Author: Peacock Carter

At last month’s Annual Conference Gaelic was, for the first time in the Institute’s 136 year history, spoken in a formal session. In presenting his paper Environmental Health at the Edge/An Arainneachd aig an Oir Alasdair MacEachen used the words Madainn mhath dhuibh uile. Tha mi toilichte an cothrom seo fhaighinn an-diugh airson bruidhinn ruibh mun obair againn anns na h-Eileanan an Iar to open his presentation. One or two delegates had a slightly startled look about them! Translated into English, Alasdair’s opening was Good morning. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak about our work in the Western Isles! Also launched at conference was the Gaelic portal on the Institute’s website along with The Essentials of Food Hygiene handbook in Gaelic. The Institute offers its sincere thanks to Alasdair’s wife Jean for undertaking the English to Gaelic translation of the handbook. Alasdair, a life-long Environmental Health Officer member of the Institute, is Head of Devolved Services (Uist and Barra) Western Isles Council/Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

At last month’s Annual Conference Gaelic was, for the first time in the Institute’s 136 year history, spoken in a formal session. In presenting his paper Environmental Health at the Edge/An Arainneachd aig an Oir Alasdair MacEachen used the words Madainn mhath dhuibh uile. Tha mi toilichte an cothrom seo fhaighinn an-diugh airson bruidhinn ruibh mun obair againn anns na h-Eileanan an Iar to open his presentation. One or two delegates had a slightly startled look about them! Translated into English, Alasdair’s opening was Good morning. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak about our work in the Western Isles! Also launched at conference was the Gaelic portal on the Institute’s website along with The Essentials of Food Hygiene handbook in Gaelic. The Institute offers its sincere thanks to Alasdair’s wife Jean for undertaking the English to Gaelic translation of the handbook. Alasdair, a life-long Environmental Health Officer member of the Institute, is Head of Devolved Services (Uist and Barra) Western Isles Council/Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

The REHIS Annual Conference is the principal Environmental Health event to take place in Scotland and this year’s event was held in Renfrew at the Glynhill Hotel on 25 and 26 May. The conference proved to be a great success. Highlights included:

• a thought provoking Presidential Address by Acting President Rod House followed by a range of excellent presentations made by eminent speakers including a Keynote Address by Professor Jim McEwen, Chairman, Health Protection Advisory Group and a Close of Conference presentation on Listeria by Kaarin Goodburn, MBE, Director and Secretary General, Chilled Food Association…using Skype!
• the launch of the Gaelic website portal and of the Essentials of Food Hygiene in Gaelic.
• an exhibition by partner organisations.
• a very enjoyable conference dinner with representatives of our many partner organisations attending as guests.
• the presence throughout conference of representatives of partner organisations, local authority councillors and of course, many members of the Institute.

Presentations given by many of the speakers are available for REHIS Members to view and download at https:/page/presentations-events

Welcome to the third Annual Environmental Health Review. Although collated and published by the Institute the review aims to highlight the contribution made to Environmental Health by a wide range of partners working across Scotland. We hope you find the review to be interesting and informative.

View or download a copy at the link below.

 Tom Bell

Chief Executive

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland

19 Torphichen Street

Edinburgh

EH3 8HX

0131 229 2968

The REHIS Annual Conference is the principal Environmental Health event to take place in Scotland. It provides an opportunity to reflect on current and future approaches to protecting and improving the health of the Scottish people and to renew friendships and make new ones. The Conference will be held at the Glynhill Hotel, Renfrew www.glynhill.com/ on 25 and 26 May 2011.An updated conference programme and booking form are attached.

Tom Bell

Chief Executive

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland

19 Torphichen Street

Edinburgh

EH3 8HX

0131 229 2968

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued a seasonal reminder to anyone visiting open farms over the Easter weekend not to rely on sanitising hand gels or wipes to protect themselves or their children against germs which may be present in farm environments. To reduce the risk of infection visitors should thoroughly wash their hands using soap and water after handling animals or touching farmyard surfaces and always before eating or drinking. Full advice is available directly from the following link to the HPA website: www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2011PressReleases/110420handwashing/

The OHSCR website goes live! www.oshcr.org

The Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR) has been set up by a number of professional bodies representing general safety and occupational health consultants across the UK, with support from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  It is designed to help businesses find well-qualified and experienced consultants able to give good quality advice.  

 See attached pre-registration and FAQ documents for more details.

The Food Law Enforcement in Scotland – A Report on the Administrative and Enforcement Arrangements report, prepared by The Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland, The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland and the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee. The report, published this month by the Institute, represents the current arrangements and practice in Scotland and:

• discusses food law enforcement in Scotland
• identifies the structure for the uniform approach in Scotland
• demonstrates the positive partnership between local authorities, the Scottish Government, the Food Standards Agency in Scotland, trade organisations, consumer groups and other interested organisations
• illustrates Uniformity & Consistency, Performance, Service Delivery and Best Value
• demonstrates the comprehensive approach to Enforcement Officer training
• highlights the different legislative approach within Scotland under the umbrella of EU and UK legislation
• demonstrates support for the Food Standards Agency in Scotland.

The report can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

The March edition of the REHIS e-Newsletter ‘News for Public Health Professionals’ has been uploaded to this website and is accessible from a dedicated public access portal to the right of this news item. The March e-Newsletter includes items on Scotland’s Spring Clean, our joint award with Devro (Scotland) Limited, OSHCR, a training opportunity for a Scottish Environmental Health Graduate, the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland Annual Congress and forthcoming events. If you wish to feature an environmental health or public health initiative, event or activity in the e-Newsletter please contact Tom Bell, Chief Executive on 0131 229 2968 or tb@. 

The Institute’s members join everyone in Scotland’s public health community in celebrating the 5^th anniversary of Scotland’s enclosed public places becoming smoke-free.

In the years leading up to the ban the Institute actively supported the introduction of controls to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

According to Sally Haw, Senior Scientific Adviser for the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health and Policy, the ban has been one of Scotland’s big public health success stories. Ms Haw stated that there has been a 17% reduction in heart attacks among bar workers and cited a study by Glasgow University which showed a 15% reduction in the number of children with asthma being admitted to hospital in the three years after the ban came into force. Ms Haw also stated that there had been no evidence that people were smoking more at home because they could not do so in enclosed public places and went on to advise that there have been benefits for smokers too with smoking prevalence rates going down and the respiratory symptoms in smokers post-ban improving.

With the introduction of the ban in 2006 Scotland’s public, its workers and its many visitors now enjoy public places which are free of tobacco smoke.

The REHIS Annual Conference is the principal Environmental Health event to take place in Scotland. It provides an opportunity to reflect on current and future approaches to protecting and improving the health of the Scottish people and to renew friendships and make new ones. The Conference will be held at the Glynhill Hotel, Renfrew www.glynhill.com/ on 25th & 26th May 2011.

The Conference programme and booking form are attached.

The REHIS Southern Centre presented a Public Health and Pest Control – The Rise of Bed Bugs and Cockroaches Seminar on 24 February in Glasgow. The event, attended by over 50 delegates (and there were more than 20 potential delegates on a waiting list), was deemed to have been a great success by the delegates and presenters. The event was chaired by Andrew McPherson, REHIS Council member and Southern Centre Chairman.

Oliver Madge, Chairman of the Bed Bug Foundation (www.bedbugfoundation.org) presented his paper Bed Bugs – The Problems and Solutions and he was followed by Nigel Kerr of Glasgow City Council Bed Bugs v. Cockroaches in Glasgow – a Sleeping Timebomb? and Stuart Graham of the City of Edinburgh Council Bed Bugs in Edinburgh – an Artistic Impression.

Andrew McPherson and the Southern Centre offer their thanks to all the presenters and to Pat Hoey, Chairman of the REHIS Public Health and Housing Working Group, for their contribution to the success of this event which was open to members of REHIS and to all environmental health professionals in Scotland.

The presentations given by the speakers are available at

https:/page/presentations-events