Martin Arnold - SHE Compliance Manager

I joined the RN as a marine engineering mechanic in 1976 at 16. In 2000 whilst in an open engagement I decided to pursue another career and left the service as a chief petty officer after 25 years. During my service I served on a variety of vessels from 23 metre fleet tenders to aircraft carriers. Later in my career I had a number of support roles with the Royal Marines ashore and afloat, which were very self-satisfying.

As part of my resettlement package I enrolled onto the British Institute of Facilities Management and the NEBOSH general certificate at Aldershot. Passing both of these I looked around and ended up as a plant technician in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital! This involved shift work, which was not compatible with family life (one of the reasons why I decided to leave the RN). A job was then advertised for a site service manager at Sunseeker. This was ‘up my street’ with FM, SHE and plant engineering rolled into one. I started in 2002 along with a fellow RN colleague in the same role, with the same surname, but luckily at a different site. This was interesting on induction day, as both of us were thinking that HR had cocked up!

I started at one of the smaller sites as the company was expanding in production and facilities. There were a number of challenges in the role as I did everything apart from boat building. Five years later in 2007 I was asked to join with my fellow ex RN colleague and lead the SHE effort as the workload at the shipyards had increased considerably.

The company was then asked by the MCA and our insurance company to gain certification in vessel operations and ISO standards. My first task was to write and compile a safety management system for vessel operations to cover vessels over 24m load line, in line with the MCA LY2 criteria. In short, and after a number of draft documents and MCA audits, the company was awarded a MCA Document of Compliance – the first for a boat builder in the UK. This was presented to us at the London Boat Show by Sir Alan Massey, chief executive MCA (ex-Second Sea Lord, C in C Naval Home Command, in the rank of vice admiral). This was closely followed by me compiling and writing the manuals for ISO 14001 environmental and OHSAS 18001 health & safety. Both being achieved and still held by Sunseeker.

In the last 4 years the company has undergone restructuring and a centralised department was formed as support services. My role now covers ISO SHE compliance, vessel operations as the DPA (designated person ashore), insurance & EL claims management and running the occupational health contract. Additionally, dealing with the HSE, EA, local authority regulators, incident investigation and anything else that comes along.

I admit that it was scary ‘jumping ship’ as I could have served for a further 7 years. With hard work and determination Sunseeker has recognised this and rewarded me in many ways with qualifications and position.