A fund is to be set up to establish a training scheme in memory of an influential safety and health professional who spent much of his career in Scottish theatre.
The Euan Turner Training Fund would allow ten people in the performing arts industry in Scotland to undergo health and safety training.
Euan, who died in June 2015, was a chartered member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). He delivered the UK’s first-ever specialist IOSH Managing safely course for theatre and devised the UK’s only IOSH-accredited refresher course for theatre practitioners.
The fund has been set up by Euan’s former employer, the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST), who have already raised more than £5,000 to provide health and safety training in Euan’s memory. One fundraising effort has included former colleagues from FST and other organisations he worked with taking part in the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow on 4 October.
Jon Morgan, Director of FST, said Euan’s influence in making theatre and the wider performing arts in Scotland safer and healthier was huge. He said the training would be mostly aimed at smaller theatre organisations and freelance practitioners.
He said: “This fund is our way of remembering him and the incredible contribution he made in the industry. We aim to provide health and safety training that is affordable.
“We know that a lot of the bigger theatre and performing arts companies are able to have access to health and safety training but it is not always so easy to make it available to smaller organisations and freelance practitioners on whom our industry relies.
“This is something that would have been very close to Euan’s heart, to support smaller companies and freelancers.”
Euan spent more than 20 years in health and safety, mostly in theatres. He was behind the introduction of Theatre Essentials, a document which demonstrated what good safety and health in theatres looks like.
He was known for his common-sense and accessible way of introducing health and safety in theatre and for making sure that everyone involved in a production understood their responsibilities relating to health and safety.
His work also included looking into the reduction of noise-related hearing loss for musicians in Scotland’s orchestras, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
He had hoped to further develop his work with FST but had to resign after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He died on 11 June, aged 45.
Austin Baird, Chair of IOSH Scotland, said: “Euan Turner was an exceptionally dedicated safety and health professional who was passionate about safeguarding those working in Scotland’s performing arts industry. Tragically he passed away but IOSH Scotland is delighted to hear of a fund being set up in his name to carry on the fantastic work that he did.”
Euan’s wife Susie Turner has told of her delight at the fund being set up. She said: “As a family we were delighted to hear of FST’s plans for a legacy in Euan’s name. Euan was dedicated to improving safety at work and loved his job. He also cared passionately about equalities. This then is a most fitting tribute and a truly apt venture in his name.”
FST will launch the fund by the end of 2015. The details will be available on their website: www.scottishtheatre.org
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About IOSH
IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With 44,000 members in 100 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.
We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.
IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.
About the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST)
FST is the membership and development body for professional dance, opera and theatre in Scotland.
For the past 40 years, the organisation has supported its membership by providing a number of projects and services including training opportunities, H&S advice, bursaries for Assistant Directors and Producers, a mentoring programme, a theatre marketplace event and a number of specialist forums, as well as an accessible performances guide and organising captioning infrastructure in Scottish theatre. FST also delivers lobbying and advocacy on behalf of its members.
For more information about the fund email info@scottishtheatre.org or call 0131 248 4842.
Media enquiries
For more information please contact:
Marcus Boocock, Media Officer, IOSH, +44 (0)116 257 3139 or +44 (0)798 000 4474
Tim Walsh, Media Manager, IOSH, +44 (0)116 257 3252 or +44 (0)797 660 4715