REHIS News

Scotland’s leading rural and environmental organisations have issued a statement in relation to the rise in fly-tipping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scottish Land and Estates, the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland, the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Zero Waste Scotland all urged the public to report any examples of flytipping.

In a heartfelt statement, they highlighted the impact on farmers - including huge financial costs - at a time when many are already stretched. The statement reads as follows:

The Guardian newspaper has produced an interesting article on a missed opportunity for coronavirus contact tracing being carried out by Environmental Health Officers. 

As you know, Environmental health workers in local government have wide experience in contact tracing, a process used to prevent infections spreading and routinely carried out in outbreaks such as of norovirus, salmonella or legionnaires’ disease. 

The Health and Safety Executive and the Partnership on Health and Safety in Scotland (PHASS) have produced a joint statement with regarding to safe working – especially those continuing to attend a place of work away from their homes is intended to clarify the position. 

The statement is as follows:

“The health and safety of workers remains paramount. Employers must continue to provide workers with information about risks to their health and the actions their employers must take.

In the March newsletter we asked the Environmental Health community how they were responding to the Coronavirus pandemic and to share any best practice, the following have got in touch and responding with how their work has adapted.

Glasgow City Council

REHIS past president, Bernard Forteath has brought to our attention the coronavirus coverage from The South China Morning Post (SCMP). 

They have been providing very comprehensive coverage on coronavirus, since Chinese officials first reported cases of the novel coronavirus to the World Health Organisation on 31 December and were also one of the first English-language publications to report to do so. 

I hope this message finds everyone well and coping as best you can since the country went in to lockdown as a control measure to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like most people, other than identified Key Workers that require to attend work, I have been working from home. It does take a bit of getting used to.  I want to let you know that everyone is impacted and what we are doing as an organisation. 

Food Standards Scotland have updated their question and answer section for food business to accompany their guidance for food businesses on how to apply COVID- 19 control measures.

In light of recent events with COVID-19, Global Action Plan who run Clean Air Day have made the difficult decision to postpone Clean Air Day 2020 to 8 October.

The success of our Clean Air Day campaign relies heavily on multiple organisations and communities coming together to demonstrate the difference we can all make to the air that we breathe. Whilst many activities can be undertaken digitally, the number one priority is the health and wellbeing of the UK public so postponing is the safest option.

In the current Coronavirus pandemic, Food Standards Scotland have asked for assistance that could be provided to them and their Official veterinarians, by qualified meat hygiene inspectors across Scotland.

If you are suitably qualified and would be interested please contact the Operational Delivery team at Food Standards Scotland directly via email at operations@fss.scot with brief details of your qualification and experience.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on during this pandemic and how your work is adapting to the COVID 19 pandemic.

It will be great to share any best practice with the Environmental Health community in Scotland and recognise those who are going above beyond.

The feedback will be published in April's Newsletter at the end of the month.

Please email sg@rehis.com.