Sunbelt Rentals for over 12 years, where he helped develop technology-based safety systems and initiatives.
In his new role, he will work closely with another recent arrival from Balfour Beatty, Richard Mason, who has left his role as product manager with the Tier 1 contractor to take up the position of international operations director at Safety Shield Global.
Sean said, “I am thrilled to join Safety Shield Global at such an exciting time, and I’m really looking forward to contributing to its continued success and expansion. I have always been passionate about safety in the industry and enjoyed some real success in raising the industry standard.
“Working alongside Safety Shield Global for many years, I know only too well how their products have been a real game-changer in setting safety standards. Some of the leading tier contractors, like Balfour Beatty, AmcoGiffen, Skanska, and mega projects, like HS2 and Sizewell C, have now mandated the technology across their fleets, and I have witnessed first-hand the level of impact it will have in redefining safety standards across high-risk industries globally. I look forward to leading the team in providing exceptional digital services to our clients and driving innovation in the industries we work with.”
Jonathan Guest, Safety Shield CEO, added, “Sean is a vastly experienced and well-respected leader in our industry, and I welcome his knowledge and know-how as we look to accelerate our growth and scale up our global operations. This is a pivotal moment in Safety Shield’s journey as we continue to push the boundaries of innovation and the search for safety solutions by investing in our future.”
