Category: Uncategorized

The deadline for 2013  CPD submissions is 31 January 2014. Please note: The CPD Regulations require the submission of corroborating evidence of participation in all CPD activities

Members can keep an electronic record of their CPD activities on the website.This can be achieved by clicking on “My account” and then on “My CPD Entries” and by following the relevant links.Information entered here will be transferred onto a REHIS CPD form which can be downloaded as a pdf file and then printed. Adobe Reader is required for this task.Download it at http://get.adobe.com/reader/

The completed list of CPD activities can then be printed out and sent to REHIS along with the required corroborating evidence for all CPD activities.

Members who wish to complete the CPD card manually can download a blank copy which is available in the Members’ area of the website.

The President, members of Council and members of staff at REHIS wish everyone in the Scottish and International environmental health community a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A new Joint Award, between Albion Environmental Limited (AEL) and REHIS, was signed off by Alasdair Meldrum (AEL) and Tom Bell (REHIS) in Edinburgh on Thursday 5 December this year.

This Joint Award “Training in the Waste and Resource Sector” aims to provide course candidates with background knowledge in the environmental legislation which affects the sector.

The waste and resource management sector includes all individuals, businesses and organisations involved in reuse, recycling and recovery of resources.

The award covers two courses:

An Introduction to Waste Management Legislation – This one-day course is designed to provide candidates with a basic understanding of the legislation relating to the waste and resource sector. It is aimed at supervisors and staff who have some responsibility for ensuring compliance with environmental legislation.

Working with Waste Management Legislation – This two-day course is designed to provide candidates with the necessary level of understanding of the legislation to allow them to identify, implement and comply with the waste management legislation relevant to their organisation.

These courses add a new dimension to the existing suite of REHIS Joint Awards and I commend Alasdair and Graham for all their endeavours in developing the courses from a what was a ‘good idea’ to the high quality accredited training experience now available to workers in the waste and resource management sector. Tom Bell, Chief Executive.

For further details contact Graham Walker, Director of Training at REHIS, 19 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh EH3 8HX or by telephone on 0131 229 2968 or by email at gw@

The photographs taken at the Annual Award Ceremony on 14 November are now available for viewing and downloading, click on the link Annual Award Ceremony 2013
The presentations given at the Environmental Health Update on 15 November are available for viewing and downloading, click on the link Environmental Health Update presentations 

The VTEC/E.coli O157 Action Plan 2013-2017 has been published this morning and is available on the Scottish Government website.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/8897

By way of background, in 2010 Scottish Ministers decided to convene a multidisciplinary VTEC/E. coli O157 Action Group. The Group’s main remit has been to produce an Action Plan for Scotland.  The Group brought together all relevant agencies with expertise and regulatory responsibilities in controlling potential sources of human infection.  The Action Plan aims to reduce the number of infections with VTEC/E. coli O157 through 86 recommendations attributed to key agencies.  The Action Group adopted a new approach, using a systematic logical framework to describe each stage in the pathways of transmission of the organism from animal to human case. This has provided strategic direction for the wide range of key partners to collaborate on the implementation of practical recommendations that aim to reduce the risk of infection based on current evidence of effectiveness. It also provides a comprehensive framework that will be used by the Action Plan Group to monitor compliance with and effectiveness of interventions to control VTEC/E. coli O157.

These recommendations have been accepted by Scottish Ministers which now fall on the Scottish Government to carry out, and we are looking to the other agencies involved to ensure that consistent and effective action is taken to deliver those actions for which they are responsible.  There are recommendations within the Action Plan which require input and action from your organisation and the Scottish Government is seeking your co-operation to deliver these in conjunction with the VTEC/E.coli O157 Action Group.

Should you wish to discuss further please contact Simon Cuthbert-Kerr, Health Protection Team, Scottish Government – simon.cuthbert-kerr@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

The Environmental Health Update is a free to members CPD training event and precedes the Institute’s Annual General Meeting which will be held on the afternoon of Friday 15 November 2013 at 2.00pm at the Apex International Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2HS

The Annual General Meeting is a Members only event.

See the attached document for more information,a programme and a registration form.

EDPHiS has been working closely with and supporting the Good Places, Better Health (GPBH) initiative of the Scottish Government

It was thought that some members may be interested in reports from EDPHiS, which was part of the Scottish Government’s Good Places Better Health initiative.  They can be found by clicking on this link, www.edphis.org.uk

Louise Rennick

Environment & Health Project Manager

NHS Health Scotland

Tel: 0141 414 2749

Louise.rennick@nhs.net

www.healthscotland.com

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Institute has appointed Linda Kain to the position of Director of Professional Development and Jackie McCabe to the position of Director of Training. Linda and Jackie were selected from a very strong group of applicants and will take up their posts early in the New Year. To ensure a smooth hand-over they will work with present incumbents Robert Howe and Graham Walker for a few weeks before Robert and Graham retire at the end of March.

Linda Kain is a Chartered Environmental Health Officer, a graduate Food Scientist with 13 years experience in the public sector and 14 years experience in the food industry. She is a member of the REHIS Council and currently works as an Environmental Health Officer for Dumfries and Galloway Council and South Lanarkshire Council.

Jackie McCabe is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She holds an HND in Hotel Catering and Institutional Management and range of technical qualifications. She is also a REHIS Food Hygiene and Health & Safety at Work Course Presenter. Jackie is currently the Training Manager with C J Lang and Son Ltd, Dundee.

I take this opportunity to thank all applicants for their interest in working for the Institute and to all those who assisted in the recruitment process.

Colin Wallace

Senior Vice-President and Chairman of the Management Committee

Brian Kelly, former Director of Environmental Protection Services with Glasgow City Council, recently returned from his tenth visit to Malawi. Brian’s involvement in Malawi dates back to 2004 and an agreement between the Lord Provosts of Glasgow and Edinburgh and the subsequent launch of the Scotland Malawi Partnership. The Partnership’s initial focus was to strengthen existing ties between the two countries and to create new links which would improve health, education and, water and sanitation in Malawi.  Brian provided a comprehensive insight into the work of the Partnership and his role within it in the Spring 2005 edition of Environmental Health Scotland.

On his latest visit, while in discussion with Vitto Mulula the Deputy Chief Executive of Lilongwe City Council, Brian was made aware that there are no statutory powers in existence for the control of the increasing incidence of noise nuisance in Malawi. Mr Mulula advised that elections at national and local level are scheduled for 20 May 2014 after many years without elected representatives and expressed the hope that the incoming government can be petitioned to consider the introduction of Bye-Laws for the control of noise nuisance.

In anticipation of the introduction of Bye-Laws, Mr Mulula requested assistance in securing noise measuring equipment so that Environmental Health Officers can become familiar with the techniques for measuring sound and properly assessing whether or not any set standard is being breached.

Brian appeals to any local authority in Scotland which may have surplus noise measuring equipment to consider donating such kit for use in Malawi. Brian will arrange collection and shipping of any donated equipment to Malawi. Any donated equipment should be usable and be accompanied by supporting documentation, user manuals and calibration equipment.

If your local authority may be able assist with this appeal please contact Brian at brian.kelly1945@yahoo.co.uk.

Click on the links below for more information and booking forms

Health and Safety Update – 8 October 2013

Food Update – 9 October 2013

Trainers’ Update Seminar – 23rd October 2013

REHIS is delighted to announce that Stewart Maxwell MSP, an Honorary Vice-President of the Institute, has agreed to sponsor an event to be held in the Members’ Restaurant in the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood to mark World Environmental Health Day 2013. Members are invited to participate in this evening event being organised by the Institute, which will be held on 26 September at 5.30pm.

The event will be in the format of a ‘Question Time’, similar to the BBC programme, with an invited panel and an audience made up of REHIS members.  Questions will be encouraged on a whole variety of subjects relating to Environmental Health. Confirmed panel members are:

• John Sleith, Chairman
• Colin Wallace, REHIS       
• Alastair Brown, SoCOEHS           
• Professor Charles Milne, FSAS               
• Dr Martin Donaghy, HPS
• Elaine Harbour, HSE                     

 A free buffet will be available before the event commences.

 Please book your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Members wishing to attend should contact the REHIS office by email at hb@ – please insert ‘REHIS WEHD Event’ in the subject line.

Health Protection Scotland and Food Standards Agency (Scotland) Joint Annual Report on Infectious Intestinal Disease Associated with Foodborne Illness in Scotland, 2012.

This is the first joint annual report published by Health Protection Scotland and the Food Standards Agency (Scotland), focussing on the key pathogens identified by the UK Foodborne Disease Strategy.

 you can download the report at:

http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/giz/publicationsdetail.aspx?id=55573

 It is anticipated that this report will be renewed on an annual basis.