The Scottish Chamber of Safety
The Scottish Chamber of Safety is the regional body for safety groups in Scotland. It is an advocate for health and safety in Scotland and functions as a liaison between the various groups and individuals who have an interest in health and safety in Scotland.
The Chamber is made up from the various Safety Groups and supporting organisations throughout Scotland. If you require information or on-going support the local groups provide an excellent source of advice and experience.
Find where your local group meets and get involved. Not all groups have their own websites but contact details for all of the groups is available through the main Safety Groups UK website.
Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance Annual Survey
Win a £50 Marks and Spencer voucher for participating in a survey conducted by Research Scotland on behalf of ScORSA.
The survey will help us to better understand the levels of awareness and the needs of organisations regarding management of occupational road risk.
If you have a role in managing:
- company vehicles;
- health and safety at work; or
- employees who drive for work purposes (using their own vehicle, or a company vehicle).
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ScORSAnationalsurvey/
We ask you take 15 minutes to complete the short questionnaire. Taking part is voluntary and the survey is anonymous.
The winner of the M&S voucher will be selected at random and informed when the survey closes in February 2020.
3rd December 2019 Quarterly Meeting
The final quarterly meeting of 2019 is on the 3rd December.
Meet at 10:30 for 11:00 City Chambers East, 40 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JL.
Quarterly Meeting Agenda:
- Sederunt
- Apologies
- Matters arising
- Events
- Safety Groups UK Update
- Safety Campaigns
- Website/Communications
- Treasurer’s Report
- Reports from Groups
- Reports from Partner Organisations
- Other competent business
- Session 2020 Dates
Health and safety statistics
Key figures for Great Britain (2018/19)
- 1.4 million working people suffering from a work-related illness
- 2,526 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2017)
- 147 workers killed at work (2018/19)
- 581,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey
- 69,208 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR
- 28.2 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
- £15 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2017/18)
SCoRSA Road Safety Seminar
St Andrew’s Seminar 2019, Tuesday 5th November 2019, Perth Racecource
Perth Racecourse
Hear the latest on changes in drug driving procedures at @ScORSAMorr St Andrew’s Seminar on 5th November, Perth Racecourse. Free to attend for members. Join ScORSA at http://www.scorsa.org.uk – for free resources, advice and network opportunities
Chaired by Dr Karen McDonnell, Head of RoSPA Scotland, speakers will include:
- George Henry, National Operations Manager for Road Safety Policy and Education, Transport Scotland
- Heather Ward – Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University College London
- Alan Craddock – Head of Transport and Public Services Unit, HSE
- Anne-Marie Penny – Senior Programme Manager, Road User Safety, DfBB Programme, Highways England
- George Cairns – Glasgow City Council
- Inspector Vincent Fisher, Police Scotland
- Andy Cathro – LOcHER Project
- Liam Gallagher – City Facilities Management Holdings
Booking form available from https://www.scorsa.org.uk/events/
World Mental Health Day 2019
Today is World Mental Health Day and this years theme is suicide prevention, the hope is to raise the issue so it will be given priority in public health agendas around the world.
In the next week, 15,120 people will end their life through suicide.
One person every 40 seconds.
Suicide doesn’t stop the pain, it just passes it on.
This years SCoS Conference is focussed on improving mental health in the workplace. In the 3rd session of the day we will be showing the video #nostigma.
Controlling exposure to stonemasonry dust consultation
As many of you will be aware, the HSE HSG201 guidance document ‘Controlling exposure to stonemasonry dust’ was published in 2001 and is out of date (e.g. it mentions MEL of 0.3 mg/m3 for RCS).
HSE has been working for some time on replacing this document and would like your comments on the replacement draft (Word, 11Mb).
The new HSG201 is designed to provide practical information and controls for stone dust and that it will provide duty holders with simple to understand guidance. The document will eventually be both a priced HSE publication and a free to download pdf.
Please note the following points:
- Each appendix contains additional detail on key matters such as types of LEV, health surveillance programmes etc.
- The document makes reference to the revised ST series CoSHH essentials sheets which have not yet been published but hopefully will be soon.
- In section 5, machinery is discussed in the order of what might expect to be seen more commonly in stone work manufacturing.
- The document should also be useful for construction site applications.
Comments must be sent directly to both Susan Hambling susan.hambling@hse.gov.uk and Sarah Palfreyman sarah.palfreyman@hse.gov.uk by the 11th of October 2019.
Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals
TISA monthly meeting on the 15th October at the Ardler Complex, Dundee, DD2 3TP, will be a presentation by Scottish Fire & Rescue Service dealing with the issue of Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals.
The SFRS aim is to help companies and organisations understand and manage their fire alarm systems to reduce business disruption.
Tackling Toxic Workplaces
This years 19th Annual Scottish Hazards Conference will be on the 7th November. Jointly hosted by Scottish Hazards and Trade Union Education Centre of the City of Glasgow College.
The conference will concentrate on two key strategies: Devolution of H&S and Scottish adoption of a Toxic Use Reduction strategy.
SGUK Awards 2019
The SGUK Awards are now open! Designed for groups to obtain the recognition they deserve for the excellent work being done and to celebrate the efforts of individuals in individual Safety Groups who provide outstanding service to the Safety Groups movement. The award info pack is available to download from http://www.safetygroupsuk.org.uk/awards/
The award categories are:
- Innovation Awards – Any organisation who raises the standard of health & safety
- Excellence Awards – For Safety Groups
- Outstanding Service Award – For an individual nominated by a Safety Group
- Development through Education – Any organisation, for any project that advances health & safety in the sphere of education
The closing date for entry into the Development Through Education and Innovation awards is Friday 4th October 2019.
Entries for Excellence & Outstanding Service can be submitted up to the deadline of Friday 22nd November 2019.
The Awards Ceremony will be held in the Gladstone Library of the Royal Horseguards, Whitehall Palace, London on Monday 24th February 2020. This is a magnificent setting, worthy of the SGUK Awards Ceremony and will make the Awards Ceremony a wonderful experience that builds on the success of previous years and provides further opportunity for celebration.
Gas Safe Week Scotland 2019
Gas Safe Week Scotland takes place from the 16th – 22nd September 2019.
The Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers are holding a reception at the Scottish Parliament on the 17th September from 17:30 to 19:30 for the launch of the inaugural Gas Safe Week.
