IOSH EDINBURGH BRANCH
Minutes of 204 Edinburgh Branch Meeting
Peffermill Playing Fields, University of Edinburgh 8 October at 2 pm
Sederunt:
H Pearson L Young A Diment K Lloyd M Grimmer M Bancroft C Shiels
S Waddell R Brownlee S Riegiel N Goveia B Howden R McLea A Bell
R Broadford R Innes C Pender R Reed S Girdwood J Reid D McCormack
L Murray S Keddie S Forrest P Selwood J Brannigan D Sinclair G MacGregor
C Fenton S Smart J Hepburn I Sinclair R Wilson R Turner S Jones
G Walker D Ward S Wilson J Hutchinson R Lovering K Murray B Davies
L Roberts V Stewart R Brown E Scott P Graham J Fenton
Apologies:
A McLeod, M Dunne, G Lyall, R Thomson, M Dunne, M Johnstone, S Page, K Dunn.
Liz Young took the Chair and outlined the safety arrangements (Fire) and reminded the audience to switch off their mobiles.
Anyone not in receipt please email Secretary; pearson@mabbett.com
Proposed by – R Innes
Seconded by – C Pender
None
Liz reported that it is important to update your details for CPD on the new website. If members need assistance on their CPD they should contact Liz.
No report this month
No reports this month
18 November 2009, Westminster
Participants at this all-day Westminster Briefing will spend the morning discussing latest government plans and legislation affecting health and safety and how best to promote health and safety leadership in the workplace. The afternoon will present the opportunity to investigate specific case studies whereby strong leadership has led to successful outcomes. For further information or to book a place please go to: http://www.westminster-briefing.com/?p=6253
18 November 2009, Central London, 08:30 - 14:00 (half day)
Chair is Natasha Freeman, President of IOSH. Delegates attending this forum will have the opportunity to question experts in their field, examine both the strategic issue of risk management and, through case studies, learn how to translate goals into policy, procedures and everyday practice to improve occupational health and safety. To book a place or find out more, call Paul Bolton on 0161 211 3035. Agenda can be found at http://www.insidegovernment.co.uk/health/occupational/
Members need to make sure IOSH have their up-to-date email addresses. To do this, log into MyIOSH, at www.iosh.co.uk, then go to My details and update your main email address. If you use the forums, your email addresses need to match. A quick-step guide to updating your email addresses can be found on the main IOSH website.
We have only had 4 responses so far and are still looking for feedback from our members
The 2008 challenge was very poorly attended but with no feedback from the members we need to know if the event or timing that was unsuitable. Therefore this year we would like to obtain a consensus of opinion prior to making a booking and risk loosing deposits.
For the 2009 Roger Midson Challenge the choice is either: -
Off Road Dirt Karting near Cumbernauld. Cost will be nominally £52 per head for about three/ fours of mud, mayhem and fun. A deposit will be required.
OR
Skittles – basically do-it-yourself ten-pin bowling – at the Sheep Heid Inn, Duddingston. Cost will be approximately £5 per head. A bit cleaner and less tiring than the dirt buggies and you can eat at the Pub as well.
The Date – either a Friday afternoon (as previous events) or Saturday Afternoon in November – the actual date cannot be confirmed until a booking is made.
However as a deposit will be required we need an indication from members of the preferred event and day so that we can make suitable arrangements.
Please email ali_mcleod@btinternet.com to indicate your preferences, which will be announced later in October.
Forth Valley College currently has an excellent career opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual(s) who aspire to lead the way in professional Occupational Health practice and service delivery. If you wish to apply for a position please go to their website www.forthvalley.ac.uk/jobs or request a recruitment pack - quoting the job reference code – ED/037- by email at applications@forthvalley.ac.uk or contact the Human Resources Team on 01324 403260. Closing date for applications is 16 November 2009.
Mr Colin Fenton from Ivy Learing introduced himself and his organisation. They have been in business for 25yrs and provide e-learning for organisations. Mr Fenton specifically mentioned IOSH managing safely and working safely. Mr Fenton left some leaflets for members to take away.
Ms Jeanette Reid raised the concern that potential trainers using the managing and working safely must first go on a familiarisation course down south. Concern was expressed at the cost for Scottish trainers to do this. Liz agreed to raise this with the Grange.
Subsequent to the meeting: The Grange has responded and given the following information:
Not all trainers need to attend Familiarisation training, however part of the application process to become a New Training Provider, is that the new organisation sends their lead trainer to attend Familiarisation training at IOSH. The Familiarisation training covers, among other things, the roles and responsibilities of those offering IOSH courses and helps ensure quality standards are met. Those who attend the course include overseas new applications. Unfortunately there are no plans to hold Familiarisation training in Scotland. To clarify there is only one trainer per new Training provider needed to attend, as per conditions of licence.
Mr Graham Walker, Director of Training, Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) gave us a description of the New REHIS Qualification and how individuals and organisations can become trainers.
Scott Forrest BSc, RMN, RGN, DipICN, Infection Control Officer, Lothian Health Board
Scott gave an entertaining presentation on Infection control, focusing first on the topical H1N1 influenza outbreak. He emphasised that the best guidance was simple-
• Don’t come into work if you are ill,
• Wash hands, and
• Ensure that your contingency plans are robust and ready to deal with large-scale absences and disruption to external services.
•
Scott told thee audience that in his view, we were not yet in the ‘pandemic’ phase of the current outbreak, estimates for this second wave expected to hit this winter could mean up to 50% of the population affected in a wave of up to 15 weeks. Death would be inevitable, but he emphasised that deaths are a normal occurrence of every winter flu outbreak but they don’t get the sensational headlines that this outbreak is getting.
An example of the disruption that may be caused was given where, if the schools and nurseries were to be closed, this would affect one third of Lothian healthcare staff because they are working mothers.
The current situation is that we are experiencing a ‘mild’ version of the H1N1 virus, but this could change to a more virulent form very easily. Scott expressed concern that a lack of people who have experienced dealing with such a widespread infection rate might affect how the outbreak is handled.
Scott then went onto outline Respiratory hygiene measures and advice to give to staff, emphasising that jewellery should be removed when washing hands and the suggested procedures for hand washing and drying. He gave the audience a list of ‘Do’s’ and ‘Don’ts’ in Infection control, including tips on handling contaminated laundry and cleaning of surfaces.
In summary, we were told that organisations should be looking at their contingency plans and we have to face the fact that we can’t stop the pandemic, but can only attempt to control it and minimise its impact by the good practices he had outlined in his talk.
The second part of Scott’s presentation looked at a series of Norovirus outbreaks on a cruise ship that used Leith Docks as it’s base. Scott detailed how the infection control teams investigated the cases, and the control measures put in place to deal with them. Interesting points to note were that the Phillipino staff on board the ship appeared to be immune to the virus, later research found that certain blood types (A and O ) were more susceptible to infection than others (B appears resistant). Scott also outlined changes in how disease was detected and diagnosed (sampling of saliva for example). In summary, Scott detailed the lessons learnt from the outbreak;
• Multi-agency working proved very effective;
• Risk assessment proved effective in helping solve the problem,
• A measured response was needed regarding the interventions put in place by the infection control team.
There was a lively discussion after the talk and Scott answered several questions from the audience.
Please stay and have a coffee and meet your colleagues.
Edinburgh Branch
12 November - Health and safety challenges in a zoo, Stuart Jenkinson, Edinburgh Zoo
Forth & Tay District
05 November - Control of contractors - Sandy Foowler
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Helen Pearson MIIRSM, CMIOSH Branch Secretary |
Ann Diment, CMIOSH Meetings Secretary |
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