Minutes of 164th Edinburgh Branch Meeting

 Sighthill Campus, Napier University, Edinburgh – Thursday 8 September 2005 - 130pm

Sederunt:     D Duff           D Gillespie    A Reavey      S Heesom     B Hammond

P McCallum   J Scott                    S Chisholm    T Mellon        J Lamb                   J Walsh

J R Brownlee A James       J Fisher                  R McLean     L Young        K Lloyd

A Dick           M Hanson     A Leaver       S Waddell     J Fenton       R Innes

M Bancroft    N Kelly                    P Brown        R Walker      K Breen        A White

G Lyall                    M Johnstone P Veitch        C Wilmott      J Jamieson    B Howden

D Morrice      K Knox                    M Hodgson   J Burt           N Doherty     R Brown

R Bradford    A McNeill      S Hunter       H Gardner     B Byrne                  P Heenan

N Grimmer    L Jacomb      L McNeill       N Olliver

Apologies: Richard Lovering, Iain Murray, Vic Stewart, Graeme Lyall, Steve Boucher, Anne Diment, Andy Sharman, Julian Davis, Barry Davies, G Shuman, Derek Cawkwell, Bob Bertram,

1.       Chair: Marion Johnstone took the Chair and outlined the Fire Safety arrangements.

2.       Minutes of previous meeting 9 June 2005

These had been received and were agreed a true record: Proposed: Liz Young;  Seconded: Allan Dick.

Matters arising not on the Agenda: None.

3.       Correspondence

3.1 Events

· 14 Sept: Sypol H&S seminar: 9-1pm Stirling Highland Hotel Stirling: noise and vibration ; premises-including disability access and fire; COSHH the way forward. Email rebecca.grimes@sypol.com

· Fire Risk Management SG networking event 27 September 2005. Napier University, Sighthill Campus.
http://www.iosh.co.uk/index.cfm?go=specialist.news_item&aid=616&sgID=6

· RoSPA Scotland Health & Safety at Work Congress 2005: 'Raising Standards, Embedding Excellence': 28th & 29th Sept: Hilton Hotel, Glasgow http://www.rospa.com/scotlandcongress

· 29 Sept: 9-10am: RoSPA Breakfast Briefing: Glasgow Hilton: www.rospa.com/breakfastbriefing

· 11 October: Edinburgh Integral Fire and Security Symposium: Radisson Edinburgh: 08.45 - 16.30 http://www.integralfss.co.uk/edinburgh/october.html

· European Week for Safety and Health at Work: Health and Safety in Fife 2005 Exhibition: Wed/Thurs 12/13 Oct: 10.00am – 4.30pm. ROTHES HALLS, Glenrothes. FREE ENTRY. Organised by Fife Council Development Services and OHS: www.fifedirect.org.uk

· 24-28 Oct & 14/15 Nov: 7 day FPA Course: Fire Risk Assessing. Tutors from the Fire Service College at Moreton in March: Email michael.moore@ed.ac.uk

· FIRE 2005 Conference & Exhibition: 2-3 Nov: G-MEX Centre, Manchester  - Protecting Our Future. www.fire2005.com

· 17 Nov: Scottish Hazards Conference: 10-430: Falkirk Football stadium: £35: wide range health and safety work shops: email ltucrc@tiscali.co.uk

· National IOSH Dinner & AGM: Alton Towers: 16 November.

3.2 From HQ

· Membership –  Branch 760 – about 40 have been removed for non-payment of subscription.  No breakdown this month.

· Communicating Chartered Status: details include:

· Bi-annual salary survey of members included a question on Chartered Status - to gain further press coverage and editorials in relevant trade sector press

· Chartered Status will be the main promotional message for our Annual Report, sent to all members, and launched to the press - Nov 2005

· With our newly appointed PR agency, planning a major press and media push to national and trade media for Chartered Status - Nov 2005

· Planning direct marketing and awareness campaigns to Recruitment Consultants, Academics/Universities, and other professional representative bodies to roll out from Autumn 2005.

3.3 Job Spot

· Part time H & S Consultant: Glagow/Stirling area approx 10-15 hours per month & Perth/Dundee area approx 30/40 hours per month.  Iain M. Murray on 01828 670535 or 07944 837368 E maglove@supanet.com

· Temporary H&S Training post: Dundee City Council www.dundecity.gov.uk/jobs.

3.4 Others

· British Occupational Research Foundation: Free leaflet: Occupational Ashthma

· Fife Chamber of Safety: Minutes: AGM: 13 Sept

· SHEilds Ltd, Hull: offering a FREE place to the Voluntary & Community sectors onto the NEBOSH National General Certificate course through e-learning. Also making 100 vouchers, value £150, available towards the cost of the course. Either be employed within the sector, volunteer or be unemployed. The e-learning course is currently available at £440.00 using this voucher. mikew@sheilds.org,

4. Group Reports

· Branch Education Development Officer    – Liz Young

Liz made a brief presentation tying in the new IOSH Membership Structure and Continuing Professional Development.

 Why?

    The revised IOSH membership structure coming  into effect from November requires mandatory CPD for safety practitioners

What?

· CPD is a formalised scheme to record activities that both maintain and continually build on competence

How?

· CPD can be obtained in many ways – it is recognising what is CPD that is the first stage

When?

· NOW for corporate members, Late 2005 for Technician Members

Who?

· All IOSH members with designations bearing the IOSH name.

CPD schemes Timescales

There will be 2 online versions of CPD

The Chartered member and fellow scheme due to be rolled out soon

The Technician scheme by the end 2005

The old paper-based system will be phased out by the end of 2007

The elements of the revised scheme

A- Development planning - map out what you need to keep up to date & expand your skills over a 3 year period

B- Maintenance of core skills

C- Development of new professional  skills

D- Development of management and other skills for effective practice.

Recording

Development plan

· Normally for three years, but can be reviewed at any time during this period

· States intended activities over the next period

· Recognises that plans can change as circumstances change so these plans can be amended. 

· However a maximum of three points per three year period only, can be allocated

How do I recognise sufficient CPD?

A similar amount of CPD to currently is recognised as a minimum i.e. This is approximately 10 points / 5 days per year but varies for individuals

How is this gauged?

· Activities are self assessed for CPD

· Although there is an element of time involved in the allocation of credits it is the outcome that is more important

· A rough benchmark for credits is 2 points per days activity

· However………………….

· 3 credits – an activity that has been extremely useful that has developed new skills and caused you to research and reflect on issues.

· 2 credits – a useful activity introducing new concepts for reflection and putting them into use.

· 1 credit – confirming already known facts but requiring reflection to do this.

· 0 credit – activities which are common place for you as an individual and may be thought of as commonplace and everyday

Flexibility of Awarding Credits

·    Credits may be awarded in different sections for one activity.

·    The reflective process of considering how useful an activity is will identify this.

·    A reflective statement is required for each activity identified as CPD.

Example

· You attend a  meeting with a topic you have some knowledge of.

·  The presentation confirms what you know but adds considerable new information.

·  You allocate 1 credit for maintenance (section B) and 1 credit for Professional development (section C)

· and reflect on why you did this in your CPD log.

What about auditing for authenticity?

· There will continue to be a random audit as in the current scheme

· Trained assessors required to undertake this function

Most Used Excuses!

· I haven’t got time to attend courses

· My employer won’t pay for courses

· I don’t need to undertake CPD I already have enough knowledge

· I haven’t enrolled for CPD because it is only a money making scheme for IOSH

· I didn’t complete CPD because the dog/cat/goat/goldfish ate my portfolio; my office/house was burnt down/flooded/mouse infested; my records were stolen from my car.

WHY CPD ??

· CPD is for the credibility of the whole health and safety community, at all levels, and individuals form part of this.

Individual competence can make a difference!

· Specialist Groups

· PUBLIC SERVICES   – Marion Johnstone

Marion reported on the National Safety Symposium from which she had recently returned. This had been very worthwhile in good surroundings.  One of the highlights had been a presentation made by last year’s Zurich award winner.  She would report in further detail at the enxt meeting.

· CONSTRUCTION – Allan Dick

Allan reported that there was a new draft proposal for a BS 8460 – safe use of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms.

The SG would provide a summary and links to the multifarious guidance on working at heights on its web page.

The SG had decided to request IOSH to revise their definition of competence as contained in the CPD policy since it was felt to lack clarity.

He would report later on the conclusions of the SG discussion on the HSE CDM Consultative Document – CD200.

· FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT – Dave Sinclair – nothing to report.

· HEALTHCARE                    – Martin Scott-Smith – nothing to report.

· ENVIRONMENT                  – Julian Davies – members were informed that there were several consultation documents in this field where comment would have to be in shortly.

· OFFSHORE              – Tam Boyd – nothing to report.

· CONSULTANCY                  – Derek Cawkwell – a networking meeting would be held in Glasgow on 28 September.

· SAFETY SCIENCES – Steve Boucher – nothing to report.

· TELECOMMUNICATIONS   – Graeme Lyall  - the SG would be holding a networking meeting in Edinburgh on 7 December in Graham Bell House.

· EDUCATION             - Chris Lawson – nothing to report.

· Forth & Tay District Report: their new session had got underway the previous Thursday.

Clive receiving his certificate from Marion.

5. Members Items

•   Marion took great pleasure in presenting Clive Wilmott with his certificate of Corporate Membership.

•   Assistance with writing report of guest speaker: members were reminded that it would assist in producing a full minute of volunteers could undertake this task when Richard Lovering was not present.

•   Roger Midson Challenge Trophy: Friday 7 Oct.  230 for 3pm. 10 Pin Bowling, Megabowl, Fountainbridge. £13 for 2 games.   Thereafter Piatto Verde Restaurant on Dundee Street.  

•         A member requested if others had knowledge of case law appliying to employees who refused to wear PPE.  Several indicated that they could answer this and were asked to pass on to the Secretary for transmission.

6. Guest Speaker

Roddy McLean presented our guest speaker:

Margaret Hanson

Principal Consultant - HuTech

Costs and benefits of rehabilitation and active case management for those with Musculoskeletal Disorders

Setting the scene

· 1.1 million people experience an MSD which is caused or made worse by work

· = 2.6% of people who have ever worked

· = 11.8 million working days lost in 2003/04 through MSDs; average of 19.4 days off work.

· = an annual loss of 52 000 days per 100 000 workers

· Cause individual pain & suffering

· Cost burden for workplaces & society - £6 billion per year. HSE priority programme intended to show final benefits of early return to work.

New Government publications

New documents (Oct 04) produced by HSE and DWP on rehab:

www.hse.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/index.htm

www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/vrframework/

HSE guidance on sickness absence

· Provides guidance and information on managing sickness absence and return to work

· Recording sickness absence

· Keeping in contact

· Planning adjustments

· Using professional advice

· Agreeing a return to work plan

· Coordinating the return to work process

· Provides specific information about managing MSD related sickness absence

’companies have problems getting good info’’ planning adjustments usually 4-6 wks involving coordinating the others in the return to work.

DWP Framework for vocational rehab

· Working description of vocational rehabilitation

· Ensure that Government initiatives complement each other and contain consistent messages

· Vocational Rehabilitation Steering Group to consult on development of the new approach to vocational rehabilitation

· Research Working Group and a Standards and Accreditation Working Group to take forward issue

· Develop new guidance and additional tools

· Commitment to consider the range of issues that stakeholders have raised

· Highlights that the public sector has a significant contribution to make by setting appropriate examples

HSE study:
Active case management and rehab

Aim:

· To identify and develop model(s) for active case management and rehabilitation for those suffering MSDs, which can be applied throughout industry

· The models will need to take account of the associated costs and benefits

Active Case Management

· the goal-oriented approach to achieving specific work retention and return to work outcomes.

· It can include:

· a screening and intake process;

· assessment;

· planning;

· service arrangement;

· monitoring and evaluation of outcome.

· Case managers provide coordination, facilitate communication, and work collaboratively with treatment providers, the employee, and the workplace to ensure an early and sustainable return to work.

Active case management and rehab

· Phase One – Review existing evidence and consult with professionals and organisations

· Do the programmes work?

· What problems / obstacles are faced?

· What are the costs of these programmes?

· What are the benefits?

· Phase Two – Develop best practice model(s), for consultation

Active case management and rehab:
Phase 1

Consultation by:

· Questionnaire for professionals www.hu-tech.co.uk/question-rehab.html

· Focus groups (both public and at professional meetings)

· Telephone interviews with companies that have cost – benefit information on the programmes

· Questionnaire for those with MSDs

Active case management and rehab

Consultation with organisations on any active case management and rehab programmes they run:

·       What has worked in their company?

·       What has not worked?

·       Why?

·       What are the costs of these programmes?

·       What are the benefits?

Characteristics of Vocational Rehabilitation

· Be proactive

· Early intervention

· Employee central to the process

· Undertake relevant intervention(s)

· Not making an artificial distinction between medical and vocational rehab

· Provide suitable support in the workplace

· Holistic approach to a rehab plan

· Be realistic

· Know when to draw the line

Question 1 – Current practice

•         What types of programmes are currently in place? from the floor  - army examples given but consensus was that most GPs took the ‘come back and see me in 6 months approach’.  NHS have staff but the scheme is under-funded.

· Do they differ from one organisation to the next?

· What are the common themes?

· What are the costs associated with these programmes? - all return to work progs can be shown to be cost beneficial but still face funding problems

· development, implementation and delivery

· What are the benefits?

· for individuals, organisations and society

Question 2 – Challenges and obstacles

· What obstacles have been encountered in assisting those with MSDs back to work / to remain in work?

· Organisational - coordinating difficult for S.M.E.’s

· Practical - Demographics – dispersed work force

· H.R. reluctance to get involved too early

· G.P. confidentiality

· Individual intending to claim – i.e. if pursuing a claim unlikely to want to get better to soon but potential claimants should realise that payouts are small (£10-15 K) and it is better to be back at work

·  Physiological barriers

· How might these be overcome?

Can you help?

Please contact

margaret@hu-tech.co.uk

To register your interest in further consultation

Margaret receiving a gift from Branch Chair Marion in appreciation of her talk.

7. Closing details

· Dates of next meetings

Edinburgh Branch

7 October.  Roger Midson Challenge Trophy

13 October: Management Systems: Grant Andrew:  Business Development Manager: BSI Management Systems Glasgow Sighthill Campus.

Forth & Tay District

3 November: CDM Update: Steven Boucher, MIOSH,RSP,Dip.OSHEM

· Closure – Tea/Coffee – Mingle

Max Bancroft, MRSC, MIOSH   Branch Secretary

Allan Dick, MIOSH Construction SG Rep