COVID- Diary- Rosemary Davidson

  • 2 November 2020

Rosemary Davidson, REHIS Course Presenter, discusses how training has had to adapt to be online and also talks about her contact tracing role with NHS. 1.         Describe you work before the pandemic?  My work before the pandemic had two main strands, the first being delivery and organisation of REHIS food hygiene training at all four levels […]

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COVID- Diary Hazel Stevenson- The Work of the ETC-19 Group

  • 27 October 2020

Hazel Stevenson, Environmental Health Manager at Aberdeen City Council COVID-diary contribution accounts the incredible work carried out by the COVID-19 Expert Officers Group and also then answers questions on how her role at the local authority has changed. The Work of the ETC19 Group On the declaration of the public health coronavirus emergency, the Scottish […]

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REHIS Training Advisers carry out remote monitoring visits

  • 26 October 2020

With the opportunities to conduct the standard visits to Training Centres delivering the REHIS Community courses being restricted at present, the Training Advisers role has had to adapt to doing some virtual audits. A high proportion of courses currently registered are being delivered via the “Zoom” platform. Not having the face to face usual interaction […]

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Environmental Health Officers enforce new coronavirus regulations

  • 26 October 2020

On 9 October the Scottish Government published legislation to introduce temporary restrictions to help reduce the spread of the virus. The Regulations partially came into force at 6pm on Friday, 9 October and fully came into force on Saturday, 10 October. The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Additional Temporary Measures) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 imposed a […]

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In memory of George Brechin, OBE

  • 26 October 2020

The Institute are saddened to hear of the passing of George Brechin, OBE. Mr Brechin was a great supporter of the Institute and was known to many. Mr Brechin was a Board member at the Health & Safety Executive, the Chair of the HSE’s board has paid tribute here and also a Board member of Food Standards […]

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Scotland’s new strategic framework considers new powers for Environmental Health Officers

  • 25 October 2020

On 23 October at the Coronavirus (COVID-19) update the First Minister's announced Scotland’s strategic framework which considers new powers for Environmental Health Officers.  The five-level framework indicates different levels of protection that might be needed based on different levels of transmission for the virus. It will allow for rapid but proportionate responses on both a local and national basis using a […]

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COVID Diary- Lisa McCann

  • 25 October 2020

Lisa McCann, Service Manager – Environmental Health (Food & Workplace Safety), Fife Council and President of REHIS Council, discusses how both her roles have adapted and how she hopes that positive changes made with hygiene continues into the future. 1.         Describe your work before the pandemic?  Before the pandemic, I had not long taken up the […]

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COVID Diary- Tim Lush

  • 25 October 2020

Tim Lush, Environmental Health Officer at Glasgow City Council, has been working on the Contact Tracing team for NHS Test and Protect. His contribution gives an insight into the role of contact tracing which is becoming more difficult with rise in cases but also increasingly important in combating the pandemic. 1.         Describe your work before the […]

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Spot checks and inspections at schools in Scotland

  • 22 October 2020

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors have carried out a programme of COVID-secure school spot checks in Scotland regarding the implementation of school reopening guidance. Since August, a total of 500 schools have been contacted across Scotland to check compliance. To give a representative sample of schools across Scotland, 16 local authorities were selected for […]

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Scottish government propose delay smoke alarm legislation until 2022

  • 22 October 2020

The Scottish Government will ask parliament to delay new regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by 12 months due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). Legislation due to come into effect in February 2021 meant the standard which currently applies to private rented property and new-builds would have been extended to all homes in […]

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Scottish government propose delay smoke alarm legislation until 2022

  • 22 October 2020

The Scottish Government will ask parliament to delay new regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by 12 months due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). Legislation due to come into effect in February 2021 meant the standard which currently applies to private rented property and new-builds would have been extended to all homes in […]

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