REHIS HEALTH AND SAFETY CO-ORDINATING GROUP MEETING
MINUTES OF 98TH MEETING:16THJuly 2015
REHIS OFFICE, EDINBURGH
Present:Graham Robertson (Chair)(GR) Aberdeenshire /NSHSLG
Andrew Gilchrist Aberdeen City/NSHSLG
Brian Lawrie (BL)SoCHEO
Martin Gibb (MG)Glasgow City/WSHSLG
Philippa Lightfoot (PL) Scot Borders/Lothian & Scot Borders
Andrew Douglas East Lothian/Lothian & Scot Borders
Derek Oliver(DO) Falkirk/Central Fife and Tayside
Jim Brand (JB) South Ayrshire/WSHSLG
Carol –Anne Wright Edinburgh City /Lothian & Scot Borders
(presentation only)
Tracy McTaggart (TM)LAU HSE
Jamie Campbell(JC)Partnership Officer HSE
Sarah Jones (SJ) HSE
Alistair McNab (AM) HSE
Dr. Sara Davies Scottish Cosmetic Interventions Expert Group (SCIEG)
Richard Dimelow SCIEG
Dr. Andy Malyon SCIEG
Reme Diaz SCIEG
- Cosmetic Interventions Regulation Proposals in Scotland.
Dr. Malyon gave an interesting presentation on the proposals arising from the work of SCIEG.
SCIEG was set up in response to the Keogh review of cosmetic interventions that concluded that this industry is poorly regulated. Focussed on –
- Regulation of cosmetic interventions – the” Keogh 5” – botox, lasers, fillers, peels and IPL
- Surgeons and surgical procedures
There is apparently a huge information vacuum as there is no reporting system for having cosmetic interventions.
SCIEG is recommending action in 2 phases –
1) Regulating healthcare professionals by registration and inspection.
SCIEG has been in discussion with HIS about this with the intent of having HIS registration by April 2016
2) Licensing by local authorities of all cosmetic practitioners delivering specific cosmetic procedures.
Discussion ensued on how to encompass “specific cosmetic procedures”, training of the trade and operators, assessing quality of work and whether the person or activity should be licensed.
Next steps – implementation to be formed between SCIEG and REHIS, with a proposal thereafter to the Scottish Govt. for legislation.
The reports are now available on line at
2. Apologies: Anne McLeod, Lorraine McGillivray
3. Minute of Meeting 16thApril 2015
Page 1 – MG said that paragraph on hotel should read,” Notice not, but could have been served”.
4.Matters Arising
Pg1, Matters arising - Care Inspectorate and HSE Working Arrangement Protocol–BL said that it is the practice to invite CI to one HASCOG meeting per year.
Pg4 AOCB. DO queried whether the work done in incorporating H&S issues into the Certificate of Compliance for street traders could be re-ignited, possibly in the form of an informal standard? MG – said that Glasgow already had a comprehensive guidance document.DO – to forward draft document for comment. Action DO
GR – met Jacqui Campbell of MSA in regard tohis involvement with the Granite City Rally.His main issues of concern are crowd safety and competency/training of marshals.
5. Incident Investigation Support Network Update
DO reported that the network had received 5 enquiries from LAs.JC has provided input. There was a training event for the nominated officers on 28th April and the good work of HSE is acknowledged as it was considered to be very worthwhile.DO has produced a report on the Network’s operation.He suggested that it come within the auspices of Society of chief Officers so that support isavailable.
TM queried the reference in 5.1 of the report, “to HSE branded materials”.DO commentedthat this meant LAs could adapt the material for their own use.TM also mentioned that theshared document facility on HELEX could be used for IISN material. SJ – suggested the inclusion of IISN material in future NE England/Scotland RegulatoryNewsletter.
6. HSE/LAU update
TM – LLARD siteto be closed in August sosuggested lifting any data from itbefore then.
LAE1 return – all LAs apart from one have submitted within Scotland.Assessment of returns in due course and will initially be reported to HELA in November.
Updated operational guidance on HELEX inc. A-Z of enforcement allocation.
HSL specialist support arrangements have been reviewed and there will be an advisory email in due course.
AM- likely to be major cuts in HSE funding in next budget. “Blue tape challenge” is going to be next Government initiative, primarily challenging areas where HSE are currently involved and need not be. The FAI Bill still being debated.
SJ – the Smith Commission work, a joint UKG/SG review of the evidence of the health and safety system in Scotland as it is now, has been completed and will hopefully be presented at PHASS on 1/9/15. SoCEHOS were represented on the Working Group.
7. Partnership issues
JC – recorded his thanks to Ian Waddell of Dundee City for his presentation on Estates Excellence to PHASS.
Spa baths in holiday accommodation – concern regarding use of domestic spa-bath plant in a commercial situation.It has been noted that the HSE guidance documents on legionella are contradictory and will be harmonised in 2016.Small co-ordinating group likely and to include Patrick Mackie of Argyll & Bute who has had first-hand involvement with the issue.
BL – enquired as to the main themes of the A-Z on enforcement allocation.JC replied saying there weren’t radical changes but assisted informed decision making,such as the growing use of farms for leisure activities /accommodation.
GR –mentionedthe inability to ‘accept’ asbestos notifications online,as per RIDDOR.
8. Strategy/ Policy
BL – ScoEH and Care Inspectorate have been invited to engage in a Crown Office Strategic Liaison
Group meeting in November.
- VTech Implementation Plan – asked whether other LAs are implementing to have agricultural land cleared of animals 21 day before public events?Survey monkey on subject has been sent out.
- There will be a ‘Safety in Public Events’ Group, firstly looking at the operation of the Safety Advisory Group.
- Suggested a representative from Dundee City comes along to REHIS HSU15 Update to speak about the recent Estates Excellence.
9. Spa Baths in Holiday Accommodation
Covered at 7 above
10. Safety in Nail Bars
BL described a recent multi agency intervention (Operation Platform).Intelligence had been received that certain nailbars in central Scotland were being used for money laundering /people trafficking. PoliceScotland HMRC, and EH/TS from South & East Ayrshire, Renfrew,Inverclyde, North & South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, West Lothian and Edinburgh carriedout joint visits on 11 premises.This resulted in the issuing of 1 PN, 1 IN and restrictions on use ofhome-made ladders. Concerns about solvent fumes and use of premises for sleeping.Number of issues referred to Scottish Fire and Rescue.It appears that there has been a notable increase in the number of nails bars in Scotland and BLsuggested that this could be an opportunity or a country wide initiative.See appendix A
11. Operational Issues
L&B(PL) – West Lothian had a complaint about an open farm visitor centre that had a large queuefrom a school party, resulting in ineffective use of hand-washing facilities. Querying whether centre should have taken account of this in their provision of facilities.
PL asked whether anyone had experience of Zorb football.Discussion ensued.
As part of peer review in their Group, looking at competency matrix for regulatory officers.
WoS(JB) - Renfrew looking at hot water transportation after scalding incidents.
Central (DO)– Fife and Tayside dealing with 3 fatalities between them .Investigating accident whereby user of flat-bed trolley at B&Q had tops of fingers amputated by handle.Looking at Section 6action.
Reminded everyone that the Factories Act can be removed from authorisations.
Will be cascading training from Eric Pirie’s presentation at LAU updates.
North(GR) – long running situation whereby member of public/neighbour is complaining about the corrugated asbestos roof of a hotel being cleaned with a power washer, which is against HSE advice. MoP considers this to be an unacceptable risk to his health. Case continues
12. Training
Cooling Tower Inspection Training – 15th and 16th September 15
REHIS Health and Safety Update HSU15 – 22nd September 15 – a plea for details of possible speakers! Action All
13. AOCB
SJ – HSE Board will be meeting in Edinburgh in October
AM – Edinburgh Legionella Outbreak investigation report imminent
14. Date of Next Meeting - 15/10/15 at REHIS Offices Edinburgh
Appendix 1
Operation Platform
1.0 Aim
To disrupt the operation of a serious crime network involved in the drugs and human traffic through a co-ordinated multi-agency visit to businesses that they may be using.
2.0 Operation
21 premises were identified across 10 LA’s that would be visited simultaneously by a team comprising Police Scotland, Home Office, Revenue and Customs and Environmental Health. Representatives of these agencies would be available in the operational control room to provide advice.
A briefing was given to Police Scotland, Home Office and Revenue and Customs on the significant areas of concerns that EH would deal with in nail bars.
Due to operational reasons 10 of the visits would not be supported by EH. Any concerns at these premises would be passed to operational control to follow up at a later date.
3.0 Outcome
Of the 11 visits undertaken the following was noted:
- Prohibition Notice on electrics
- Improvement Notice for lack of hot water
- Unsafe ladders seized
- Further investigations of strong solvent fumes in three premises
- Further investigation into use of premises for sleeping
- Further investigation into possible unsafe electrics
4.0 Further Discussion
There has been an increase in the number of nail bars opening in recent years many of which may not have been inspected due to the National Code’s introduction. Recent HSE research has shown nail bar operatives report a higher than average issues with respiratory and muscoskeletal ill health. Given the small sample of nail bars visited in the operation and the number of issues found it would be seem that these premises may be suitable for a Scottish national project.
1