Prof Sir Mansel Aylward CB

His contribution to occupational health     

Summary:

Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB, who died recently, made seminal contributions to occupational health (OH) throughout his long and outstanding career. His work on disability, and in particular the biopsychosocial model, influenced policy and practice not only in the UK, but also globally.

Mansel was born in Merthyr Tydfil in 1942. He trained at the London Medical School and wanted be a surgeon until 21 October 1966. On that infamous day, Mansel, then a final-year medical student, was travelling to his home in South Wales with his wife and child when he was stopped by the police. A policeman recognised a London Medical School sticker on his car. He was told to drop his family off and go straight to Aberfan, the village where slurry from a colliery spoil tip slipped down the side of a hill engulfing a primary school and adjacent houses, killing 116 children and 28 adults…

Dr Steven Boorman is director of employee health at Empactis and chair of the Council for Work and Health

Author: Boorman S

Tags obituary

Occupational Health at Work August/September 2024 (vol. 21/2) pp34-35

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