WITNESS FAMILIARISATION COURSE

Cited to court?  Will I be able to cope?

Learn how to be an effective witness

Location: The Court Room, Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, Fife FK10 4BE

Date: Friday 19 February 2016. 09:00 – 17:00

The course will be of relevance to all Environmental Health Officers, Food Safety Officers, Enforcement Officers, Technical Officers, etc who may have to give evidence as witnesses in their professional capacity in a criminal court or at a Fatal Accident Inquiry.

See the attached document for more information and a booking form.

 CRIME INVESTIGATION, REPORT WRITING AND SUBMISSION TO THE CROWN OFFICE

Location: The Castle Suite, Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, Fire FK10 4BE

Date: Friday 8 April 2016. 09:00 – 17:00

The course will be of relevance to staff of all Specialist Reporting Agencies and Regulatory Services who have responsibility for investigating and reporting crimes to the COPFS, including Chartered Environmental Health Officers, Environmental Health Officers and other associated Environmental Health professionals (Enforcement Officers and Technical Officers etc).

The 2016 WCEH will be held between 3 and 6 May and will feature plenary sessions, symposia, oral communications, poster presentations organised in thematic sessions, focus group discussions, Invited addresses, exhibitions and local field visits. For further information visit www.2016wceh.org/Conference.php.

 Click to play “Season’s Greetings from REHIS”

Tom Bell, the Institute’s Chief Executive, was ‘greatly honoured’ to be awarded Honorary Membership by Environmental Health Association of Ireland and he was present at the Association’s Annual Awards Evening in Dublin on 4 December to receive his certificate of Honorary Membership.

Speaking after the presentation Tom offered his sincere thanks to the Association for the award and for the warmth of the reception he and his wife Angela received on the night.

The Association’s Central Council unanimously agreed to confer the title of Honorary Member on Tom in recognition of the contribution he has made to Environmental Health and in particular his contribution to strengthening of links between the Institute and the Association. 

The photo shows Tom being presented with his certificate of Honorary Membership from Peter Gaffey, Association Chairman.

Kofi was installed as the Institute’s President at its Annual General Meeting on 20 November 2015.

Kofi Aidoo is Professor of Food Safety and Microbiology at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and programme leader of the Food Bioscience programme at the University. He also leads GCU’s Food Research Laboratory that operates to ISO 17025 standards. Kofi is a Fellow of REHIS, of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) and of the Royal Society for Promotion of Health. He serves on the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, Contaminants and Natural Toxicants (JECFA) of the FAO/WHO.

Kofi is keen to serve the needs of the membership and will champion the profile and advancement of Environmental Health as a public health profession, will ensure the continuing development of the Institute’s community training activities and promote Institute’s role as a registered Scottish charity.

Annual Award Ceremony

The Annual Award Ceremony will take place on the evening of Thursday 19 November. On the morning of the following day the annual Environmental Health Update event, a free to members CPD event, will be presented. This will be followed by the Institute’s Annual General Meeting. All three events will be held at the Apex International Hotel, Edinburgh.

REHIS Environmental Health Update and AGM

The Environmental Health Update is a morning only free to members CPD training event and precedes the Institute’s Annual General Meeting.This year’s event will include speakers from ASH Scotland and the Association of Port Health Authorities as well as updates from other stakeholders involved with environmental health in Scotland. All members, EHO and non-EHO, from the public and private sectors are all very welcome. Non-members are also very welcome to attend the event for a small fee.

The programme and registration form are attached.

The AGM will take place at 2pm and members (paid up members only) are encouraged to attend.

 Kerri Milne, a third year BSc (Hons) Environmental Health degree course student at the University of the West of Scotland, presented her award winning essay at the1st World Academic Congress on Environmental Health in Coimbra, Portugal earlier this week. Kerri’s submission ‘World Health – It’s In Our Hands: Can We Beat Ebola?’ was judged to be the best entry in the this year’s Roy Emerson Award which is jointly sponsored by Highfield International and RIAMS.

Henry Healy, who is studying on the same course as Kerri was adjudged to be the runner-up.  The Institute offers its sincere congratulations to Kerri and Henry.

Kerri’s essay will be published in the autumn edition of Environmental Health Scotland due to be published in early October.

Photo: Kerri Milne receiving her award from Henning Hansen, IFEH President and Richard Sprenger, Highfield International with Professor Susana Paixao watching on.

Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland’s 2014 Annual Reports for Private Water Supplies and Local Authority Summary Tables published earlier this month.

Click on the link to view the reports – Annual Reports 2014

The Institute’s Health and Safety Update and Food Update courses will be presented on Tuesday 22 September and Wednesday 23 September at the Holiday Inn, Edinburgh respectively. There are still a small number of places available on this course and those who wish to attend are asked to contact the Institute’s office as soon as possible to secure their place. A copy of the programmes and booking forms have been uploaded.Once completed these forms should be returned to Jane Barks, Administrative Assistant (Professional Development) jb@

This guide to the British Standard for Pest Managers (BS EN 16636) was developed by the European pest management industry and is designed to promote professional standards for pest control organisations across Europe. It sets out requirements for service, processes, staff competences, and for the protection of humans, pets and the environment.

REHIS, through Pat Hoey, was a consultee on this standard.

Click on the link for more information  – BSI European Standard for Pest Management Services

The Institute is pleased to advise that the Health and Safety Update Course will be presented on Tuesday 22 September and that the Food Safety Update Course will be presented on Wednesday 23 September 2015. Both events will be held at the Holiday Inn Edinburgh and programme details and booking information will be posted on the Institute’s website in the near future. The Environmental Health Update Course will be presented on the morning of Friday 20 November at the Apex International Hotel, Edinburgh

This is an invitation to the membership to try an innovative approach to gaining CPD credits (2hrs) whilst also acquiring historical insight in to Environmental Health related issues that have been played out in Glasgow, with the further added value of it being undertaken as part of a healthy activity.The walking tour has been created for us by a qualified historical tour guide, with exceptional knowledge on Glasgow and its history. It focuses on issues such as sanitation, housing, welfare, infectious disease and pests, but also touches on social divisions, education and distribution of wealth. All of which, have influenced our profession and continue to be areas where we have influence.

For Chartered EHO members or those working towards Chartered EHO status this might trigger your enthusiasm to research an aspect of the tour and produce a submission paper.

Spaces are limited to 10 persons per tour, it is all outside and the distance covered is around 2.5 miles (roads and pavements) so appropriate footwear, clothes and level of fitness is needed. The full tour takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

Starting Point – Glasgow Cathedral (Google Maps).

Costs: Members – Free*                                         Non-Members – £20.00.

If you wish to book a space(s) at either event please complete the attached registration form and return to the event co-ordinator e-mail address/address below.

If you wish to further information please contact David Duffy (event co-ordinator) at david.duffy@southlanarkshire.gov.uk or Tel: 01698 454644 to discuss.