Minute of 162nd Branch Meeting (AGM) Craighouse Campus, Napier University, Edinburgh - Thursday 12 May 2005 130pm
Sederunt M Bancroft R Lovering R McLean D Sinclair M Johnstone
A Sharman N Doherty V Stewart N Kelly G Foggo M Grimmer
J Fell D Bond C Wilmott AR Walker P Graham B Anderson
T Ambler M Galloway L Young K Lloyd R Owens J Davis
G Lyall I Murray B Davies R Turner S Heeson C Black
T Sayer A Miller R Innes A McLeod S McMorland A Diment
D Cawkwell M Crowston S Ashton K Shaw A Reavey J Johnston
P J Colqhuon I Sinclair R Bradford AH Pittendrich J Lovering H Hannah
C Lawson G MacGregor H Gardner B Cummins S Hunter C Donnelly
S Jenkins L Waterman
Apologies – Tom Neilson, Scott Page, Steve Boucher, Bob Bertram, Jake Fenton, Bob Hammond, T Mellon
1.0 WELCOME : Richard Lovering took the Chair, welcomed those present especially our guests and outlined the fire safety arrangements.
2.0 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS AGM – MEETING 151 (April 2004)
These were agreed a true record: proposed by J Davis and seconded by S Heeson.
3.0 MATTERS ARISING NOT ON AGENDA: None
4.0 CHAIR’S REPORT
Richard presented his final report as Chair – his retiral as Chair coincided with his retiral from full time employment although he would continue to be active in IOSH and as an H&S professional.
During the year:
Ø We had seen a change in venue from Donaldson’s to Napier University and thanks were due to Liz Young for obtaining the present very fine venue.
Ø There had been 10 Normal Branch Meetings covering the following:
Laying out VDU workstations, - Environmental issues for the H&S Practitioner, - Demystifying the Court Process, - The New Scottish Fire Order, - Evacuation planning for the less able-bodied, - Behavioural Safety, - Working at Height regulations, - Getting the Best from your Employer Liability Insurance, - Lone working in Forestry, - Management Systems.
Ø Attendance had averaged 45 at each meeting
Ø There had been four members 10 minute slots during the year – he thought these had been useful and hoped members would continue to make these presentations.
Ø The Coming to Court Seminar in February had been exceptionally successful with very positive feedback from participants – it had also been a success financially.
Ø Social type events
Ø Site visit to East Fortune to see Concorde
Ø Roger Midson Challenge Trophy Target shooting won by Graeme Lyall
Ø Golfing outing (Secretary’s Sipper) won by Andy Finney – DVD Player was sponsored by Core Utilities.
Richard reminded members that a successful Branch depended on the hard work of the Executive Committee and asked that they be thanked – a huge amount of work went on behind the scenes and this should be appreciated.
Marion Johnstone (Branch Vice-chair) then presented Richard with a retiring present – given his appreciation of good malts (despite his antecedents) the Committee had bought him a year’s membership of the Scottish Malt Whisky Association.
5.0 FINANCIAL REPORT
Kevin Lloyd presented the financial report (attached). It was noted that speakers’ fees/expenses were considerably higher this year than last. Kevin explained he bought two year’s worth of gifts at a time to get a good discount.
The annal accounts were accepted.
6.0 ELECTIONS
i) Officers: One nomination had been received in writing for each of the following posts by the due dates and the following were duly elected:
Chair – Marion Johnstone
Vice-chair – Andy Sharman
Secretary – Max Bancroft
Treasurer – Kevin Lloyd
ii) Executive Committee: There would normally have been two vacancies. The election of Andy Sharman as Vice-chair had created a third vacancy. The following valid nominations had been received: – Derek Cawkwell, Steve Boucher, Richard Lovering, Julian Davis. Julian agreed that he would continue his work as New Members Secretary and withdrew his nomination. The Executive would re-coopt him. This left three valid nominations for the three vacancies and Steve, Derek and Richard were duly elected.
iii) Specialist Groups:
PUBLIC SERVICES - Marion Johnstone.
CONSTRUCTION – Allan Dick
FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT - Dave Sinclair.
HEALTHCARE - Martin Scott-Smith.
ENVIRONMENT – Julian Davis
OFFSHORE - Tam Boyd
CONSULTANCY - Derek Cawkwell
SAFETY SCIENCES - Steve Boucher
TELECOMMUNICATIONS – Graeme Lyall
EDUCATION – Chris Lawson
The above were re-elected. There are still vacancies for the Rural, Railways and Retail SG reps.
Two auditors – Ian Murray and Bob Bertram were re-elected.
It was noted that Karen McDonnell would continue to serve on the Executive Committee as District Liaison and Liz Young as Branch Education Development Adviser – both were thereby co-opted on.
7.0 HONOURED GUEST: Lawrence Waterman, President of IOSH:
IOSH – meeting the challenges of the future
Agenda for the presentation
• Where are we now?
• What are the main challenges we face?
• What are the plans for the future?
IOSH: Where We Are Now?
• The formation of the institution was established in 1945,
• We gained the Royal Charter in 2003
• Europe’s leading health and safety professional body
• Nearly 28,000 members in more than 50 countries, we are the world’s second largest ASSE
• We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation
• Aiming to maintain and steers professional standards
• Providing impartial, authoritative guidance on health and safety issues
Finance
IOSH – the charity,
The Institution works to promote excellence in the discipline and practice of occupational safety and health and helps its members operating in this specialist sphere of work by:
- granting corporate membership as a mark of technical and professional competence and the attainment of experience; and
- providing facilities to maintain and enhance professional skills and knowledge.
IOSH Services Ltd
IOSH Services Limited covenants the surplus from its trading activities to the charity IOSH
Annual turnover c. £6 million where the income comes from:
• membership subscriptions (target 30-40% of expenditure for financial security)
• professional development courses (aim to break even)
• Managing and Working Safely
• Provision of conferences and seminars
• Sale of books and other publications and other merchandise
The Grange
Not many years ago we operated out of a terraced house in Leicester, but now we have:
• 100 staff at HQ
• We operate to Investors in People
• Chief Executive covers including International Affairs:
• Professional Affairs inc. membership and CPD
• Technical Affairs inc. 14 Specialist Groups
• Commercial Affairs
• Communications (PR Publishing Events Branches)
• Finance and Central Services
• We are financially secure with reserves to back us
• We are still growing the membership – inc. internationally, which is being shown by -New Branches and new Districts and Specialist Groups
• The annual Conference is a major success for us
Having said all of that – we are well known only by those who know of us – we still need to get wider known although we are working well towards that end –
• Increasingly involved early in consultation
• Considered a significant organisation
• Increasingly involved in representation
• Evidence to Select Committees
• Relationship with European Agency
• IOSH nominee appointed to HSC
The Challenges We Face - CHANGE
The Changing Workforce
- Proportion of women workers
- Older workers
- Patterns of work (home, portfolio, isolated)
HSE Strategy
- Increased targeting, focus on health issues :- Stress Health some way from our traditional homeland
Health, health and health
Health and safety is under pressure
- Risk aversion v “Nanny state”
- Fear of being sued
Perceptions of our profession
• An old gentleman's’ club?
• Risen to the challenge of the health issue?
• “Jobs’ worth” or “enabler”?
• Fully engaged in local communities?
New National Standards
• Developed by ENTO
• Standards of competence in health and safety for: Practitioners and Non-practitioners
• Level 4 and below = OK to do the job, Level 5 = OK to advise others to do the job
• Adoption of national standards
• Membership structure adapted
• Designations and post-nominal letters agreed
• Mandatory CPD
• New membership scheme by July 2005
• Chartered Members/Fellows from November
Governance
• Increasing to 50 Council Members
• Will include:
• Representatives of non-corporate Members
• Co-opted non members
• Council to retain responsibility for Charter and Byelaws
• New Trustee Board approx.12 people
Influence : Key messages
• A positive positioning:
• IOSH members help to save lives and solve problems
• enablers and solution providers, not preventers
• pragmatic and competent
• Voice and language appropriate to different audiences
• Technical v “man on the street”
• Influencing and professional
• Ambassadors for IOSH, for Safety & Health
• Open to new ideas and ways of working
• Communicating – workplace, community
• Managing risks, not avoiding them
• Enablers not ‘jobsworths’
• HEALTH and Safety
• Local impact
Meeting the challenge
The prize is a profession respected for the contribution it makes to a healthy and safe world of work
Lawrence receiving a small token of the Branch's appreciation for his work as IOSH President.
 Max Bancroft - Corporate Membership  Richard Lovering - President's Distinguished Service Award |
8 MEMBERS ITEMS
8.1 Presentations: Lawrence then carried out two duties which always gave him great pleasure. He presented Max Bancroft with his Corporate Membership certificate. Lawrence explained that the President’s Distinguished Service Award was given by the President to members who, on the recommendation of a Branch Executive Committee, had made a substantial contribution to IOSH and/or their local community. He concurred with the Branch Executive Committee’s nomination of Richard Lovering for this award and duly presented Richard with the Award.
8.2 Seminars:
8.3 Transfer to new membership structure for those doing NVQ Level 4 – deadline now September 2005.
9.0 CLOSURE (& Dates of next meetings) 9.1 Next District Meeting: Thursday 2 June 2005: Industrial Site Visit: RAF Leuchars. Approximate timing 13.30 - 16.30, places limited, contact the District Secretary to confirm details and availability. Advance booking essential since we have to book a bus to get on to the base
9.2 Next Branch Meeting: 9 June: Recent Case Law Developments: Dr Kenny Miller: Vice-principal Strathclyde University
9.3 Branch Site Visit: 17 June (afternoon): Glenkinchie Distillery. Full details later. Please email Secretary if you intend to come and also if you would like to go by bus. |
 Christine taking the members through some relaxation routines  Sue performing shoulder massage on Richard while Christine explains the technique. Richard agreed he felt much better! |
10 ALTERNATIVE & COMPLIMENTARY THERAPIES Christine Donnelly & Sue Jenkins: Napier University
Christine gave a brief insight into her background in nursing and teaching manual handling, whilst Sue’s background of teaching foreign languages prior to moving into aromatherapy was more the reverse.
What are Complementary and Alternative Therapies? Firstly the presenters made sure they had emphasised the position that they were NOT cures for problems, but they were in fact ‘aids’ to other treatments, all aimed at improving life and making it better.
The list of what was included was extensive, but the list presented of – Aromatherapy = use of aromatic oils Reflexology = use of energy lines in the feet, hands, ears and eyes Specific Conditioning = teaching the use of micro-movements Massage = hands on treatments Herbal Medicine = use of natural remedies Acupuncture = placing needles into energy lines for specific results Chiropractic = manipulation of the muscles around joints Osteopathy = working on the bones within joints These were considered to be representative of the more common therapies, but there were lots more – Crystal treatments, head massage, etc..
Potential benefits of providing therapies in the workplace n Cheaper alternative to long-term absence n Reduced incidence of work related stress n Increased concentration n Increased work output n Reduced spread of infection n Increased employee satisfaction and loyalty n Improved health in the workplace An example of how this had actually worked in Napier recently was quoted, where the department had been moved early into Portacabins which were ill equipped and unfinished in there furnishings. The use of aromatherapy in the form of oil heaters being placed into the work space with Bergamot which has a relaxing and soothing effect eased the tensions being exhibited by those present.
Potential disadvantages of providing therapies in the workplace It has to be recognized that these therapies need an input and to do it well you require n Resources - time, money, space - Whilst the oils are relatively cheap, you may need a room for treatment and a bed/plinth n Equal access for all - The treatments must not be seen as provided to the chosen few n An acceptance that there will be lost production time - Taking time out for treatments of perhaps 5 minutes per hour is no different to the recommendations of the HSE for work at DSE kit and the returns from this form of treatments may be very good
What symptoms can be alleviated? n Symptoms of stress – often by massage relaxing the muscles n Irritability – by use of various oils including geranium n Muscle aches and pains – reflexology or use of aromatherapy in the form of black pepper & frankincense n Infections n Tiredness – Bergamot (lemon/orange) is a relaxing oil n Poor concentration – Rosemary helps concentration n Mood swings
How easily can these therapies be used in the workplace n Electric diffuser or Aroma Stone n Allow 2-3 minutes each hour for sedentary exercises at the workstation n Use a bulletin board to remind workers to move n Provide onsite therapies
As a final incentive to try the system, the presenters then indicated that during the periods each year of February to June they are needing to find spaces for trainees to go and undertake work on site for free – all that would be needed was for the provision of a room and a plinth
Max Bancroft, MRSC, MIOSH Branch Secretary |
