IOSH EDINBURGH BRANCH

Minutes of 192 Edinburgh Branch Meeting (Annual General Meeting)

Craighouse Campus, Napier University, Edinburgh – Thursday 8 May 2008 – 1:30pm

Sederunt:

R Lovering G Pearson B Johnstone D Sinclair F McIntosh T Magill

L McCartney A McNeilla A Stewart J Collins J Brannigan P Savage

I Alexander A Quillan R McLean AD Sharman K Drum I O’Neill

J Little L Dickson A Bell K O’Donnell NL Watson L Young

M Stalker M Crowston G MacGregor E Cassidy R Reed M Richards

A McLeod P Graham A Leadbetter A Milne G Laing R Innes

A Linton F Johnston C McGregor K Findlay F Lindsay D Cawkwell

M Dunne A Diment C Shiels I Wilson N Elliot J Kinnaird

K Lloyd J Reid D Johnston C Watson K McCarthy G Lyall

AG Dick B Gippert P Gallacher C Watt M Bancroft M McDermott

D Ansell B Cox R Turner L Roberts P Ager S Blythe

Apologies:

Helen Pearson, Steve Boucher, Dick Morrison, Tina Ambler, Andrea Murray, Bob Stainton, Alex. Russell, Russell Brown, Russell Brownlee, Stewart Lynch, Ronnie Weir, Craig Pender, Ian Murray, Bob Bertram, Craig Pender.

1 Welcome – Andrew Sharman took the Chair and outlined the Safety arrangements

2 Interest Speaker

Moira Stalker – Development Officer of Healthy Living

The Importance of Healthy Living

Executive Member Liz Young introduced Moira to the members indicating that Moira had asked to introduce herself to the group. This she did by indicating that she was a Development Officer with Healthy Living based in Glasgow and being part of the Scottish Consumer Council.

Eating Out

Eating out plays an important and increasing part in people’s eating habits. Not that long ago, going out for a meal was reserved for special occasions, but nowadays eating out is much more a frequent and normal event such that currently -

• 3 million meals are eaten at work every day

• 2 million meals are prepared by contract caterers

• At least one main meal of the day eaten out of the home.

Consequently the need for caterers at all levels to be in a position to influence both consumer awareness of healthy choices and, more importantly, the actual provision of healthy foods to consumers is of increasing importance.

Obesity in Scotland

Scotland has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe but unfortunately obesity data has only been available from 1995, however it does show that obesity in the adult population has increased by 46%

Obesity is a risk factor in a number of serious health conditions which impacts on health and well being, the workplace and the economy

Benefits of a healthier diet

The benefits of a healthier diet and hence lowering the burden on public health can easily be achieved by :-

• Increasing fruit and vegetable intake by 136g per day can save 42,000 lives per year

• Decreasing daily intake of salt from average of 9g to 6g per day can save 20,000 lives per year

• Decreasing daily intake of fat by 2.5% can save 3500 lives per year

• Decreasing daily intake of sugar by 1.75% energy can save 3 500 lives per year

Source – “Food: an analysis of the issues” from a discussion document, Cabinet Office

Last year saw headlines such as these in newspapers across Scotland =

The Scotsman - Healthy fare at Scots restaurants? Fat chance reckon half of diners

The Evening Times – online poll

75% of voters said more restaurants should serve healthy food

It is felt that restaurants are not doing enough to allow people to eat healthily when eating out and the Scottish Consumer Council quote (2006) -

• 94% of customers think it is important for healthier choices to be available when eating out.

• 79% would be more likely to choose an item if it was labelled as healthyliving.

• 75% agreed they would find it helpful if some form of logo was used on a menu or displayed in premises to indicate healthier food choices.

Healthy living award

“the sign of healthier food”

National award for caterers across Scotland making it easier for people to eat healthily when eating out. Where the aims of the award are -

1. Making food generally healthier
Changing the way that food is prepared and cooked, to make dishes generally healthier.

2. Helping customers make informed choices
Providing menu items which are clearly labelled as healthyliving choices, prepared using both healthier ingredients and healthier cooking methods.

To be eligible for a healthyliving award, a caterer must be committed to providing and supporting healthier eating, as expressed through:

• the menu;

• the way in which food is prepared (including cooking methods and ingredients);

• the marketing and promotional activities that are used; and

• the way in which food is presented and sold

Progress of the award scheme so far show –

> 800 businesses registered

> 280 awards achieved the standard

These being from a wide range of establishments including -

• Colleges and universities

• Cafés and restaurants

• Hospitals

• Soft play centres

• Workplaces

• Shops & supermarkets

• Compass/Royal Bank of Scotland; Bovis Lend Lease; Streetlife Fare Ltd - Jiffy Truck; Sam’s Chinese Cuisine; Offshore/Shipping

What’s involved in gaining an award?

Assessment

• Registration

• Self-assessment

• Assessment inspection

• Verification

Support – including

• Self-teach training pack

• Guidance for Applicants

• On-line and telephone help desk

• Opportunity for internal mentors

What can health and safety professionals do?

• Promote the healthyliving award to establishments in your area.

• Partnership events

Website: www.healthylivingawards.co.uk

3 Minutes of previous AGM - Meeting 182 – 10 May 2007

· Correction: add Ross Inness to apologies. Proposer: Liz Young; Seconder: Ann Diment

· Matters arising not on the Agenda - None from the Exec

4 Annual Reports

· 4.1 Chair – Andrew Sharman

Andrew mentioned the summary he had given at the January meeting (Meeting no 188).

The Branch continued to grow – in 1988 there had been 22 members, last year there were 835 and we now stood at 861. This made Edinburgh Branch the third largest in IOSH.

During the year, IOSH had carried out a survey of all members as part of a general review of its Branches. The results for Edinburgh Branch had been very positive and he thanked those members who had participated. The Branch Executive had reviewed the results and were incorporating significant findings in their strategy for the Branch.

The programme had had a good spread He particularly highlighted the very successful guest speaker at the January meeting – Judith Hackitt, CBE, newly appointed Chair of the Health and Safety Commission. With 105 attendees this had been the biggest ever attendance at a Branch meeting. It was also the first official visit by Ms Hackitt to IOSH.

This high attendance had been reflected at Branch meetings generally throughout the last year.with the usual range of interesting speakers. Average meeting attendance had increased from 60 to 80 over the year.

He commented that this reflected the hard work of the members of the Branch Executive Committee a lot of which was unseen. He particularly thanked Max Bancroft who was demitting office as Secretary at this AGM after 6 years in post.

The programme ranged from high hazard issues (asbestos and construction) to leading edge issues (Judith Hackitt, Du Pont Safety, Glasgow Caledonian Research, Safety via acting).

The Executive continued to consult members via mini-questionnaires issued at Branch meetings particularly finding out what members wanted for the site visit and had organised two as a result.

The Executive also used some of the income it received vi IOSH Head Office to run a seminar at minimal cost to members using Bond Solon on Report Writing.

The District continued to flourish and gave an opportunity for members who could not attend during the afternoon or who lived or worked in the northern part of the Branch’s area to attend IOSH meetings.

Additionally, the Branch assisted the Risk Factory by sponsoring the back page of their workbook – 8000 copies of this were taken home by the schoolchildren who attended it thereby spreading knowledge about IOSH to a wider public.

He and his colleagues particularly appreciated that so many members felt IOSH Edinburgh Branch meetings were sufficiently worthwhile to them that they took the afternoon off from work. It set them a good challenge!

· 4.2 Treasurer – Kevin Lloyd

Kevin presented the financial statement (attached). Finances continued to be healthy. He asked the meeting to thank Bob Bertam who had been auditor for several years and who was retiring from this post which they did. There were no questions and the statement was agreed.

5 Elections - the following nominations had been receiived:

· CHAIR – Andrew Sharman

· VICE CHAIR – Liz Young

· SECRETARY – Helen Pearson

· TREASURER – Kevin Lloyd

· · Only one nomination received so above were declared elected.

· Executive Committee –(1 Vacancy) . Julian Davis, Mike Dunne, Jeanette Reid had been nominated.

· A secret ballot was held with the following result: J Davis 11; M Dunne 32; J Reid 15.

· Andrew declared M Dunne elected to the Executive Committee. He thanked Julian for his service on the Committee both as New Members Secretary and Branch representative on IOSH Scotland where he was Chair.

Specialist Posts & Groups (Present Post Holders shown)

· · Branch Education Development Officer – Liz Young

· · Groups - PUBLIC SERVICES – Marion Johnstone

· - CONSTRUCTION – Allan Dick

· - FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT – Paul Graham

· - HEALTHCARE – Martin Scott-Smith.

· - ENVIRONMENT – Julian Davis

· - OFFSHORE – Tam Boyd

· - CONSULTANCY – Derek Cawkwell

· - SAFETY SCIENCES – Steve Boucher

· - COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA – Graeme Lyall

· - EDUCATION – Neil Doherty

· - RURAL/ RAILWAYS/RETAIL/INTERNATIONAL – No representatives

· Forth & Tay District Liaison – Karen McDonnell

Andrew thanked all the above for their work over the year.

6 Honoured Guest

Fiona Gelling – CPD Course Officer

of IOSH – Details of CPD & the On-line system

The Chair briefly introduced Fiona to the assembled members who then indicated that she would prefer the presentation to be involving audience participation as much as possible to make sure the members gained the information which they needed. She then asked thos in the audience to show hands if they were MIOSH, CMIOSH etc and whether they were undertaking CPD on-line by use of the “My IOSH” section on the IOSH Web site and the general consensus was that the members felt they were in need of guidance on how to use the system and what they should enter etc.

Introduction – The CPD system

Fiona pointed out that CPD was NOT about attending more courses and doesn’t necessarily equate to costing more money, what it is about is - a professional’s own maintenance and development of skills and as such it can take many forms ,it is also about recognition of the competence of the profession as a whole.

The Paper-based IOSH scheme which was developed in 1992 went a long way towards this end but as part of overall membership revisions a revamp was undertaken and putting the system on-line was part of that revision.

The revisions recommended to Council were that the scheme be divided into 4 parts:

· Self reflection and development plans – which is an ongoing process of recognising what you need to know to progress your own professional development and defining how useful a specific activity was to you.

· Maintenance of skills

· Development of new technical skills

· Development of management and other skills – which is the consideration of transferable skills related to efficient operation but not directly H&S based

Development plan

The personal Development Plan is normally for three years, but it can be reviewed at any time during this period. It will state intended activities over the period and its production can be worth up to 3 points over the three year period. The system recognises that plans can change as circumstances change so these plans can be amended, so it may be that 1 point is awarded each year as the plan is developed and revised.

A development plan is recognition of your own strengths and weaknesses in professional health and safety practice. In simple terms goals for the development of practice are set for a three year period.

The activities that you then undertake should be towards these goal and once you have undertaken an activity it should be reviewed against the goal as to its effectiveness. It is this reflection that forms the greatest part of CPD, undertaking activities without reflecting on their value are of little use. In real terms everyone reflects on an activity but the requirement to record this process for CPD defines the value of the activity to you personally.

The type of things you should consider when developing a plan are:

· What are my current main duties and responsibilities?

· What knowledge, skills and expertise am I expected to demonstrate? Do I have all these?

· What knowledge, skills and expertise would I like to develop?

· Do I need any formal training?

· Are there any foreseeable circumstances that may affect CPD?

· Do I need to update some of my current knowledge or skills?

· What are my career objectives?

· Which sections of the framework do I need to concentrate on? (It may be that early in your career, you would need to concentrate more on development than maintenance but bear in mind that this section needs to be covered).

Allocation of points (from your reflection)

The system no longer defines the level of points to be allocated to specific activities (as it did in the previous paper-based system) as it is based on the benefit to YOU as an individual and credits (or points) may be awarded in more than one section for each activity, but the sum total for each activity can only be to a maximum of 3 points and will be based on your reflection against the following criteria –

· 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 into use

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

· 0 credit – activities which are now common place for you as an individual and may be thought of as run of the mill

NB: Large events such as NEBOSH Diploma Courses etc may need to be broken down into segments such as Topics; Days; Assessments; Subjects; etc in order to award sufficient points to justify the development content. Similarly regular events which do not provide sufficient gain to justify 1 point may be lumped together – such as 1 year’s monthly H&S meetings of a workers guidance group may be awarded 3 credits.

Over the three year development plan period you will be required to show a minimum of 30 points broken down as follows –

Section A – Development Plan - 3

Section B – Maintenance of skills - 9

Section C – Development of new technical skills - 9

Section D – Development transferable skills - 9

Auditing will be against the development plan – not specifically the number of credits obtained and will be done on-line covering 5%.

An example

You attend a branch meeting on 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 technical development (section C) and reflect on why you did this in your CPD log.

The speaker than accessed the system on line and demonstrated by use of her own CPD record how the activities are completed and subsequently allocated credits based on the reflections for her abilities etc

7 Closing details

· Dates of next meetings

Branch: 12 June: Product Safety: Ronnie Weir, Mott Macdonald

Site Visit: Cockenzie Power Station: Thursday June 26 afternoon. Email Branch Secretary

District – Thursday 5 June: Dymas Refinery, Dundee: Contact District Secretary

Max Bancoft MRSC, CMIOSH
Past Branch Secretary

Richard Lovering, CFIOSH
Branch Executive