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Scottish Advice Note: Determining the fire risk posed by external wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings has been published.
The Scottish Advice Note (SAN) provides advice for those responsible for fire safety in residential buildings including building owners/managers/residents groups responsible for determining the fire risk posed by external wall systems on existing multi-storey residential buildings.
On the 9 August, the legal requirement for physical distancing and limits on gatherings was removed and all venues across Scotland were able to re-open including nightclubs.
Some baseline measures will remain in place and include:
• it will continue to be the law, subject to exceptions, that face coverings must be worn in indoor public places and on public transport
• Test & Protect will continue to contact-trace positive cases. To assist with this there will be a continued requirement for indoor hospitality and similar venues to collect the contact details of customers. Anyone who is required to self-isolate will, if eligible, continue to have access to support
• we will work closely with local incident management teams on appropriate outbreak control measures
• we will continue to use travel restrictions, as and when necessary, to restrict the spread of outbreaks and protect against the risk of importation of new variants
• for now, we will continue to advise home working where possible, recognising that some staff will start to return to offices in line with staff wellbeing discussions and business need. we will encourage employers to consider for the longer term, as the Scottish Government is doing, a hybrid model of home and office working – which may, of course, have benefits beyond the need to control a virus
• we will, for a limited period, keep in place a gateway process through which organisers of outdoors events of more than 5000 and indoor events of more than 2000 will have to apply for permission. This will allow us and local authorities to be assured of the arrangements in place to reduce risk
• we will continue to issue appropriate guidance to assist individuals and businesses to reduce the risk of transmission as much as possible, such as rigorous hygiene, including regular hand washing
Adults identified as close contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 will also no longer be automatically required to self-isolate for 10 days from 9 August. Anyone who is double-vaccinated with at least two weeks passed since their second dose and who has no symptoms will be able to end self-isolation if they return a negative PCR test. The same conditions will also apply to anyone aged between five and 17 years old, even if they have not been vaccinated. The requirement to take a PCR test will not apply to children under the age of five.
Test and Protect will also implement revised guidance for under 18s. This means that the blanket isolation of whole classes in schools will no longer happen and a targeted approach, that only identifies children and young people who are higher risk close contacts, will be adopted. Fewer young people will have to self-isolate, and most will be asked to self-isolate for a much shorter period of time. To allow time to monitor the impacts of these changes, the majority of the mitigations that were in place in schools in the previous term will be retained for up to six weeks. This will help support a safe and sustainable return to education after the summer break.
While the gateway condition on vaccination has been met, with 92% of those over the age of 40 protected by two doses of the vaccine, there are still many more people who have not had the vaccine, cannot have it, or are not yet eligible for it. Invitations for vaccines are now going out to 12 to 17 year olds with specific health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid. This follows the recent advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. We expect to have offered first doses to this group by the end of August.
The Food Standards Scotland (FSS) COVID-19 webpage has now been updated following the move into beyond COVID-19 Level 0 allowing all venues and businesses to open with most legal restrictions removed. However, a baseline set of mitigation measures is to be retained across all sectors, and these are detailed in Scottish Government’s general safer workplaces guidance which aims to support businesses in controlling the risks of COVID-19 beyond Level 0.
To assist food businesses in translating the measures in the Scottish Government safer workplaces guidance, FSS has updated its risk assessment tool which will support FBOs in identifying and documenting the actions they need to take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, whilst maintaining an effective Food Safety Management System (FSMS). The tool provides a way of allowing all FBOs to document the measures they have taken, and demonstrate that these are being maintained on an on-going basis to ensure their staff and customers are protected from the risks of COVID-19.
FSS has also updated its guidance for FBOs on the investigation of COVID-19 outbreaks. This has been developed in collaboration with Public Health Scotland (PHS) which aims to help food businesses understand how decisions will be taken when an outbreak of COVID-19 is identified in their workforce. This guidance is split into two main sections which describes what FBOs are expected to know in relation to controlling COVID-19 in the workplace, and how to prepare for an IMT.
This guidance package is essential for all food businesses operating throughout the current stage of the pandemic. Using the resources supplied by FSS and Scottish Government will also support FBOs in engaging with their employees on the management of COVID-19 risks to ensure a safe working environment, in accordance with the joint statement on ‘fair work expectations during the transition out of lockdown’ signed by The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work & Culture, CoSLA, the Institute of Directors and Scottish Council for Development & Industry, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the STUC.
The National Food Strategy Part 2 has been published which sets a proposal for a tax on sugar and salt sold for use in processed foods or in restaurants and catering businesses.
In total the report makes 14 recommendations, including the sugar and salt reformulation tax as its number one recommendation in a bid to tackle obesity and health problems such as heart disease.
The report states “The Government should introduce a 3/kg tax on sugar and a 6/kg tax on salt sold for use in processed foods or in restaurants and catering businesses. This would create an incentive for manufacturers to reduce the levels of sugar and salt in their products, by reformulating their recipes or reducing their portion sizes.
“The tax would apply to all sugar and other ingredients used for sweetening (such as syrups and fruit extracts, but not raw fruit) at a rate of £3/kg. This is approximately the same rate as the current Soft Drinks Industry Level (SDIL), which the sugar tax would replace.”
“It would apply at a rate of £6/kg to all salt sold for use in food manufacturing. As salt is used in much smaller quantities than sugar, the rate needs to be higher in order to achieve and impact”
The report, written by Henry Dimbleby with input from advisors makes the following 14 recommendations:
The first part of the two-part review was published last summer and looked at food as part of trade deals and farming payments.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 will come into force on 1 September 2021.
The Regulations replace previous legislation covering pet sales and dog breeding and introduce new licensing requirements for cat and rabbit breeders, animal welfare establishments (such as animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres) and other pet rehoming activities, subject to operators meeting the licensing threshold for each activity.
Guidance to support the Regulation is due to be issued shortly.
Changes are being made to self-isolation rules for close contacts of COVID cases to allow essential staff in critical roles to return to work to maintain lifeline services and critical national infrastructure.
It will be possible to apply to exempt those who work in critical roles where staff shortages are in danger of putting essential services, such as health and social care, transport and the provision of food supplies at risk.
Exemption will only be granted in respect of members of staff who voluntarily agree not to self isolate, and the employers’ duty of care to all their employees must be respected.
Exemptions will be made on a temporary basis and last only for as long as there is an immediate risk to business or service continuity.
Under this new process, before a staff member who is a close contact of a positive case can return to work, they must fulfil the following criteria:
Staff who cannot reasonably isolate from on-going exposure to a COVID positive household member will not usually be asked to return to work.
Applications can be made via the Scottish Government website and will be required to demonstrate:
Two Glasgow City Council mini-buses have been converted into mobile COVID testing units which will offer rapid tests to people without symptoms.
The buses have been commissioned by the council's COVID Response Team which is working in partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Scottish Government. City Building staff converted the buses in consultation with the council's Environmental Health and transport experts and the NHS.
The buses have been fitted with a solar panel to power on-board equipment. The testing booth is at the rear of the vehicle which has a ramp for wheelchair access. Test results are sent to people by text message and before leaving the bus, they are given a leaflet detailing the support on offer if they have to self-isolate.
Staffed by NHS nurses, the buses will provide a flexible testing option to complement existing COVID testing sites which already exist across the city. Emblazoned with the Test and Protect logo, the buses are an unmissable addition to the city's testing facilities.
Public health officials are asking people without symptoms to get tested, either at home or in the community, twice a week – to help reduce the spread of the virus in Scotland.
HSE is consulting on changes to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER) 1992.
The aim of the consultation is to understand the impact on stakeholders and businesses of extending the scope of the employers’ duties under the PPER to workers and not only employees.
In November 2020, a judgment was handed down in the judicial review action in the High Court brought by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) against the Secretaries of State for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for Work and Pension (DWP), which decided that the government had failed to properly transpose Article 8(4) and 8(5) of EU Directive 89/391/EEC (“the Framework Directive”) and Article 3 of EU Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 (“the Personal Protective Equipment Directive”) into UK law.
The Framework Directive sets out the minimum standards for health and safety through a series of general principles, and the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (“PPE Directive”) sets out the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of personal protective equipment in the workplace for workers.
The UK implemented the PPE Directive through the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (“PPER”) which places duties on employers to their ‘employees’ in regard to PPE. The High Court found that the PPE Directive required these duties to be extended to ‘limb (b) workers’ and not only ‘employees’. Therefore, HSE is making amendments to the PPER in order to align with the court’s judgment.
Employers will have a duty to provide limb (b) workers with the same health and safety protections in respect of PPE as they do currently for employees.
Options on how to achieve the extension of the provisions to workers in the legislation will not be presented during the consultation as the key legislative changes are being made to align with the court decision.
The consultation can be accessed via HSE Consultation Hub from this date and is running until the 15 August 2021. For any enquiries, please contact ppeconsultation2021@hse.gov.uk
Circularity Scotland now have responsibility of the development of the Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.
Circularity Scotland was appointed as the scheme administrator for the deposit return scheme in March 2021. They will take on the responsibility for operational aspects and day-to-day management of the scheme for producers who appoint them to act on their behalf.
They are now at the point in the set-up of the scheme where they want to communicate with as many of the producers and return point operators as possible, to share progress and more specific details of what you need to do to prepare.
In order to receive updates on how Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme is progressing please register with Circularity Scotland.
With temperatures soaring in parts of Britain this week, make sure you have the right advice and guidance to work safely.
It is important to remember the risks of overheating when working in hot conditions.
There's no law for maximum working temperature, or when it's too hot to work. However, n offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be reasonable.
When assessing this we look at something called thermal comfort. There are six factors affecting thermal comfort and are both environmental and personal. These factors may be independent of each other, but together contribute to an employee's thermal comfort.
HSE has plenty of guidance on workplace temperature, including:
Clean Air Day 2021, coordinated by Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS) on behalf of the Scottish Government, has been declared the most successful campaign in its five-year history with 190 participating organisations and individuals, including 20 Scottish local authorities. EPS Policy and Communications Officer John Bynorth recaps on the activities that occurred across the Nation.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Frank Ross, an EPS trustee, kicked off the campaign by meeting pupils from Sciennes Primary School, accompanied by teacher Gregor Hutchison and depute headteacher Lucy Gallagher at the launch event one month before the event took place on Thursday 17th June.
The colourful photographs of the children with umbrellas and the new Clean Air Day colouring books in the ‘school street’ outside Sciennes Primary made headlines in The Times, the Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News and was even picked up on an internet news website that covered the Ivory Coast!
Campaign interest snowballed from there, helped by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions as charities and NHS boards, government bodies, private sector organisations, bus companies, active travel organisations and electric vehicle and car clubs saw the benefits of making the case for behaviour change to improve air quality, and the additional benefits of contributing to Scotland’s longer-term environmental objectives in COP26 year.
The fantastic Clean Air Day colouring books went down a storm with schools. They were the idea of EPS external affairs and social media officer, Elina Dagdeleni, who brought together 11 students from three art schools across Scotland to create a book that primary and pre-school children could colour in. EPS boxed up and distributed books to schools which registered as participants.
The book’s beautiful designs conveyed messages about the harmful effects of vehicle engine idling and how active travel, electric vehicles and improving the environment create healthier and happier communities and really came to life once the teachers opened up the boxes and let their pupils loose on the books with colouring pencils.
They proved popular with pupils at dozens of schools in the Highlands, Aberdeen, Angus, Fife, Edinburgh, Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire and Ayrshire and in Argyll and Bute which utilised them as part of school studies around air quality and the environment, and to encourage behaviour change in relation to vehicle use.
St Joseph’s Primary School in Glasgow held a clean air artwork event with pupils spurred on by the city council’s decision to project some of their artwork onto the sides of prominent city buildings, including the Royal Concert Hall, in the run up to Clean Air Day.
Ferryden Primary School in Montrose and two other Angus Council schools, which are currently piloting School Exclusion Zones (SEZ), took part in Clean Air Day activities to highlight the benefits of a congestion-cutting initiative which sees motorists who park in streets immediately outside the schools at pick up and drop off periods receive fixed penalty notices.
Ferryden’s Headteacher Michelle MacKay, who said her school is already benefiting from reduced car use around the school, and some pupils joined together to celebrate Clean Air Day in the school’s garden for a photo shoot which received coverage in The Courier and the Evening Telegraph newspapers.
Clean Air Day also welcomed the first Scottish island school to participate – thanks to headteacher Julie Wilson, the staff and pupils at Gigha Primary School, which lies off the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll and Bute. The 14 pupils were treated to the colouring books after taking part in an outdoor air quality tree survey.
Ricardo’s senior consultant Susannah Telfer delivered an online presentation and the company provided air monitoring sensors to two schools in Glenrothes, Fife, Southwood Primary and Rimbleton House. Eloise Griffin, technical officer at Fife Council environmental health, told the Dundee Courier that the council hoped children would ‘take what they learn home with them and that can encourage families to make changes.’
EPS also provided Clean Air Day drawstring bags to participants which proved popular at schools, such as St Marnock’s Primary in Glasgow where primary four pupils made an air quality video aimed at inspiring people to leave the car at home.
MSP Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform in the Scottish Government appeared in a Clean Air Day video in which she discussed the forthcoming Cleaner Air For Scotland (CAFS 2) strategy and the wider links between air quality, public health, active travel and climate change impacts – which can be viewed on the EPS You Tube channel here.
Despite air quality being vastly improved in comparison to 50 years ago, the minister said there were still some areas where standards for human and environmental health were not being met and that road transport in towns and cities was a major contributor to this issue.
She highlighted the impact of poor air quality, through nitrogen deposition, on biodiversity and said that while the first CAFS strategy had achieved a great deal, the subsequent independent review commissioned by the government had identified areas of additional action.
The minister said the new strategy would target transport emissions as part of a wider commitment to cut the number of miles driven on Scotland’s roads and domestic fuel burning and agriculture emissions sources.
She said a public engagement strategy was being planned about air quality that would link with organisations such as Cycling Scotland, Sustrans and Living Streets – which all supported Clean Air Day Scotland – to deliver active travel ‘co-benefits’ as part of the COVID-19 recovery strategy.
Ms McAllan added: “The linkages between air pollution, climate change, quality of the urban environment and mobility form a central thread through our new strategy.
“Good, joined up policy can deliver co-benefits for both air pollution and greenhouse gas reduction. This is a principle we will hold to as we work to end Scotland’s contribution to climate change by 2045, while at the same time, realising our aim that Scotland should have the cleanest air in Europe.”
She added that ‘significant challenges’ remained to further improve air quality in Scotland, but this was achievable through a continued collaborative approach by organisations and the involvement of individuals who can make ‘small changes’ to their daily lives.
“I am sure that the fifth Clean Air Day will be as enjoyable and successful as previous years.” She said the participation of so many people in the event showed ‘just how much we all care about building a clean air future.’
The video has been uploaded almost 100 times and was viewed by pupils at St Paul’s High School in Pollok, Glasgow, whose pupils made an impressive online video for Clean Air Day, took part in a traffic study outside the gates and learned about the impact of air quality from the nearby motorway on plants.
Other secondary schools to involve children in air quality activities, including outdoor pollution studies and lichen samples, were Trinity High School in Renfrew, Renfrew High School and Caldervale High School in Airdrie.
Monica Lennon MSP, Scottish Labour’s spokesman for Energy, Net-Zero and Transport and Graham Simpson MSP, the Scottish Conservative Party’s Deputy Transport spokesman supported the campaign on social media which marked the cross-party support the campaign has achieved in its five years.
Midlothian SNP MP Owen Thompson and Green Party North East Fife MSP Maggie Chapman also got behind the campaign.
Local elected members showed ingenuity to convey the climate change message.
Councillor Dougie Campbell, Dumfries and Galloway’s Environment Champion, explained in a social media video the actions people can take to improve air quality and what the local authority’s actions. This can be watched on Facebook here.
Public transport, which has faced a difficult time during the pandemic, showed overwhelming support for Clean Air Day with the bus industry throwing its weight behind the campaign.
First Bus had staff and drivers make pledges to improve air quality at their depot in Larbert, Stirling, and David Adam, First Aberdeen’s bus depot operations manager signed a pledge as he promoted the city’s hydrogen bus.
The Love My Bus campaign published a blog article by EPS about the importance of new election and low emission or retro-fit buses to encouraging people back onto public transport and the success of Low Emission Zones.
Xplore Dundee and its parent company, McGills Buses, had an article published in the Dundee Courier about its latest ‘green’ fleets and the company provided a slide show about zero-emission bus fleets to schools in Inverclyde as parts of a schools programme with the local authority.
There was widespread support from other sectors, with local government ‘go to’ organisation Improvement Scotland (IS) posting pledge card images of staff on social media. Programme Manager Michael McLean made a pledge to give up vehicles to cut emissions.
Staff at the Healthy n’ happy Community Development Trust and Cam Glen bike hub signed pledge cards and posted them on a wall of their shop in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.
North Ayrshire Council encouraged staff and residents to ‘Travel Smart’ (the name of its active and sustainable travel initiative) and take part in a pledge card case study competition.
A total of 10 participants agreed to take part in activities to reduce pollution, contribute to the wider climate agenda and improve their health during the month of June. The difference with a one-off pledge was they had to explain whether they had kept them and send in images of their sustainable activities. One man in Largs pledged to grow his own vegetables, taking up cycling more often and make his own soup from home grown courgettes and lettuce!
Motorists using the Western Approach Road in Edinburgh were urged by a Clean Air Day billboard advert to leave the car at home. The event took place shortly after the City of Edinburgh Council published a consultation on its final proposals for the Low Emission Zone.
In an article outlining the proposals for the Edinburgh Reporter news website, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, the Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Every year, Clean Air Day gives us pause for thought. Is it acceptable that poor air quality affects the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of society.”
EPS trustee Dr Iain McLellan, who recently bought a Nissan Leaf, posted a blog on his LinkedIn page in which he described candidly the differences in owning an EV compared to a traditional petrol or diesel vehicle. His conclusion: “I have done 1,220 miles since collecting the car and according to the Transport Scotland 'EV Life' app, I have saved £131, but more importantly 220kg of CO2 emissions and I have zero tailpipe emissions of particulate matter.” Read his blog here.
Electric Hawick, which supports EV owners in the Borders and car sharing club Co-Wheels promoted its rapidly growing fleet in Scotland on Twitter.
Cargo bike firm Farr Out Deliveries in Edinburgh posted messages on Instagram and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park posted on Instagram a beautiful image of their electric boat. Car companies also became involved and a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Edinburgh promoted its electric van fleet on Clean Air Day.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Grampian, Ayrshire and Arran and the Borders health board all tweeted or posted supportive messages and links about Clean Air Day and the importance of good air quality and active travel.
Other participants included Scottish Government’s new ‘Let’s Do Net Zero’ campaign, SEPA, Transport Scotland, Scottish Renewables, heath organisations ranging from the British Lung Foundation to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation to the Glasgow City Youth Health Service, the youth service Connect Alloa, local housing associations, Scotland’s United Nations University recognised Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, Dynamic Earth and the Plant Life Scotland, which produced an interesting report about the impact of air pollution on plant species.
The Getting Better Together (GBT) community-based health initiative in Shotts, North Lanarkshire, operates a cycle hub and breakfast club for pupils at Stane Primary School. Staff gave out Clean Air Day bags to local youngsters who cycled on the day and pupils who took part in a ‘walking bus’ to school received colouring books.
Clean Air Day’s UK organisers Global Action Plan produced a media story published on Clean Air Day. It revealed one-quarter of schools in England and Wales, from nurseries to sixth-form colleges, were in locations with high levels of small particle pollution. The article made front page headlines in The Guardian and appeared in The Herald. You can read the full story here.
With 190 participating organisations and individuals, including 20 Scottish local authorities, this year’s Clean Air Day Scotland campaign has been a major success.
So many schools, local authorities, health boards, charities and other organisations are given up their time to show support for the event or participate in learning activities for children around air quality that Clean Air Day can only become even stronger in Scotland. EPS thank everyone who made the 2021 campaign so successful.
Clean Air Day Scotland supporters can find their logo on our website by clicking this link.
Food Standards Scotland have updated its guidance for food business operators (FBOs) and their employees on 19 July.
A summary of the changes in the update are as follows:
