The Health and Safety Executive has appointed former head of railway policy Stephen Williams as chief inspector of construction.

Williams will replace former construction head Kevin Myers, who left in May to lead the executive’s hazardous installations division.

An HSE spokesperson confirmed that he had been appointed but said a start date had yet to be decided. Williams is currently on annual leave but is understood to be returning next week.

Rosi Edwards, the HSE’s head of construction for Wales and the South-west, will continue as acting chief inspector until Williams takes over. She has been filling the post since May.

Williams was previously head of the HSE railway policy division since July 2004. Prior to that, he headed up the technical division of the rail inspectorate.