IOSH EDINBURGH BRANCH

Minutes of 187 Edinburgh Branch Meeting

Craighouse Campus, Napier University, Edinburgh – Thursday 13 December 2007 - 130pm

Sederunt:         P Veitch            S Wilson           S Scott             R Weir              K O’Donnell       M Bancroft        J Davis             A McLeod        

G Walker          R Brydon           P Ager              L Roberts          V Stewart          S Boucher         J Slorach           R Innes             S Beaton

C Pender           N Doherty          J Burt                L Young            A Bell               N Olliver            A Milne             G Clark             T Ambler

A D Sharman     P Graham         K Drun              M Downer          C McGregor       A McNeil           R Walker           M Dunne            A James

R Thomson        R Long              J Brannigan       H Struthers

Apologies:  Graeme Lyall, Graeme Russell; Allan Dick; Bob Bertram; Ann Diment; Richard Lovering; Lilian McCartney; Hugh McCrea, Ruth Turner, Robert Bradford, Ron Hunter, Marion Johnstone.

1          Chair:  Andrew Sharman took the Chair.

2.         Minutes of previous meeting: November 2007

· Receipt – anyone not in receipt please email Secretary.

· Accuracy:   Proposer – S Boucher ; Seconder – A McLeaod.

· Matters arising - none.

3          Correspondence:

·              Stevenson College: NEBOSH National Diploma – delivered on a day-release basis – starting January 2008. Full details via enquiries@sceenterprise.com

· Fire Risk Management: The “Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations – one year on” event held in October in Edinburgh proved so popular that we’re running it again. 25 January: Napier University. Cost to members - £35.25 + VAT and £47 + VAT for non-members. www.iosh.co.uk/specialistgroups/events

·      Protecting Public Service Workers - Radisson SAS Glasgow Wed 27 February 2008

Plenary Speakers:

· David McKenna - Chief Executive : Victim Support Scotland; N

· Nicola Sturgeon - MSP Deputy First Minister & Cabinet Secretary For Health & Well Being: The Scottish Government

· Grahame Smith - STUC General Secretary;

· Linda Shanahan - Manager: Scotland's Protection of Public Service Workers Project;

· Peter Brown - Director of Health and Work Division: Health & Safety Executive.

4.         Group Reports

Forth and Tay District:  Next meeting in February will also be their AGM. 

Public Services:  Copies of the PS Newsletter were available. Marion Johnstone highlighted the “Silence is Consent” DVD - a useful effort aimed at encouraging road workers to report near misses. It focuses on a highway maintenance crew and the effect that near misses have. Free copy available via http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15052.aspx.  She also mentioned an article re Zurich Award winners and what they were – contact details if anyone wants more info.

Consultancy:  Derek Cawkwell reported that the Group’s current plan is to organise five events in 2008, starting with one in Bristol on 26 February, one in Leeds in April, one in London in June and even one in Edinburgh in August before returning to Leicester in September.

5.         Members Items

·      From the floor: there were no items.  Andrew encouraged members to use this slot – it was a useful opportunity to seek advice - if it was felt that the subject was too sensitive to be identified with any one organization then members could ask a member of the Executive to do so on their behalf.

·      Site Visit:  the Executive Committee had discussed the Branch Survey conducted by HQ and particularly the results for Edinburgh Branch.  Rather than conducting our own survey, the Exec had decided that members opinions would be sought from time to time by means of a postcard with question(s) at Branch meeting.  This month we were seeking members views on a suitable venue for the June site visit.

·      Chair of HSC Talk at January meeting.  40 proposed topics/questions had been received from members – these had been distilled into key themes and sent off.  This would be Ms Hackitt’s first visit to an IOSH Branch since her appointment. 

· 10 minute talk: Graham Walker: Director of Training: Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland: Who is REHIS. Graham’s PowerPoint presentation is available by emailing the Secretary.

6.   Guest Speaker:

Secured by Design – An introduction:  Julie Slorach, Director, Camerons Ltd

Members who would like a copy of Ms Slorach’s presentation in PowerPoint, please email the Secretary.  Note: it is in a version of Office 2007 & 4.3 Mb.

7.         Closing details

Date of next meeting:

· Edinburgh Branch: 10 January: Judith Hackitt CBE: Chair Health & Safety Commission

Max Bancroft, MRSC, CMIOSH  

Branch Secretary