Minutes of 168th Edinburgh Branch Meeting

 Craighouse Campus, Napier University, Edinburgh – Thursday 12 January 2006 - 130pm

Sederunt:  J Robertson A Baily D Penman A Dick C Lawson J Brannigan J Mar5shall J Adamson A James G MacGregor I O’Neill G Laing P Veitch R Bradford C Black  Brown M Johnstone G Fletcher C Wilmott R Walker M Bancroft J Davis R Brownlee J Dwyer K Lloyd R Lovering G Dick G O’Neill G Jukes G Foggo S Heesom R McLean D Sinclair L MacNeill L Young V Stewart S Groat D Gillespie J Marshall J C Peoples H Gardner B Byrne J Hamilton I M Murray F Andreetti T Elliott D Richardson C Pender R Innes N Kelly A Diment J Hepburn S Brown J Park L Crichton N Doherty A White

Apologies: Dick Morrison, Derek Cawkwell, Simon Hunter, R N Mamabo, Tom Neilson, Bob Bertram, Scott Page, Andrew Reid, Steve Boucher, Bob Bertram, Scott Page, Andrew Reid, Steve Boucher, Graeme Lyall, Bob ammond, Tony Sayer.

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

2. Minutes of previous meeting: December 2005

• Receipt: anyone not receiving them should contact the Secretary.

• Agreed a true record: Proposer – N Doherty; Seconder – A Dick

• Matters arising not on the Agenda: None

3. Correspondence

3.1       Events

• 6-10th March 2006: HU-TECH: Ergonomics Essentials (BOHS Syllabus) Edinburgh, (£925) Further details are at: http://www.hu-tech.co.uk/training-ergonomics_essentials.html

• 30/31 March 2006: Wales & Chester Circuit: major medico-legal conference: industrial disease litigation: Cardiff.

• 10-12 April: Universities Safety and Health Association: Annual Conference: Join us for the main day, Tuesday 11th April. Learn how to convert compliance into added value for your organisation.  Full day of 6 expert presentations and 2 participative workshops: City Quay Apex Hotel, Dundee. £145. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/safety/conference2006

3.2       Others

• Minutes of Scottish Ergonomics Forum November Meeting. Demonstration of human factors tools for practitioners (21March): includes a task analysis tool developed under MoD funding by Cranfield University.  Copies of the tool may be available free to those who are interested. Other tools may be available with an opportunity to view or trial these. Interested? Email Richard Scaife: richard@keilcentre.co.uk

3.3 Job Spot

Napier University, Edinburgh: Fire Safety Adviser

• Salary not less than £26000

• Oversee all aspects of fire safety, including fire risk assessments, developing strategies and policies to ensure compliance with all fire legislation – including the new Fire Safety (Scotland) Act – providing technical advice and delivering training.

• Extensive knowledge/experience of fire precautions implementation, relevant legislation and building standards and membership of the Institute of Fire Engineers and/or fire service modules A – E.

• Application packs are available from Ruth Thin, Telephone 0131 455 3605, e‑mail r.thin@napier.ac.uk Closing date: 27 February 2006

SAFETY MANAGER

• Are you seeking personal development or a new challenge with one of the worlds largest and successful heavy engineering companies? Our client is renowned for their business excellence in the power generation industry and are now looking to appoint a Safety Manager to join their team based in Central Scotland. 

• The candidates will support the Director, responsible for Performance and Business Improvement, in the introduction of the company Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental policy.  The focus is to deliver continual Improvement and world class HS&E performance - resulting in a positive Safety Culture.

• Applications will be welcome from candidates with a minimum of a relevant degree,  IOSH or NEBOSH diploma, IEAMA certificate in Environmental Management and 5-10 years experience of a HSE nature whilst working in the nuclear/power generation or process industry.

• The successful candidate may be required to travel to other company sites throughout Europe - so flexibility to travel is essential.

• LOCATION:  Central Scotland

• PACKAGE:  Salary – Competitive + Car + Pension + Healthcare + Relocation

• Contact Edward Bartlett Recruitment Consultant Tel    +44 (0)1737 821023 Fax   +44 (0)1737 823031 E ebartlett@cbsbutler.com

4. Group Reports

• Branch Education Development Officer    – Liz Young – will make CPD presentation at Feb meeting.

• Specialist Groups

– PUBLIC SERVICES   – Marion Johnstone – IOSH was considering an all-Groups webpage.  The 2006 plan was nearly finished.  There was a closed forum for the SG Committee and they were considering expanding this to include all PSG members.  The flyer for the next Zurich awards would be out soon – there were some changes to the criteria.

– CONSTRUCTION                  – Allan Dick – HSE were planning a Fall Campaign for May and were particularly looking at the education area.  It was probable that the new CDM regulations would be implemented in 2007 rather than in Oct 2006.

– FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT – Dave Sinclair

LAST FRMSG Committee Networking Meeting: Our last meeting was very successful with over 70 delegates in attendance. The incident at Hemel Hempstead made it even more topical and something we may repeat again.

NEXT FRMSG Committee Networking Meeting: The next meeting will be a joint meeting with the Irish Fire Section on the 23rd of February 2006 in Dublin. The overall theme is on safe evacuation for all.

Draft Fire Safety Guide: The guide has been produced to assist those with responsibilities for fire safety in residential care premises. Comments to IOSH by 17th of February 2006. Murray.Clark@iosh.co.uk

The document can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/76169/0019678.pdf

Guidance on No Smoking Legislation:

• Scottish Executive Health Department 0131 244 5660

• www.clearingtheairscotland.com

• http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/11/28114926/Q/Video/312

– HEALTHCARE                       – Martin Scott-Smith.  Nothing to report

– ENVIRONMENT                    – Julian Davies – The SEPA/Scottish Agricultural College Bienniial Conference would be in April.  The EEW Directive implementation had been delayed again. New Packaging Waste Regulations had come into effect on 1 Jan.  He had received the draft IEMA Programme for 2006 and would publicise it.  This was part of the process of forging better links.

– OFFSHORE                          – Tam Boyd.    

– CONSULTANCY                    – Derek Cawkwell: Nothing to report

– SAFETY SCIENCES             – Steve Boucher Nothing to report

– COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA – Graeme Lyall    Nothing to report

– EDUCATION             - Chris Lawson – noted that the HSE website had details of improving safety when working at heights in schools.

• Forth & Tay District: no meeting since last Branch meeting.

5.         Members Items

5.1       Vic Stewart commented that HSE were selling of their videos chapely in preparation for going over to DVDs.

5.2       Company Smoking Policy - Post 26th March 2006: Dave Sinclair

Why change?

• Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Premises (Scotland) Regulations 2006

• New law is aimed at saving lives and preventing diseases caused by passive smoking

• Promote health & wellbeing for all employees, contractors and visitors

• Covers most public premises, including workplaces and work vehicles which are wholly or substantially enclosed

Buildings

• No Smoking Signage

• Designated Smoking Rooms

• Remove all ashtrays

• “Bus Shelter” Type areas

• “Stubbing-out” Bins

• Location / Personal Safety / away from entrances, air-conditioning intakes etc.

Vehicles

• Applies to light and heavy goods vehicles, trains, buses, taxis, private hire cars, and any vessel, boat or hovercraft

• Does not apply to private or Company cars used for business purposes

• Signage for vehicles

What to do if someone ignores the smoking ban

• Draw their attention to “No Smoking” signs and politely ask them to stop

• Advise them it is an offence for you to allow smoking on your premises

• Explain you have a smoke-free policy

• Fines for failure to comply

What to do if someone ignores the smoking ban - employee

• Indicate the No Smoking signs

• Show them where they can smoke

• If they refuse implement your normal disciplinary procedure

• Maintain a record of the incident

What to do if someone ignores the smoking ban - customer

• Indicate the No Smoking signs and explain that they will be refused service

• Show them where they can smoke

• If they refuse implement your normal anti-social / illegal behaviour procedure including Police assistance if threats are made

• Maintain a record of the incident

Enforcement

• Environmental Health Officers

• Pro-active and re-active visits

• Fines are £50 for an individual and £200 for the person in control of the premises

• Refusal or failure to pay may result in prosecution and a fine up to £2500

Smoke-Free Policy

• Be concise and simple to understand

• Identify who is responsible for implementing it

• Procedures to be followed for non-compliance

• Employees rights to work in a smoke-free environment

• Information on how to quit smoking

• Communicated to all employees

Further information

• Scottish Executive Health Department 0131 244 5660

• www.clearingtheairscotland.com

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/11/28114926/Q/Video/312

6. Guest Speaker

Dr Gillian Fletcher of OHSAS

Biohazards- managing the risks of Infection at Work

The vice Chair, Andy Sharman, introduced Gillian Fletcher as the afternoons speaker indicating that she had been a consultant in OH for the past 10 years mainly within the manufacturing arena but was now working  for OHSAS and also worked as a part-time lecturer at Edinburgh University. Gillian then indicated that the content of the afternoons presentation would be based around the following topics –

· Legal requirements

· Statistics

· Zoonoses

· Infection from human sources and from environmental sources

· Person to person

· Susceptibility

As the original brief which she had been given was too broad to cover in total during the presentation, so she intended to exclude diseases within the health care field and also the exotic ones but may include some which the members would be familiar with from the news as they are often considered by terrorists.

1. Legal Requirements

This revolves mainly around the Health & Safety at Work Act and its related regulations –

COSHH for example requires -

• Assessment of the risks to health from work activities - micro-organisms

• prevention or where reasonably practicable control

• introduction and maintenance of control measures

• inform, instruct and train employees about risks and precautions

• regular review of risk assessments and effectiveness of control measures

RIDDOR requires the reporting of specific diseases

· Anthrax

· Brucellosis

· Avian and ovine chlamydiosis

· Hepatitis

· Legionellosis

· Leptospirosis

· Lyme disease

· Q Fever

· Streptococcus suis

· Tetanus

· TB

· Work with micro-orgs, live or dead humans, blood or body fluids

· Work with animals or potentially infected material

Reporting of diseases are required under several requirements –

Disease	Notifiable Public Health E and W	Notifiable Public Health Scotland	Notifiable Public Health N.Ireland	RIDDOR
Anthrax	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brucellosis				Yes
Chlamydiosis				Yes
Food Poisoning	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leptospirosis	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lyme Disease		Yes		Yes
Q Fever				Yes
Rabies	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Strep suis				Yes
Toxoplasmosis
TB	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

2. Statistical sources

The following have been considered and information has been drawn from –

· Reporting by Occupational physicians

· Reporting by Consultants in communicable disease

· RIDDOR detail.

RIDDOR Reports

	1998/99	1999/00	2000/01	2001/02	2002/03
Anthrax / Brucellosis / s.suis /tetanus	1		1
Chlamydiosis	2	3	2	4	1
Hepatitis	23	12	4	6	12
Legionellosis	13	3	13	9	10
Leptospirosis	6	8	12	6	10
Lyme Disease	2	4	3	5	3
Q Fever		1	1		1
TB	12	11	16	21	21
Other	45	49	38	20	42

- NB: It is considered that the figure for TB quoted is an under estimate of the true figure

Lab reports to Health Protection Scotland

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Giardia	281	251	207	192	188
Salmonella	1720	1571	1149	1254	1143
E Coli 0157	197	235	229	148	209
Lyme Disease	37(27)	28(17)	85(44)	71(43)	86(58)
Q Fever	5	2	6	6	1
Leptospira	0(3)	0(2)	3(2)	0(4)	2(1)

NB: Figures in brackets relate to those who may be living within an area as opposed to those working in the area

Work related Infections – THOR and SIDAW

This is another reporting system used by non-occupational doctors

	2001	2002	2003	2004
Diarrhoeal	539	2087	962	916
Hepatitis	13		2	3
Legionellosis	12	5	4
TB	20	8	18	26
Ornithosis	1	1	1
Q Fever		4
Other	250	224	150	163

3. Zoonoses

An infection or infestation shared in nature by humans and other animals that are the normal or usual host; a disease of humans acquired from an animal source.

Leptospirosis

· Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae

· Rats

· Urine from infected animals

· contaminated water/soil

· Skin abrasions / mucous membranes

· Influenza like symptoms

· Liver damage, kidney failure, internal bleeding

Treatment by antibiotics

Prevention by covering cuts and wounds

Leptospira

· Leptospira hardjo

· Urine from infected cows               }

· “herringbone” milking parlour      } Splashing

· Milder illness

· farmers

Prevention by immunisation of herd

Orf

· Pox virus

· Sheep and goats

· Lambs symptomatic

· Face, hand or arm ulcers - starting from lesions on the hands

· Heal without treatment 6-8 weeks

Vets tend to be the most susceptible during the lambing season. Direct contact or from wool in hedges etc. NB: Human to human contact is NOT a source.

Prevention - Live Vaccine available for stock<

Brucellosis

· Rare

· Mainly imported cases

· Fever, weakness

· Chronic disease

· Inhalation contaminated dust

· Eradicate in animals

The UK has a good record with very small numbers

Infection by eating/ drinking infected milk or milk products – pasteurisation kills it off

There is a new variety being experienced in seals and wales.

Bovine TB

• Cattle, badgers and deer

• 0.4% of cattle herds now from 40% pre-war

• Inhalation or hand to mouth contact

• BCG

Prevention - Good personal hygiene. There were a numbber of human cases over 50 years ago

Eliminate TB from stock

Salmonella, E.coli 0157

• From farm animal dung – causes disease of low level which can go on to cause renal failure

• E.coli 0157 few bacteria

• Abattoir

Prevention - Good personal hygiene and ensuring no haand to mouth transfer

Ovine chlamydiosis

• Ovine Chlamydia psitacci

• Enzootic Abortion of Ewes

• Sheep and goats

• Infected placenta so it can lead to abortion for pregnant ladies

• Soiled workwear

Symptoms for non-pregnant individuals appear like mild flu.

Avian Chlamydia

· Avian Chlamydia psittaci

· Ducks, turkeys, exotic birds

· Humans pneumonia

· Endocarditis, hepatitis, death

· Inhaling dust from dung, nasal discharge

Prevention - High standard of husbandry

Avoid dry sweeping

During Slaughter ut8ilise - LEV or PPE

Q Fever

· Coxiella burnetti

· Sheep and cattle

· Mild illness usually

· Pneumonia, liver and heart valve

· Raw milk to the mouth

· Dust contaminated with birth products, urine, dung

Prevention - Avoid creating dusts of animal wastes

Dispose of afterbirths

Avoid contact with raw milk

Streptococcus suis

· Cuts and grazes

· ? Inhalation

· Meningitis

· Deafness

· Death

Prevention - Eliminate disease in stock

Rabies – from Bats

· Rabies like virus

· European Bat Lyssavirus 2

· Bat bite – recent case for a Bat Handler in Lothian

· 2003 was the last reported case in Dundee

Prevention - Rabies immunisation for bat handlers

Rabies – from Dogs

· Perth 1779 was the last noted case

· Ports are the usual route into the country

· Quarantine kennels will prevent the possible influx and spread

· Last case indigenous classical rabies 1902

· Health Protection Agency provides advice

· Exotic animals

Prevention - Immunisation for dogs

Cryptosporidium parvum

· Calves, lambs, deer, goats

· Contact with dung or drinking water contaminated with dung

· Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, flu like symptoms over a six week period

Prevention - Wash hands before eating, water supply

Lyme Disease

· 1975 –arthritis Lyme, Conneticut

· Bacteria - Borrelia burgdorferi

· Comes from the Tick – Ixodes ricinus

· Wildlife is the for blood meal for ticks

o Tick larvae small mammals and birds

o Nymph and adult Ixodes ticks sheep, deer, horses and humans

Clinical Features

· (Stage 1) Erythema chronicum migrans site of tick bite

· ( Stage 2) Nervous system – nerve pains, arthralgias

· (Stage 3) Swelling and pain in large joints

Those at specific risk include - Farmers, forestry workers

Recreational hill walking camping

Serological studies have shown those with a past infection have a 10-15% of reinfection

Treatment – Examination of any wet& warm areas of skin – remove Ticks with tweezers and if necessary administer antibiotics.

Anthrax

· In fection is by Spores which could involve anyone involved in handling hides, hair, bone products, wool

· A major consideration these days has to be one of bio-terrorism

· Cutaneous

· inhalation

· gastrointestinal

Prevention – Immunisation is available, but it requires an annual refresher

Toxoplasmosis

· Toxoplasma gondii

· Affects 1:500 pregnant women

· 40% chance of foetus becoming infected

· Causes still birth, brain damage, blindness

· Sources - cat faeces, litter trays, contaminated soil

· raw meat

Prevention - education during pregnancy - reduce expoosure   1.43% reduced to 0.09%

Toxocara

· Dog excretes eggs of toxocara canis

· Contaminated soil enters mouth

· Eggs develop into larvae in intestines

· It affects - lungs, liver

· eyes scarred

· sight affected 100+ people per annum in UK

Prevention – de-worming of dogs and personal hygiene

Avian Flu

· Wild birds

· Intestinal carriers

· Infected domesticated birds become ill

· Shed influenza virus from saliva nasal secretions and faeces

· More than 100 human cases since 2003

· Contact with infected birds

· Rare cases transmission from one ill person to another

· Avian Influenza A H5N1

Legionella pneumophilia

· Legionnaires’ disease

· Pontiac Fever (a wild virus)

· Muscle pain, headache, anorexia, malaise, fever

· Pneumonia, diarrhoea, confusion

· Common in natural water supplies

· Survives in the temperature range 6 –60 degrees C

· Multiplies in the temperature range 20 – 45 degrees C

· Nutrients required, algae, amoebae, sediment, sludge, scale

· Fatal 12% of cases

· Conditions are worse for those who are - Smoking, over 45, diabetes, respiratory , kidney disease, on immunosuppression, alcoholism

· Men are more susceptible

· 20-40 cases per year in Scotland

Tetanus

· Clostridium tetani

· Spore forming organism

· Environmental – where it can be from contaminated soil

· Animal bites

· Produces toxin, muscle spasm, respiratory failure

Treatment / Prevention - Effective vaccine and it is considered now that a Lifetime cover is acquired by 5 doses

4. Conditions which can be spread by person to person contact

· Common diarrhoeal illness

· Common infectious illnesses

· mumps, chickenpox, rubella,

Parvovirus B19

· Often referred to as Slapped cheek syndrome in young children

· Fever , rash on cheeks

· Acute arthritis for older persons

· Those Vulnerable =

· haemaglobinopathies, sickle cell disease, thalassaemia

· immunocompromised

· abortion and stillbirth

· School contact up to 50%

Cytomegalovirus

· Glandular fever like illness

· 60 - 90% adults immune

· Pregnant - congenital cytomegalovirus

· new born

· immuno-compromised

· urine, saliva, blood, faeces, semen

· good personal hygiene

Hepatitis B

· At risk groups being those involved in social care activities

· 750 cases in England and Wales per annum

· blood borne virus/ sexually transmitted

· iv drug user

· hepatitis - can be fatal

· 30% chance of transmission

· chronic carrier

Prevention - effective vaccination

The number affected have dropped

Hepatitis A

· Faecal oral spread

· Virus excreted only at time of illness

· contaminated food or faecal to oral

· asymptomatic

· fever, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice

· 500 cases notified per annum (decreased from 8000)

Prevention - good personal hygiene and an effective vaccine

Hepatitis C

· Blood borne virus

· 3% transmission

· increasing number of cases

· iv drug use

· chronic carrier

· chronic hepatitis

Treatment - no vaccine available

>

Numbers on continuing climb

Tuberculosis

· 50 cases of occupationally acquired disease per year

· inhalation

· close prolonged contact

· health care workers

· high endemic areas

· BCG

· immuno-compromised

HIV

· Blood borne virus

· Sexually transmitted

· 0.3% seroconversion

· Risk increased type of injury

· Post exposure prophylaxis available

· Quickly after injury

· Number of infections continues to rise

§ 365 diagnosed in Scotland in 2004

§ Highest ever

· Occupationally acquired in UK up to Dec 2002

§ Definite 5

§ Possible 14

· Health care workers

5. Special consideration groups

· Pregnant

· Breast feeding

· Immuno-compromised

· HIV

· steroids

· chemotherapy

· splenectomy

From Biohazards

· Primary school teacher

· Prison Officer

· Sewage Worker

· Country park Ranger

· Social Care Worker

· Culling poultry positive for Avian Influenza A H5N1 

· Groups at special risk

· Risk reduction

Primary School Teacher

· Common childhood illnesses

§ mumps, chicken pox, parvovirus B19,rubella

· Tuberculosis

· Pregnancy

· Immunosuppression

· Immunocompromised

Prison Officer

• High rate of hepatitis B, C and HIV in prison population

• Tuberculosis

Sewage Worker

· Common diarrhoeal illnesses

· Hepatitis A - prevalence so low not at increased risk

· Polio - vaccine no longer oral

· Leptospirosis icterrohaemorrhagica

Country Park Ranger

· Lyme disease

· Leptospirosis icterrohaemorrhagica

· TB

· ? lyssavirus from bats

· Tetanus

· Toxoplasma gondii

· Toxocara canis

· BBVs

Social Care Worker

· Common gastrointestinal illness

· TB

· ?BBVs

Risk Reduction

· Altering work practices to reduce risk at source

· providing information regarding risk

· training

§ personal hygiene

§ universal precautions

§ post event action

Summary

· Common gastrointestinal illness most frequently recorded occupational illness

· Simple measures can reduce risk

· Pregnant workers / new mothers

· Immuno-compromised

Further Information

• WWW.hpa.org.uk

• www.hse.gov.uk

• HSE information sheet - Common zoonoses in agriculture

• Health Protection Scotland (SCIEH)

7. Closing details

• Dates of next meetings

Forth and Tay District

February 2^nd: Annual General Meeting and Developing Our Safety Influence beyond the Workplace.

Edinburgh Branch

9 February: Revisions to the Management Regs: Potential Impact on Civil Liability: Laura Cameron; Senior Partner McGrigors

Max Bancroft, MRSC, MIOSH   Branch Secretary

Richard Lovering, CFIOSH Branch Executive Committee