Stevie Ryan Memorial

All of us in the Hazards movement are mourning the death of Steve Ryan, who died suddenly at his home on Saturday, 6 February 2010. Stevie will be a huge loss to the Hazards movement and will be sorely missed by those of us who have worked with him and been supported by him over the years.  Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. We want to share our stories of Stevie and to celebrate his life and his constant, long term championing of the right of all workers to safe working conditions.

Hazards

Stevie chaired the Scottish Hazards Campaign from August 2003 until the present.  Over that time, he also served as Scottish Hazards delegate to UK Hazards and as a member of the European Work Hazards Steering Group. At the AGM just weeks ago, he indicated that he was going to gradually take on some of the work of Secretary to the Campaign, including representing Scottish Hazards on the Partnership for Health and Safety in Scotland. Stevie helped enlarge and strengthen the Scottish Hazards Campaign Network, bringing many new people into the network, and leading on the development of ongoing education and training seminars.

Workplace 

 Many at his work knew Stevie when not much more than a boy.  He began at BAE in Prestwick as an apprentice fitter and worked there ever since, bringing up a young family and gradually becoming interested and involved in health and safety.  He had for some years been a full time Health and Safety Rep and Convenor of the H&S Committee.  He constantly campaigned for improvements in working conditions for his members, sometimes to the annoyance of even his fellow workers! He was  instrumental in the development of UK wide Health and Safety    work within BAE and latterly Spirit AeroSystems.  Stevie was also shop steward and minute secretary of the Joint Shop Stewards Committee  (JSSC) for many years where his experience in H&S was always handy. He worked closely with TUC studies tutors at STOW college on health and safety education.

Stevie’s workmates  wrote:

It was Stevie's drive and enthusiasm that makes Spirit Aerostructures the safety conscious employer it is today. His passion was to raise the H & S standards for his workmates and colleagues and encourage them to get involved. He was always open minded and loved a good debate, where he would use his good sense of humour to great effect. Stevie will be fondly remembered and sadly missed.

Stevie was very popular as the turnout at his funeral showed it was one of the largest I have ever witnessed. He was always working for the benefit of others and this sometimes was not appreciated. He was a terrific family guy.

Union and football

Stevie served as his local union branch secretary and had just joined the newly formed local activist committee for Unite.  It is reliably reported that Stevie was also a loyal fan of Ayr United and a regular at Somerset Park, wind, rain or snow!  If you have more to add about Stevie, please contact us at info@scottishhazards.co.uk

Others
As a founder member of Families Against Corporate Killers ,following the needless loss of the life of my son through employer's negligence ,I met Stevie at several events,some of which Stevie chaired.  On occasions I would be speaking for FACK, which I always found a strain. Stevie was able to make it so much easier by his kindness,humanity and his belief ,passionately held ,that employees should be able to come home safe from work
He will be sorely missed in our  battle against complacency over work related deaths  
I am saddened by his death and my thoughts are with his family as they mourn their sad loss
It was an honour to have met you Stevie
 
Dorothy Wright
 
 
On behalf of the UK National Work-stress Network, I would like to express our great sadness at the sudden loss of a very dear friend in Stevie.  Having met him with other colleagues at Hazards Conferences, also at our own Stress Network conferences, and through our occasional involvement with the Scottish Hazards Conferences, and European Hazards events. I have come to know Stevie in a number of capacities and was privileged to meet with his wife and family too. Our sympathies go out to them at this sad time.

Stevie’s contributions to the Hazards agenda have been many and varied and all most welcome.  His continued support for our involvement with the European Work Hazards Network, despite an earlier family tragedy, has been unstinting and very valuable.

Stevie will be sadly missed, but his memory will live on and the work that he undertook on behalf of so many will always be remembered.  It will not be easy for Scottish Hazards to move forward without him, but I am sure that his wise words and his cheery sense of humour will never be forgotten.   
 
Ian Draper, Stress Network Convenor, www.workstress.net