Author: Peacock Carter

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors have carried out a programme of COVID-secure school spot checks in Scotland regarding the implementation of school reopening guidance.

Since August, a total of 500 schools have been contacted across Scotland to check compliance. To give a representative sample of schools across Scotland, 16 local authorities were selected for the focus of the checks, and a proportionate number of primary schools and secondary schools were selected in each area. In addition, a sample of Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools and independent schools were also contacted. 

Following the initial calls, HSE found around 80% of schools had a good understanding on being COVID-secure. Where levels of compliance were less certain in 100 schools, HSE undertook follow-up site visits.

Using coloured spots to highlight frequency touched points and introducing alternatives to staggered start and stop times were some of the examples of good practice carried out by schools in Scotland to ensure they are COVID-secure.

Harvey Wild, Head of HSE’s Transport and Public Services Unit, said: “In our view the Scottish government’s school reopening guidance was very good quality, and was viewed positively by schools in what can only be described as very challenging circumstances.

“It appeared to be flexible enough to be implemented appropriately in different settings and adapted to local circumstances ensuring most schools we contacted were COVID-secure.

“The majority of schools in Scotland reacted very quickly to implement new measures. For those schools where compliance was less certain, formal spot inspections were carried out by a team of HSE inspectors.

“This enabled the inspectors to go to the schools and see what COVID-secure measures were in place so they could then offer formal advice and guidance where needed.”

All the HSE spot inspections at schools in Scotland were completed by the beginning of October and, based on the inspections undertaken, HSE found no need for any formal interventions requiring improvement. Any areas of concerns were dealt with by verbal advice.

HSE inspectors did find some common areas of concern where schools needed to make changes. This centred around social distancing in staff room areas, cleaning regimes and ventilation in school buildings.

For ventilation, most schools were relying on windows and doors being open for long periods of time and HSE’s feeling was that schools/local authorities may need to conduct a simple risk assessment of fresh air in schools. In light of this the Scottish Government developed further guidance to assist schools – see www.gov.scot

Harvey Wild added: “While highlighting some areas of concern to schools, our inspectors also found some novel and new examples of good practice.

“Regarding social distancing, one primary school had considered replacing the two metre lines to separate teachers from pupils with a painting of a river, to help pupils understand the concept of not crossing it.

“Another school introduced creative alternatives to staggered start and stop times by using multiple exits at the same time. This prevented parents waiting for long periods of time at the school gate.

“These examples show how well most schools have adopted COVID-secure measures, but there can’t be room for complacency. Ensuring a school has measures in place to manage any COVID risks can only benefit the health of the local community they serve.”

For more details on HSE spot checks and inspections visit www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/spot-inspections.htm 

The Scottish Government will ask parliament to delay new regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by 12 months due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Legislation due to come into effect in February 2021 meant the standard which currently applies to private rented property and new-builds would have been extended to all homes in Scotland.

Due to the practical difficulties likely to be faced by homeowners seeking to make the necessary changes to their homes, the Scottish Government will now seek to move implementation back to February 2022.

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing, said:

“Fire safety is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government, and we remain committed to implementing these improved regulations, which will mean everyone will benefit from the same level of protection, whether they own their home or rent from a social or private landlord.

“Given the impact of COVID-19, and the difficulties this is likely to create for people seeking to install new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, we have listened to concerns and decided to ask the Scottish Parliament to delay implementation.

“If this delay is approved, we will continue to work with partners to spread awareness of the changes before the new deadline. Our focus will be on supporting householders to ensure satisfactory fire alarms are installed so we can improve the safety of their homes.”

The legal duty on complying with the legislation will rest with local authorities and not with individual householders.

Under the new legislation all home owners and landlords must ensure they have a ceiling-mounted smoke alarms in their living room, hallways and landings.

All kitchens must have a heat alarm and, crucially, the system must be interlinked, either through fixed wiring or a wireless system. This means if one alarm is activated it will trigger the others. 

There must also be a carbon monoxide alarm fitted where there are fixed combustion appliances. 

The Scottish Government will ask parliament to delay new regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by 12 months due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Legislation due to come into effect in February 2021 meant the standard which currently applies to private rented property and new-builds would have been extended to all homes in Scotland.

Due to the practical difficulties likely to be faced by homeowners seeking to make the necessary changes to their homes, the Scottish Government will now seek to move implementation back to February 2022.

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing, said:

“Fire safety is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government, and we remain committed to implementing these improved regulations, which will mean everyone will benefit from the same level of protection, whether they own their home or rent from a social or private landlord.

“Given the impact of COVID-19, and the difficulties this is likely to create for people seeking to install new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, we have listened to concerns and decided to ask the Scottish Parliament to delay implementation.

“If this delay is approved, we will continue to work with partners to spread awareness of the changes before the new deadline. Our focus will be on supporting householders to ensure satisfactory fire alarms are installed so we can improve the safety of their homes.”

The legal duty on complying with the legislation will rest with local authorities and not with individual householders.

Under the new legislation all home owners and landlords must ensure they have a ceiling-mounted smoke alarms in their living room, hallways and landings.

All kitchens must have a heat alarm and, crucially, the system must be interlinked, either through fixed wiring or a wireless system. This means if one alarm is activated it will trigger the others. 

There must also be a carbon monoxide alarm fitted where there are fixed combustion appliances. 

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has opened a public consultation on its proposals for its new strategy for 2021-26.

The draft strategy is titled ‘Protecting Scotland in a Changing Food Environment’, and identifies FSS’s proposed key priorities for the next five years.

The proposals in the strategy sets out how FSS would intend to deliver these priorities, taking account of the external factors that will have an influence on its future role in the food and public health landscape, including EU Exit and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The consultation runs until Friday 18 December 2020 and seeks views on FSS’s ambition for Scotland’s food environment and its proposed approach for delivering the new strategy, focussing on five aspirational outcomes:

·       Food is Safe and Authentic

·       Consumers in Scotland have Healthier Diets

·       Responsible Food Businesses are Enabled to Thrive

·       Consumers in Scotland are Empowered to Make Positive Choices about Food

·       FSS is a Trusted Organisation

Representatives from Government, local authorities, the food and drink industry, research and academia, as well as members of the public, are all being encouraged to have their say on Scotland’s food future by taking part in the consultation, and providing feedback on FSS’s goals over the next five years.

Responses will be used to review the current draft. FSS’s aim is that the final version will be framed around a high level vision and a mission statement. It will also outline FSS's purpose, ambition and how it will deliver its priorities to protect the health and well-being of everyone in Scotland. The Strategy will be published in April 2021.

Take part in Food Standards Scotland’s Future Strategy to 2026 public consultation.

FSS have issued precautionary advice on cooking processed chicken products following a link to UK cases of salmonella

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and Public Health Scotland (PHS) are reminding consumers to take care when handling and cooking chicken products at home.  

The move comes as both organisations are involved in a multi-agency investigation into a suspected rise in cases of salmonella linked to processed chicken products, which has resulted in two UK product recalls.

Since January 2020, there have been 390 cases of Salmonellosis across the UK, caused by two strains of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to frozen, raw, breaded chicken products – 32 of which have been confirmed in Scotland.

FSS advice is that people do not need to make changes to the food they purchase, but they should always follow good hygiene practices to help reduce the risk of food poisoning when preparing items including chicken nuggets, goujons, dippers, poppers and kievs.

FSS Deputy Chief Executive, Ian McWatt, said:

“While the numbers of cases in Scotland related to this outbreak are relatively low, we felt it important to remind people that they should always check and follow the cooking instructions on food packaging, as different brands of the same product may have different preparation processes.  Cooking food at the right temperature and for the correct length of time will generally ensure that any harmful bacteria are killed.”

Top food hygiene tips include:

·       Always carefully check the advice on food packaging and following the cooking instructions provided

·       If the packaging advises the product should be thawed/defrosted before cooking, follow the instructions

·       Consume or freeze food by its use-by date

·       Wash your hands after touching raw chicken products and before you handle ready-to-eat food

·       Avoid cross-contamination by cleaning any surface, plate or utensil that has been in contact with raw meat

Salmonella is a common bacteria that can cause food poisoning, which can make people ill for up to three weeks.  Salmonella is found in raw meat, undercooked poultry and unpasteurised milk.  Inadequate cooking and cross-contamination in the kitchen during food preparation can lead to salmonella causing diarrhoea, fever, vomiting and stomach pains.

However, the amount of food poisoning that occurs in comparison to the amount of processed chicken eaten is very small.

Young children, the elderly and people whose immune systems are not working properly have a greater risk of becoming severely ill with food poisoning caused by salmonella.

·       Read the FSS guidance on salmonella

·       Symptoms and treatment of salmonella – information from the NHS

The following recalls are potentially linked to this salmonella outbreak:

·       Aldi recalls Roosters Southern Fried Poppin’ Chicken and Roosters Breaded Poppin' Chicken because of the possible presence of salmonella

·       Iceland recalls Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast Toppers and Southern Fried Chicken Popsters because of the presence of salmonella

On Thursday 15 October the First Minister’s statement announced that from Monday 19 October face coverings must be worn in all communal areas in indoor workplaces, where people mingle or gather (except where exemptions apply such as where measures are in place to keep persons separated).

Face coverings must be worn in all communal areas in indoor workplaces, where people mingle or gather (except where exemptions apply, such as where measures are in place to keep persons separated).

Please find below more details on how this will apply for agriculture, horticulture and rural businesses across Scotland.

This rule only applies indoors, such as communal areas in workplaces that are substantially or fully enclosed, i.e. if the walls and sides create an area that is more than 50% fully enclosed.  People responsible for relevant premises should take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law, so if you are an owner of the business or employer, you should consider if any of your buildings constitute an indoor environment, and assist users of that space to be aware of their obligation to wear a face covering there, unless an exemption applies.  Exemptions include where measures have been taken to ensure the legally required separation in that area of the workplace, or when a person is undertaking tasks in the course of their employment where the wearing of a face covering would cause a material risk of harm, such as handling large unpredictable livestock.  Please find a link to the published regulations for further information here.  

Face coverings must be worn in staff canteens, except when seated at a table or eating and drinking.

The use of face coverings should already be part of COVID-19 contingency planning measures being undertaken by agricultural, horticulture and rural businesses across Scotland.

Focus Games have launched a new digital platform ZeST to allow their games to be played as group games on Zoom, MS Teams, etc. and they have just added a version of the Food Hygiene game with a 4 month FREE trial www.zestfocus.com

Food Standards Scotland have updated its guidance for food business operators (FBOs) and their employees on 19 October. It aims to assist all businesses in the food and drink sector in following government guidance on infection prevention and control measures against COVID-19. It has been produced with input from the food industry and Trade Unions and reflects the most up to date advice from Scottish and UK Government and Health Protection Scotland.

A summary of the changes in the update are as follows:

• Addition of mandatory wearing of face coverings in workplace canteens and indoor communal areas. Regulatory details and dates added.

In addition, the COVID-19 risk assessment tool for food business operations and COVID-19 summary checklist for restarting food businesses have also been updated to reflect the above information.

Food Standards Scotland has launched a consultation on the implementation of improved allergen labelling on food sold prepacked for direct sale. i.e. food that is packed before being offered for sale by the same food business to the final consumer. e.g. sandwiches placed into packaging by the food business and sold from the same premises.

The aim of the consultation is to seek views from food businesses, enforcement authorities, consumers and other stakeholders on proposed amendments to the Food Information (Scotland) Regulations 2014 and draft technical guidance on providing allergen information for food. The consultation also asks questions to develop our information on costs and benefits and also explore the risks in moving to labelling foods with the name of the food and ingredients information and what can be done to mitigate the risks.

Full details are available here and the consultation runs until 4 December 2020.

Public Health Scotland have launched their first Strategic Plan: ‘A Scotland where everybody thrives’.

The 2020-2023 plan outlines the public health agency's vision, who they are, how they will work, their focus, and how they will show impact.

It sets out a vision of how they will work together to make Scotland a place where everybody thrives. A Scotland where healthy life expectancy increases, where the nation’s health is protected and where health inequalities are a thing of the past.

Public Health Scotland is Scotland’s lead national agency for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of all of Scotland’s people. It has now published its first Strategic Plan, covering the three-year period from 2020 to 2023, called ‘A Scotland where everybody thrives’.

You can watch a video about the Public Health Scotland Strategic Plan 2020-2023 here.

You can download a copy of the Public Health Scotland Strategic Plan 2020-2023 here.

Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government has kindly contributed a video response for our first in the series of articles titled COVID Diaries. 

Professor Jason Leitch discusses his work during the pandemic and also gives an insight into the importance that Environmental Health has played during the pandemic and has to play on an ongoing basis.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged smartphone users across Scotland to download NHS Scotland’s new contact tracing app to help suppress the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Protect Scotland app is now available to download for free via Apple and Google stores.

The app focuses solely on proximity tracing. If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, they will be sent a unique code to their mobile. If they give permission, the data will then be sent to a server so close contacts also using the app can be notified by text and advised to self-isolate.

Supported by a dedicated Protect Scotland website, the app is an extra tool complementing existing person-to-person contact tracing which remains the main component of NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect system.

Individual's privacy will be protected as the app uses bluetooth technology to anonymously alert users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and advises them to self-isolate. Users of the app who test positive will still get a call from a contact tracer to confirm their details and who they have been in close contact with.

The app does not store details on an individual or their location but uses encrypted, anonymised codes exchanged between smartphones to determine all close contacts. Close contacts are defined as people who have been within two metres of someone who has tested positive for at least 15 minutes.

Built by software developers NearForm for NHS Scotland, the app uses the same technology as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Irish proximity tracing apps.

Sign up is entirely voluntary but strongly recommended for those with compatible smartphones. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The launch of the app is a welcome development which will offer an additional level of protection – supporting NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect system as it works to drive down the spread of COVID-19 across the country.

“I would encourage everyone to download the free app if they have a compatible smartphone, and help slow the spread of COVID-19.  This will support the work of NHS Scotland and has the potential to help avoid local lockdowns. 

“The more people who download and use the app, the more effective it can be in helping to make connections that may otherwise have been missed. This will allow people to self-isolate quickly if they are exposed to the virus, reducing the risk of them infecting others.

“We all have a part to play in suppressing the virus, and downloading the app – alongside other vital measures such as following hygiene and physical distancing guidance – will help protect you, your family and your community.

“We also know that not everyone uses a smartphone or will be able to or want to access the app, which is why this software is very much there to complement existing contact tracing methods.”