Dr Caleb Leduc, Lecturer in Occupational Health at University College Cork, has been appointed to the judging panel for the Health & Safety Excellence Awards 2026, contributing a decade of internationally recognised research and academic leadership in workplace mental health and psychosocial risk to the evaluation process.

Based in the School of Public Health at UCC, Leduc directs the MSc in Occupational Health blended programme — a role that places him at the front line of developing the next generation of occupational health practitioners in Ireland.

His research specialism centres on participatory intervention, a methodology that engages workers and organisations directly in designing the conditions for mentally healthy workplaces.

That focus has been applied with particular depth in traditionally male-dominated and high-risk industries, sectors where psychosocial risk has historically received less attention than physical hazard and where the gap between policy intent and workplace reality tends to be widest.

His standing in the field extends beyond Ireland. Leduc serves on the Executive Committee of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology, an appointment that reflects recognition of his contribution to an evidence base that informs practice across national boundaries and regulatory environments.

That combination of applied research expertise and cross-jurisdictional perspective equips him to assess entries with a critical eye for whether safety initiatives address the full spectrum of occupational risk.

Organisations whose submissions demonstrate a genuine commitment to worker wellbeing, grounded in evidence and embedded in organisational culture, will find in Leduc an evaluator capable of distinguishing substantive progress from procedural compliance.

The Health & Safety Awards gala will take place on 30 April 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

Visit the official website to explore categories, view finalists, and get updates.