Category: News Item

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) hosted its conference in Glasgow on the 13th September with the aim of strengthening the partnership approach across Scotland’s health and safety system.

The conference was supported by the Scottish Government, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Healthy Working Lives (HWL), Scottish Hazards, Scottish Chamber of Safety and others, the event sought ideas and commitments from attendees as to the part that they and their organisations could play to improve health, safety and work.

The central theme of “acting together” was discussed in the context of delivering the Scottish Plan for Action on Safety and Health. Launched by the Partnership on Health and Safety in Scotland (PHASS) last year, the plan sets out the devastating impact that work-related fatal accidents, injury and ill-health have on individuals and families, the damage caused to businesses and the demands placed on the NHS and other public services. Indeed, the cost to the Scottish economy is estimated to be £1.04billion a year in health and care costs, loss of income and productivity.

The one-day conference, which took place at the Hilton Glasgow, was chaired by George Brechin, a non-executive board member of the HSE and chairman of PHASS. It featured an opening address by Clare Adamson MSP, convenor of the Cross Party Group on Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness at the Scottish Parliament.

Presentations were given by Martin Reid, unit head, Fairer Workplaces, Scottish Government; Martin Taulbut, public health information manager, NHS Scotland; Robert Atkinson, organisational lead (occupational health and safety), NHS Health Scotland, Health and Work Directorate, HWL; Dave Watson, head of policy and public affairs, Unison Scotland; and, Karen McDonnell, head of RoSPA Scotland and RoSPA’s occupational health and safety policy adviser.

Ian Armstrong, health and safety manager, Multiplex Construction Europe, and Amanda Stewart, health and safety adviser, William Tracey Ltd, were both interviewed about their approach to preventing injuries and ill-health at work.

Discussion tables focused on the fair work agenda and its links to health and safety; health outcomes by occupation and industry in Scotland; and the health and safety needs of an ageing workforce.

Karen McDonnell said: “My hope is that the connections we made and strengthened through the conference will help us move forward as a health and safety community across Scotland. Going forward together is a great thing, and we have a great community. We now need to keep the pace going.” Sarah Jones, head of the HSE’s Scotland Director’s Office, said: “The Scottish health and safety community has been acting together since our partnership was first established in 2005. Recently we've taken it to another level working across governments, business sectors, trade unions, professionals and the voluntary sector. That's what HSE's Helping GB Work Well strategy is all about. RoSPA's support in bringing everyone together at this conference cemented existing networks and created a platform for fresh ideas to improve health, safety and work."

Agenda and speaker presentation can be found here.

Source: https://www.rospa.com/media-centre/press-office/press-releases/detail/?id=1542

Key stakeholders in tobacco and health in Scotland have agreed for the first time that using e-cigarettes is definitely less harmful than smoking tobacco. Based on the current evidence, the consensus is also clear that using e-cigarettes while still smoking (dual use) does not provide health benefits. NHS Health Scotland led the consensus with over 20 partners in the NHS, Scottish Government, third sector and academia. Its aim is to clarify any confusion around the harms and benefits of using e-cigarettes.

Recent research has shown an emerging perception among the general public that e-cigarettes are just as harmful to health as tobacco is. This is a not the case – we know from current evidence that vaping carries less risk than smoking tobacco. So it would be a good thing if smokers used e-cigarettes instead of smoking tobacco. To be absolutely clear, e-cigarettes are useful for public health and health service purposes only as a potential route towards stopping smoking completely. Access to e-cigarettes needs to be controlled carefully; they are not products for children or non-smokers.

Dr Andrew Fraser, Director of Public Health Science at NHS Health Scotland.

The theme of this year’s World Environmental Health Day is ‘Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality.

REHIS will participate in the International Federation of Environmental Health’s World Environmental Health Day 2017 activities by arranging and co-funding, with the City of Edinburgh Council, the installation of an Electrical Vehicle Charging Point (ECP) outside a public library which is adjacent to an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in Edinburgh. The AQMA includes a street often referred to as one of the worst polluted streets in Scotland. The ECP will be REHIS and IFEH badged and the legacy created will demonstrate a commitment to improving external air quality. Any surplus from the installation of the ECP will be used to co-fund a local air quality project with staff and students at two local primary schools.

To find out more visit the IFEH website World Environmental Health Day

REHIS’s Environmental Health Promotion Committee is inviting members to participate in their publication review survey and submit their views regarding the Institute’s publications.

The Institute produces a number of publications.

The highest profile of these publications is the quarterly journal Environmental Health Scotland and over the past few years have also published a monthly electronic newsletter.

A variety of other documents are published on a more ad hoc basis promoting the Institute and/or environmental health more generally.

The Environmental Health Promotion Committee is reviewing the Institute’s publications strategy and is keen to get an insight into the views of the membership.

The link to the on line survey has been sent to members who have signed up to e-alerts and to receive email updates from REHIS.

If you are a Member and not on the list yet you can sign up here.

The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR) has established a project to review policy to drive achievement of a reduction of exposure to lead in drinking water. The project seeks to identify enablers and strengthen or introduce mechanisms with a range of stakeholders and influencers for the removal of lead service pipes and plumbing.

In drinking water quality legislation, the limit for lead in drinking water has progressively reduced over the past 30 years to 10µg/l (micrograms per litre). Over the same period however, concerns have developed within Scotland’s health professional community that even the 10 standard may be too high and there is an increasing view that we should strive to reduce lead levels in drinking water as far as is practicably possible.

The specific aims of the project are to:

• Ensure there is a clear and shared understanding of legislation as it relates to duties on drinking water suppliers

• Engage with health officials to identify common themes and to align drinking water quality policy with health policy

• Work with stakeholders to identify areas where policy can be aligned to ensure the risk of exposure to lead in the environment is minimised

• Investigate the various policy options available and work with our SG colleagues in determining the best way forward

A clear area of focus for the project has been to review information provided by key stakeholders on lead.This revealed a substantial variation in the existence of any information at all, across influencer organisations. Where it existed, the quality of information varied and its accessibility presented a confused position to anyone needing to find out about the issue in Scotland. A significant element therefore has been to establish clear and authoritative information on the impact of lead on health. This is now hosted on the NHS Inform website and all stakeholders have taken on board the need to have on their own websites, agreed signposting information and links to the NHS Inform information.

A key sector of consumers at risk from lead in drinking water are children and babies. They absorb more lead than adults due to their growing bones and other organs within which lead can be deposited and accumulate as they develop. It is important therefore that we can have certainty that Schools and Nursery premises are free from lead. It is believed that attention to the removal of lead had been carried out in the past but in support of the project, local authorities have undertaken surveys of all their owned properties to ensure there is certainty around the issue.

A further survey is to be undertaken on behalf of DWQR to ensure a similar lead free status can be confidently expressed for all private schools and independent nursery premises.

The Care Inspectorate has been an integral part of the drive to ensure the risk of exposure to lead within care premises is addressed and they have adopted measures in their design principles for nursery provision and registration of new care services to ensure the importance of having a lead free water supply is actioned. Their Summer 2017 edition of Care News carries an item highlighting the issues.

As part of the drive to provide clearer information to consumers, Scottish Water has reviewed all of its’ letters and information leaflets relating to lead.

In conjunction with Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF), and the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) they have produced a briefing note for housing Developers to raise awareness of the need to check for lead pipes and the removal of pipes and fittings where they are found. The note also highlights the illegality of using leaded solder on water supply pipework within the home and promotes awareness of the dangers of lead arising from the use of inferior quality brass fittings and taps.

Key stakeholder and influencer organisations identified for communications and contributions in relation to the project include: Scottish Government Health, Health Protection Scotland, Care Inspectorate, CPHMs, EHOs, REHIS, SG Water Industry, Scottish Water, SG Procurement, SG Housing, SHBVN, SG Building Standards, SG Estate, Historic Environment Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland, COSLA. Shelter Scotland, SNIPEF, WRAS.

If you require further information or wish to provide comment, please contact DWQR; Telephone: 0131 244 0190 e-mail: regulator@dwqr.scot

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have published their Regulatory Strategy setting out the organisation’s central role in supporting and regulating the food sector in Scotland.

This is following a consultation where the FSS asked respondents for their views on the draft regulatory strategy. Respondents were broadly supportive of the proposed regulatory approach, and provided detailed views on areas of possible change highlighted in the consultation.

Consultation responses were used to refine the final regulatory strategy, which was considered and agreed by FSS at their open Board meeting on 17 May 2017. The consultation summary can be viewed here.

The work undertaken in supporting and regulating the food sector supports the delivery of one of FSS’s strategic priorities: allowing responsible food businesses to flourish. Food businesses that operate responsibly and protect consumers’ interests should benefit from risk-based and proportionate regulation, whilst effective, proportionate and dissuasive action should be taken with those businesses that do not step up to their responsibilities to consumers.

Scotland has a thriving food and drink sector with a reputation for excellence both at home and abroad. FSS has an important role to play in supporting that reputation by ensuring the sector is underpinned by a robust regulatory system for food safety and standards, whether operating in the domestic, EU or wider global markets.

Looking ahead, the Regulatory Strategy provides a framework for modernising the food and feed regulatory system in Scotland so it can remain robust, effective and sustainable for the future.

The Scottish and Welsh environment ministers have pledged to work together to resist the UK Government’s attempt to take control of devolved powers.

Environment Roseanna Cunningham met with her Welsh counterpart Lesley Griffiths in Cardiff to discuss their concerns that the EU Withdrawal Bill will damage efforts to protect and enhance the environment.

Ms Cunningham highlighted her fears that areas such as climate change and the circular economy, where the Scottish Government has set itself more ambitious targets than the UK Government, will suffer if UK-wide policies are imposed rather than negotiated.

Around 80% of Scots environmental law originated at EU level. This includes legislation around waste management, pollution and regulations, biodiversity, flooding and drink water quality.

Ms Cunningham said:
“My message has been clear and consistent – the Scottish Government will steadfastly adhere to its environmental commitments, despite the growing threat of a hard Brexit. That is why we are joining with our Welsh counterparts to urge the UK Government to ditch this ill-conceived power grab.

“Imposing a UK-wide framework for the environment risks undermining the significant progress Scotland has made, which has seen us win international recognition for our work on climate change and the circular economy.

“We are not opposed in principle to UK-wide frameworks in certain areas but this must be through agreement – not imposition.

“Protecting devolution will allow us to drive forward our ambitious work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance environmental standards and create a cleaner, greener Scotland for everyone.”

Ms Griffiths said:
“Devolution has enabled the Welsh Government to deliver ground-breaking legislation for the people of Wales, which delivers on international obligations and has been recognised as cutting-edge by a number of international institutions. The approach presented by the UK Government in the Withdrawal Bill could significantly undermine this progress.

“Our approach has not been about trading off agriculture and the environment, it’s about both. You can’t have one without the other. The Bill as it stands has the potential to seriously impact on this approach by locking us into an outdated framework while also removing our ability to bring forward reforms.

“This is why, like Scotland, we want EU powers in devolved areas to come straight to Wales. Welcoming my Scottish counterpart to Wales today will allow us to continue to work together to develop a strong future which benefits everyone.”

Meanwhile Environment Secretary Michael Gove has claimed that Brexit plans could enhance environmental protection, saying the UK could be a “global leader in environmental policy” outside of the EU.

He said there could be changes to the operation of some rules, but said any change would be “designed to ensure we get better protection for the environment”.

He said: “I have no intention of weakening the environmental protections that we have put in place while in the European Union.

“Informed by rigorous scientific analysis, we can develop global gold standard policies on pesticides and chemicals, habitat management and biodiversity, animal welfare and biosecurity, soil protection and river management and indeed in many other areas. We can take smarter and more targeted approaches to the improvements that we want to see.”

Background

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets targets to reduce Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 42 per cent by 2020, compared to the UK target of at least 34 per cent. Unlike the UK, international aviation and shipping are included in Scotland’s statutory targets.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on ambitious proposals for a Climate Change Bill that include raising the ambition of Scotland’s 2050 emissions reduction target.

The Scottish Government won “The Circulars” Award for Circular Economy Governments, Nations and Regions at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2017. The award reflects leadership in driving a circular economy in Scotland, with clear impact and ambitious targets.

Scientists at Edinburgh Napier have revealed that air pollution can make people more vulnerable to infection.

A team led by immunology expert Dr Peter Barlow has demonstrated for the first time that nano-sized particles found in traffic fumes can damage the immune system’s ability to kill viruses and bacteria.

While the potential link between air pollution and illness has been the subject of much debate, the work at Edinburgh Napier University is the first to show this effect and has significant human health implications.

The development is expected to prompt calls for the government to step up efforts to tackle air pollution following its recently announced plans to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040.

The Edinburgh Napier study focused on ‘antimicrobial peptides’, tiny molecules found in the immune systems of humans and animals which increase in response to infection.

Researchers at the School of Applied Sciences recently revealed these peptides have virus-killing properties which could prove crucial in developing a cure for the common cold.

However, the new paper, published in The Journal of Immunology, reveals that particles found in air pollution can prevent peptides working properly.

Study Director Dr Barlow and researcher Dr Fern Findlay, working in collaboration with the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Midlothian-based Moredun Research Institute, found carbon particles could trigger changes in the antimicrobial peptides, potentially resulting in “an increased susceptibility to infection”.

The implications are profound for people living in areas of high air pollution, who breathe in huge concentrations of particles every day or absorb them through skin contact, especially those with pre-existing lung conditions like asthma or COPD.

Scotland now has 38 Air Quality Management Areas and air pollution is estimated to cause the early death of 2,500 people in Scotland. The paper can be read here.

Additional powers have been given to Glasgow City Council to tackle housing conditions in the private rented sector in Govanhill.

An application has been approved to designate a further 14 tenement blocks in Govanhill as an Enhanced Enforcement Area (EEA). It follows a previous EEA granted in the area in 2015 covering four tenement blocks.

The new powers permit the right of entry to properties that are subject to complaints from residents about the way they are being managed by private landlords. This will help the council identify persistent problems including poor environmental standards and overcrowding.

Other powers include the ability to obtain an Enhanced Criminal Record check from private landlords and request documents for inspection, such as gas and electrical safety certificates.

Scotland achieved Officially Tuberculosis Free Status (OTF) in September 2009. OTF is recognition of the relatively low and stable incidence of TB found in Scottish herds. This status also provided the Scottish Government with the flexibility to design a dedicated and original TB surveillance programme for the Scottish national herd and as a result, 1 January 2012 saw the introduction of a new risk-based TB testing policy in Scotland whereby ‘low risk’ herds became exempt from four-yearly routine herd testing.

The first four-year testing cycle was completed on 31 December 2015 and a subsequent review of the scheme criteria has shown that there is scope to safely increase the number of herds eligible for exemption without adversely affecting the ability to detect infected herds. The ‘low risk’ selection criteria will therefore change with effect from 1 January 2017.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) reassesses all herds annually and is responsible for notifying cattle keepers in Scotland whether or not their herds are exempt from routine TB testing. The letters to inform Scottish cattle keepers of their testing requirements for 2017 were issued by APHA on 22 August 2016.

In response to the identification of bovine TB in a herd on the Isle of Skye, and a further outbreak in a herd south of the border in Cumbria, the Scottish Government issued an updating summary of the situation on 11 August which can be accessed here.

Source: Scottish Government webpage: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/animal-welfare/Diseases/disease/tuberculosis

Organisations across Scotland are being encouraged to host events and raise awareness of the impact of climate change as part of Climate Week 2017.

Running from 18–22 September, Scotland’s Climate Week will highlight the actions people and organisations can take together to reduce emissions and adapt to a changing climate.

Activities could range from having climate conversations, hosting seminars and educational sessions, to sustainable travel fairs to encourage people to cycle or walk to work. Organisations can also team up with Climate Challenge Fund groups, which are delivering climate actions including energy efficiency improvements, low carbon travel options, community growing initiatives and schemes to tackle waste.

Information on participating in Climate Week 2017 is available here.

West Lothian Council has been fined £10,000 for health and safety failings, which left a worker with severe injuries.

The local authority pleaded guilty to a single charge under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at Livingston Sheriff Court.

The court heard on 9 July 2013 a painter for the council was painting external window frames in Bathgate. The ladder he was on slid away from the wall and he fell more than four metres. The painter suffered serious injuries to his left hip and leg and eight fractures to his knee.

The court was told an alloy tower or podium steps should have been used given the level of risk involved and the duration for which employees were expected to use the equipment.

The court also heard ladder mates, designed to stop the ladder slipping, and a limpet device to prevent lateral movement had not been supplied.

The council accepted it failed to properly plan and supervise the work. The council has since overhauled its system for working at height and has revised its system for working at height since the incident and developed a new working at height risk assessment template.

Laura Buchan, head of Crown Office’s health and safety division, said: “This incident could easily have been prevented had suitable and sufficient measures been put in place.

“Falls from height are one of the greatest single causes of death and serious injury to workers within the construction industry.

“Hopefully this prosecution and the sentence will remind other employers that failure to fulfil their obligations can have tragic consequences and that they will be held to account for their failings.”