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REHIS Annual Review 2013 1
Annual Environmental Health ReviewREHIS and its Scottish Partners - 2013
The Royal EnvironmentalHealth Institute of ScotlandProduced and published by The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland
ContentsThe Chief Executive 4
The President 6
Professional Development 8
Qualifications for Communities 10
Health and Safety Co-ordinating Group 16
Scottish Skin Piercing and Tattooing Working Group 16
The Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland 17
Food Standards Agency Scotland 18
Food Issues 20
Health Protection Scotland 22
Healthcare Environment Inspectorate 23
Health and Safety Executive 24
ASH Scotland 27
International Federation of Environmental Health 28
Appendices 1-9 30
List of Contributors: Organisations and Names 39
Core Values and Vision 41
About REHIS 42
The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, Number SC009406.
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REHIS Annual Review 2013 4
The Chief ExecutiveThis is the sixth consecutive year that the Institute has published the Annual Review in
which it highlights and celebrates Scotland’s environmental health partnerships. The
importance of these partnerships to the improvement and protection of the health of
Scotland’s people cannot be over-stated. The Institute continues to work in partnership
with the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government, the Food Standards Agency Scotland,
Health Protection Scotland, the Health and Safety Executive, the Society of Chief Officers
of Environmental Health in Scotland, ASH Scotland, and the Healthcare Environment
Inspectorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. On the international front
the Institute continues to work closely with the International Federation of Environmental
Health and is committed to working in partnership with the Malawi Environmental
Health Association, with the Environmental Health Association of Ireland and with the
Association of Public Health Inspectors (Cyprus).
The Institute is Incorporated by Royal Charter, is a registered Scottish charity, is a member-
based society, is the organisation that governs the Environmental Health Profession
in Scotland, is a UK Competent Authority for the Environmental Health Profession in
terms of UK and European Union legislation, is an awarding body for a wide range of
environmental health qualifications and is a national training organisation with Approved
Training Centres across Scotland, the rest of the UK and further afield.
As a registered Scottish charity the Institute, through its Charity Trustees (all members of
the Institute’s Council are Charity Trustees - Appendix 1), must act for the benefit of the
public and must comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
and with guidance issued by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the individuals from all the partner
organisations who contributed to the 2013 Annual Review. The names of these individuals
and of the organisations they represent are listed on page 39.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge the important contribution to the improvement
and protection of the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s people by the Institute’s
members, partner organisations and all Environmental Health Professionals and, in
closing, I place on record my thanks to the Institute’s staff for their excellent work
throughout 2013.
Tom Bell
Environmental Health is that area
of Public Health activity which
strives to improve, protect and
maintain health and wellbeing
through action on the
physical environment and
on life circumstances.
Chief Executive - Tom Bell
REHIS Annual Review 2013 6
The PresidentI have been fortunate to be elected President of REHIS three times, in 1988, 2007
and in 2013, and prior to that President of the Scottish Institute of Environmental
Health, a predecessor organisation to REHIS, in 1980. Over this period of more than
30 years environmental health has experienced many changes and challenges,
and none more so than in the last five years. The financial problems facing public
services, which has resulted in a much smaller environmental health workforce, was
not evident in the ’80s and early ’90s. Since 2008 there has been a reduction of over
12% in the number of Environmental Health Officers and over 24% in the number
of Food Safety Officers employed within local authorities. At a time of increasing
demands placed on health improvement in Scotland these figures are a constant
cause for concern. Improving and protecting the health of Scotland’s population
does not happen by chance. This involves many well trained and experienced health
professionals, not only from REHIS but from many other partner organisations.
Although public services cannot expect to be immune from financial problems
affecting the United Kingdom it is a matter of concern that over the past few years
we have witnessed a gradual and sustained reduction in environmental health
resources deployed within our communities. However, the question I would ask is
this really what the general public want?
The REHIS Annual Conference is the principal Environmental Health event to
take place in Scotland. It provides an opportunity to reflect on current and future
approaches to protecting and improving the health of the Scottish people. This
year’s conference, held in May, had the theme ‘Environmental Health - Apart, Yet
Connected’. At a time when the Environmental Health Service and the Public Health
Service is facing so many challenges this title was chosen to emphasise the fact that
although the service is different from many others in the public sector and can stand
alone, it is, by its very nature, very much connected to many agencies outwith our
traditional local government home both here and abroad. The conference was well
attended, considering the current financial climate, and the feedback from delegates
was extremely positive. At the end of the conference the Institute hosted the annual
Council meeting and AGM of the International Federation of Environmental Health
(IFEH). In addition to our membership and participation in the IFEH we continue to
have strong links with colleagues in Cyprus, Ireland, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
This year we introduced a new Scheme of Professional Practice for Student/
Graduate Trainee Environmental Health Officers. ‘Learning by Experience’ is now the
Professional Practice Manual that provides Student/Graduate Trainee Environmental
Health Officers with the necessary information required to complete the REHIS
President - Bernard Forteath
Improving and protecting the
health and wellbeing of Scotland’s
people through education,
training and qualifications in
Environmental Health.
Bernard and Young Samanyika
Bernard delivers his presidential address
REHIS Annual Review 2013 7
Scheme of Professional Practice and to prepare participants
for the successful completion of their portfolio and the
REHIS Professional Examination. The Institute continues
to make a substantial financial contribution, with other
partners, in the provision of additional practical training
places for Student/Graduate Trainee Environmental Health
Officers within local authorities. Community training
courses continued to be well supported throughout
the year and this is a testimony to the close working
relationship that we enjoy with our Training Centres.
During the year the Institute ran a series of roadshows
across Scotland to highlight its role in improving and
protecting public health in Scotland and to promote
the new requirements for the education, professional
practice and examination of Student/Graduate Trainee
Environmental Health Officers. The roadshows were
presented in Aberdeen (with video conferencing links
to Inverness, Stornoway, Kirkwall, Elgin and Lerwick),
Dundee, Dumfries and Stirling on separate dates in May
and June. These meetings were well attended and gave the
opportunity for members to speak to the Institute’s senior
office-bearers and staff on ‘home turf’. This exercise will
be repeated in 2016.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognise
the work, carried out on behalf of the membership,
by members of the Institute’s Council and the Northern
and Southern Centres during the year. Both Centres
provide invaluable assistance to members by hosting
continuing professional development training events
which provides the opportunity to access low cost training
in convenient locations.
Before I handed over to my successor in November,
REHIS held its Annual Awards Ceremony. This event is
one of the highlights of the year which allows us to join
with and appreciate the success of students in REHIS
examinations. The award of a Diploma or Certificate marks
one of life’s major transitions as it reflects many years
of dedication to learning and understanding. Awards of
Fellowship of the Institute and Meritorious Endeavours
in Environmental Health are also an important part of the
ceremony. This year a new award was presented by the
Institute. Called the President’s Award, it will be presented
at the Annual Awards Ceremony in November to an
individual or organisation who has/which has significantly
contributed to the improvement and protection of health
and wellbeing in Scotland through their/its activities in the
Institute’s Community Training activities. This year’s award
went to the Engine Shed, Edinburgh. The Engine Shed
was established in 1989 as an innovative training project
for young people with learning difficulties and gives the
trainees an ideal opportunity to gain entry to mainstream
workplaces, mainly in the catering industry.
I conclude this report by thanking Tom Bell, the Institute’s
Chief Executive, for his support and wise counsel and
also the staff of the Institute for their support and
professionalism over the past twelve months.
Bernard Forteath
REHIS Annual Review 2013 8
Professional DevelopmentThe University of Derby gained re-accreditation to continue to deliver an
MSc Environmental Health (by distance learning) degree course during
2013. This course is tailored to meet the needs of those already working
in Environmental Health services who wish to pursue a career as an
Environmental Health Officer. The University is committed to continually
improving access for distance learning students.
The University of Strathclyde continues to offer the MSc Environmental
Health degree course, however, the BSc (Hons) Environmental Health course
continues to be in suspension.
The University of the West of Scotland gained full accreditation to deliver a
BSc (Hons) Environmental Health degree course during 2013, having satisfied
the requirements attached to their conditional accreditation. This is a positive
development as it is the only undergraduate Environmental Health course
accepting intake in Scotland.
In January 2013 the Institute’s Scheme of Professional Practice was launched
replacing the former Scheme of Practical Training. The scheme is designed to
be outcome focused and has the flexibility to be undertaken by both Student/
Graduate Trainee Environmental Health Officers employed by local authority
environmental health services and those who are unattached but able to gain
appropriate training experiences towards completing their portfolios. During
2013, 13 Student/Graduate Trainee Environmental Health Officers registered
with the scheme, eight of those were employed by local authorities, one by a
private sector company and four were unattached.
During the year, two Professional Examination diets were held in Edinburgh
and 10 candidates were successful in gaining the REHIS Diploma in
Environmental Health, the Scottish Environmental Health Officer qualification.
Bernard Forteath and Robert Howe with recipients of the Institute’s Diploma in Environmental Health.
Recipients of awards with Bernard Forteath, Robert Howe, Kate Harley and Ian McWatt.
University of Derby re-accreditation.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 9
REHIS is Scotland’s awarding body
for the Environmental Health
Profession and is a Competent
Authority for the UK
2013 continued the trend of producing opportunities
for post-qualification professional development.
The Institute organised and ran the usual range of
professional update courses at competitive rates
and, in addition, the Southern and Northern Centre
Management Committees organised and ran a
number of events which were all well subscribed.
These events provide opportunities for professionals
to keep themselves abreast with latest developments
in the field of environmental health and share good
working practices. Furthermore, for those members
who are Environmental Health Officers, these
continuing professional development events are key
to achieving Chartered status.
191 EHOs achieved Chartered status in 2013.
The Institute also endorsed training programmes
provided by other organisations for local authority
environmental health staff. A range of events covering
a variety of topical and emerging subjects were
awarded maximum hour values consistent with
the Institute’s Schemes of Continuing Professional
Development for Environmental Health Officers and
Non-Environmental Health Officers.
The Institute continues to play a role in the
Occupational Safety and Health Consultants’
Register of (OSHCR) and is a constituent part of
OSHCR Limited. The Register is voluntary and open
to individuals who provide commercial advice on
general health and safety management issues.
A small number of Institute members have joined the
Register having satisfied the requirements of holding
Chartered status and declaring that they will:
• Demonstrate adequate continuing
professional development
• Abide by the Institute’s code of conduct
• Provide sensible and proportionate advice and
• Have professional indemnity insurance
or equivalent.
The Institute stipulates that members wishing to join
the Register must undertake a minimum of five hours
continuing professional development relating solely to
occupational health and safety annually.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 10
Qualifications for Communities
The Institute is Scotland’s awarding body for
a wide range of courses and qualifications
including food hygiene, food and health,
HACCP, occupational health and safety, and
infection control all of which are aimed at the general public as well as industry.
The courses leading to these qualifications are presented by a network of over
750 REHIS Approved Training Centres throughout Scotland, from Shetland to
Dumfries and in Germany, Africa and the Middle East. Qualifications are also
available as International Certificates which can be delivered by Approved
Centres abroad. A strict quality assurance system is in place in order to maintain
a consistent standard of training across the network of our Approved Training
Centres. The Institute also organises specific subject update seminars for the
training community and a wide range of resources is provided for our Approved
Training Centres.
If a standard REHIS qualification is not considered to be appropriate,
the Institute works with a partner to develop a sector or organisation specific
qualification, which can then be accredited and certified by the Institute.
These joint awards are qualifications which have been designed to meet the
specific outcomes needed by the partner organisation. The partner organisation
determines the outcomes required and the level; REHIS provides the
certification for the course and the appropriate award. The Institute applies
the same level of quality assurance to joint awards as it does to its own courses.
Marian MacDonald, representing the Engine Shed, recipients of the President’s Award with Bernard Forteath.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 11
REHIS Introductory, Elementary, Intermediate and
Advanced qualifications are equivalent to level 1-4
Awards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Elementary Food Hygiene examination papers
and some of the training resources are available
in foreign languages.
REHIS recognised the need for Elementary Food
Hygiene training for school students some years
ago and the Food Hygiene in Schools Initiative was
launched to meet that need. Schools can be approved
to deliver the Elementary Food Hygiene Course to
students aged 13-18 inclusive, attending school full-
time. The initiative started in 1993 and since then
REHIS has issued over 68,000 certificates to school
children. Since 2007 the initiative has been funded by
the Food Standards Agency Scotland.
The REHIS Introduction to Food Hygiene Course is
also available for delivery in schools. This is a
non-examinable awareness raising course which
is more suited to some pupils. Both qualifications
are valued by teachers and pupils alike; apart from
receiving information about how to handle food
safely, the pupils are gaining nationally recognised
qualifications which are valued by employers
throughout the food industry. The courses also fit
into the framework for the Scottish Government’s
Curriculum for Excellence.
The Food Standards Agency Scotland provided
funding during 2013 and 191 secondary schools took
part in the Initiative with 12,500 pupils registering
for the Elementary Food Hygiene Course and 3,332
registering for the Introductory Food Hygiene Course.
An increasing number of Scottish schools are now
offering the REHIS Elementary Food and Health
Course as part of their home economics provision.
Although the course was not specifically designed
for young people not yet in employment the areas
covered by the course deal with issues of food and
nutrition relevant to teaching them about the benefits
of eating well. As well as providing pupils with a
qualification which will be of use to them and future
employers in the food sector the course also covers
the principles and practice of the Curriculum for
Excellence with regard to food and health.
During 2013 work continued on three new
REHIS accredited courses, Controlling the Risk of
Cross Contamination, an Elementary Cleaning and
Disinfection Course and a Legionella Awareness
Course.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 12
The cross contamination course is now available and
Approved Food Hygiene Training Centres can apply
for approval to deliver the course. The course is aimed
at managers and supervisors of food businesses
of all sizes where both raw food and ready-to-eat
foods are handled, the cleaning and disinfection
course is aimed at cleaning staff in all types of work
premises. The legionella course is aimed at managers
and supervisors responsible for ensuring that their
premises are meeting the requirements of relevant
health and safety legislation with regard to control of
legionella bacterium. These courses will be available
for delivery in 2014.
A start was also made to developing a new Elementary
Cooking Skills Course. Although diet-related health
in Scotland is slowly improving, many people are still
failing to meet dietary recommendations. As a lack
of cooking and practical food skills is often cited as
a major barrier to healthy eating current food and
health policy in Scotland advocates the need for the
increased promotion of cooking and practical food
skills. To address this REHIS, in partnership with NHS
Forth Valley Nutrition and Dietetics Department
and with support from Community Food and Health
(Scotland) and Edinburgh Cyrenians, has developed
a new course called Elementary Cooking Skills. The
course aims to provide participants with basic cooking
skills with the aim of increasing their confidence, skills
and knowledge.
It is aimed at anyone with an interest in food and
cooking with little or no cooking experience. More
specifically the course can be delivered to a wide
range of participants such as transition and life skills
groups, community groups, voluntary workers, parent
groups, young people, healthcare staff, carers and
support staff. It can also be run to complement the
existing REHIS food and health courses - Elementary
Food and Health and Elementary Food and Health for
Carers of Adults with a Learning Disability.
The course will be available for delivery by Approved
Training Centres in early 2014.
Following discussions between Angus Council
Environmental Health staff, the Food Standards
Agency Scotland (FSAS) and REHIS it was agreed that
a joint seminar aimed at REHIS trainers and local
authority enforcement staff would be an effective
way of promoting consistent enforcement and
training approaches to controlling the risk of cross
contamination.
It was also agreed that it would be an opportunity to
hold the official launch of the new REHIS Controlling
the Risk of Cross Contamination Course (Intermediate
Level).
The Agency agreed to provide funding for the seminar
which took place in March at the Carnoustie Golf
Hotel, Carnoustie in Angus.
The planned outcome was to ensure that all
delegates would have an accurate understanding
of the Food Standards Agency guidance and the
means and methods necessary to educate and
advise food business operators on measures
required to control the risk of microbiological
cross contamination in food businesses.
A total of 47 delegates made up of REHIS trainers
and local authority enforcement staff attended
the seminar. Councils represented included
Aberdeenshire, Highland, Scottish Borders, Fife, North
Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Clackmannanshire,
Dundee, Moray and Angus Council.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 13
REHIS Approved Training Centres were represented by
trainers from Moray to the Scottish Borders. Following
a welcome by Graham Walker, REHIS Director of
Training and an opening address by Councillor
Sheila Hands, Vice Convener of Infrastructure
Services, Angus Council, the morning session
included presentations from Clare Ireland, Chartered
Environmental Health Officer, Angus Council and Peter
Midgley, Branch Head, Enforcement, FSAS. Peter gave
a valuable overview of the FSA cross contamination
guidance, information on cross contamination risks
and on rapid hygiene tests.
Following the morning break Clare presented
information on E.coli O157 risks and on the REHIS
Controlling the Risk of Cross Contamination Course.
Both presentations were well received by the
delegates. After lunch the remainder of the seminar
consisted of facilitated workshops based on the
case studies included in the cross contamination
course trainers’ resource pack. This was followed by a
question and answer session and the closing address
by Graham Walker.
The annual REHIS Trainers’ Seminar took place on 23
October at IET Glasgow: Teacher Building, 14 St Enoch
Square, Glasgow and, as ever, this proved to be a very
popular event with over 100 trainers attending. The
seminar provided an update on developments in the
areas of infection control, food safety and health and
safety. The event was chaired by Martin Henry, REHIS
Treasurer. The early part of the morning included
presentations from Graham Walker, REHIS Director
of Training and Chris Thomas from Healthy
Working Lives. Graham gave an update on REHIS
Community Training matters and Chris delivered
a presentation on the role of the Scottish Centre
for Healthy Working Lives.
After the morning break, Clare Ireland from the Food
Standards Agency Scotland, continued by giving
an update on current issues being dealt with at the
Agency and this was followed by a presentation
by her FSAS colleague Dr Jacqui McIlhiney on the
Agency’s Food Borne Disease Strategy.
After lunch Angela Kilday, Campaigns and Volunteers
Manager (Scotland) Coeliac UK gave a presentation
on the work of Coeliac UK and this was followed
by Gordon Atterson from Cordia Learning, Glasgow
who gave a presentation on Food Safety and the
Commonwealth Games. This was then followed
by a presentation on the implications of the Waste
(Scotland) Regulations 2012, given by Robbie Weir
from Resource Efficient Scotland.
The presentations were very well received by the
delegates and the Institute is very grateful to all the
presenters and the delegates for their participation
in the event. Participation in this event gives the
Institute’s course presenters an opportunity to update
their knowledge and understanding and to be able to
pass this on to course participants.
During the year a new health and safety joint award
was developed and launched, namely Training in the
Waste and Resource Sector which consists of two
courses under one joint award banner. The award
has been developed by the Institute and Albion
Environmental. The aim of this joint award is to
provide quality training and consultancy to the Waste
and Resource sector in the UK. The award will cover
courses in environmental legislation and health and
safety aimed at managers, supervisors and staff.
In addition work continued on developing two new
joint awards firstly a course based on food safety and
health and safety, titled Safe Working Practices aimed
at young people with learning disabilities.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 14
The award is being developed by the Institute and Windmills Café, a training
cafe providing a wide range of homemade food. The aim of the course is
to provide young people with the skills and knowledge to provide safe and
healthy food in a safe and healthy workplace.
The second joint award under development is a food safety based award.
The award is being developed by the Institute and Coeliac UK. The aim of
this joint award is to assist the food industry in getting to grips with the 2012
gluten-free labelling legislation, demonstrate the ways in which the new law
can be embraced by caterers and fill any knowledge gaps surrounding
gluten-free provision. The course is aimed at anyone in the food service
industry including chefs, front of house, hospitality, retail, serving, hospital,
and school and care home staff, amongst others.
REHIS is grateful once again to Highfield.co.uk Limited for sponsoring the
annual training awards for the course participants achieving the highest
marks in a range of REHIS examinations. The awards were presented by the
President of the Institute, Bernard Forteath and Jayne Sprenger, Highfield’s
Company Services Director at the Annual Awards Ceremony, held in
Edinburgh in November.
The Institute now has 21 standard qualifications, plus three by e-learning,
and 16 joint awards available for delivery by Approved Training Centres.
During 2013 over 49,000 certificates were issued for these qualifications.
Karen Black with the candidates from ESS.
Bernard Forteath, Graham Walker and Jayne Sprenger with Highfield Award recipients and their REHIS Training Centre representatives.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 16
Health and Safety Co-ordinating GroupThe Health and Safety Co-ordinating Group (HASCOG)
sets out to co-ordinate and strategically manage the
direction and policy for local authority enforcement of
occupational health and safety in Scotland.
HASCOG meets on a quarterly basis every year in
Edinburgh on normally the third Thursday of every
January, April, July and October. The 92nd meeting is
scheduled for 16 January 2014 at the REHIS office.
The HASCOG group is well represented by local
authority regional representatives from the four liaison
groups as well as the HSE Local Authority Unit and
the Partnership Team, the Society of Chief Officers of
Environmental Health in Scotland and Health Protection
Scotland. Guest speakers are also invited to the group
meetings if and when necessary.
HASCOG actively promotes consistency of enforcement
activities and continues to be recognised as the forum
to feed into the Health and Safety Executive/local
authority liaison system, ie, HELA, etc. and the National
LGR Practitioner Forum. In turn the group provides
HELA, and the HSE, effective access to the close local
liaison group network that we benefit from in Scotland.
The group continues to support and assist with the
implementation of the health and safety reforms
introduced by the current Government including the
new National Local Authority Enforcement Code, as
part of the ‘reclaiming health and safety for all: an
independent review of health and safety legislation’
commissioned by the Minister for Employment.
Another string of work being taken forward by the
group, in partnership with the Crown Office Procurator
Fiscal Service (COPFS) and HSE is the creation of the
Incident Investigation Support Network. It is envisaged
that the Network will provide the necessary support to
local authorities during the investigation of fatalities
and major incidents. The Network will also provide
support in the preparation and submission of a report
to the Health and Safety Division of COPFS. The
Network is made up of officers from the respective
regional liaison groups.
REHIS and HASCOG continue to support the ongoing
training needs of regulatory officers throughout
Scotland and beyond with the annual Health and
Safety Update Course as well as Northern and Southern
Centres providing essential training opportunities at a
low cost.
Scottish Skin Piercing and Tattooing Working GroupThe Scottish Skin Piercing and Tattooing Working Group
has convened on several occasions since its inception
in 2006 with the introduction of the Skin Piercing and
Tattooing Licensing order. Much of the work of the
group is undertaken via emails and only meets when
necessary.
The membership of the group includes representatives
of the four health and safety liaison groups as well
as Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish
Government, Public Health Team. REHIS plays
a major part in the group with the chair being a
REHIS Council member.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 17
The group continues to review and update the
successfully produced National Licence Conditions
as well as the Local Authority Implementation Guide
(version 1.6) thus aiding consistency of approach
throughout the 32 unitary authorities.
Representatives of the group continued to support
the partnership work between REHIS and colleagues
in NHS Scotland whereby they attended the ‘Sexual
Health and BBV Framework Tattooing Subgroup’.
The focus of this group is mainly on unlicensed
tattooists and raising awareness with teenagers
regarding the threat of infection and bloodborne
viruses via parties and social networks and that work
continues.
Future work of the Scottish Working Group is to
develop mandatory training for licensed operators on
studio hygiene and infection control. A roll-out of six
regional training days are being arranged before April
2014 thanks to funding received from the Scottish
Government. The first of these training days was
held on 2 December 2013 hosted by Aberdeenshire
Council. The priority was given to the existing Licensed
Operators to attend but places were also offered up to
Environmental Health Officers who are inspecting such
premises. The remaining five training days are to be
held in Stirling, Lothian, South Ayrshire, Glasgow
and Inverness.
This has been seen as a gap in the overall licensing
system since its introduction so this is seen as a
positive development. It is proposed to make this part
of the current National Licence Conditions.
The Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in ScotlandThe Society comprises representatives from all
of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. Each council is
permitted to have up to three members, who
should be senior officers of the service which deals
with Environmental Health.
Partner organisations are also invited to attend meetings
and there are generally representatives from the Food
Standards Agency Scotland, the Health and Safety
Executive, Health Protection Scotland, the Convention
of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency and the Royal Environmental Health
Institute of Scotland.
An Annual Congress is held each year, usually in March,
with other general meetings held at other times hosted
by member councils around Scotland and, occasionally,
partner organisations.
The Society plays an important role in facilitating
discussion between members and sharing good practice.
In addition, there are very strong links to government
departments and with bodies within Scotland as well
as throughout the UK. An important role is to represent
the collective view of chief officers in consultations
to government at various levels, whether in written
submission or by ongoing dialogue with officers.
The Society has developed a website for use by
members and others as a reference facility. The site can
be found at www.socoehs.com.
HASCOG is a REHIS Working Group
REHIS Annual Review 2013 18
Food Standards Agency ScotlandThe Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSA)
continued to be a proactive partner supporting the
work of REHIS to improve public health during 2013.
The annual Liaison Meeting between REHIS and
the FSA took place on 15 August, it was agreed that
the existing Statement of Intent between the two
organisations continued to be appropriate and that it
would be reviewed again in around 18 months. This
would fit with the establishment of a new food body
for Scotland, which is expected to take on the current
functions of the FSA in Scotland in Spring 2015. A
significant component of liaison between FSA and
REHIS continues to be through their joint membership
of the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee.
This forum continues to provide strong partnership
across a wide range of stakeholder groups with
interests in protecting consumer safety and health in
relation to food.
FSA grant to support practical training
The FSA provided a further £20,000 discretionary grant
for REHIS, working in partnership with the Society of
Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland, to
disburse to local authorities to support their work in
maintaining sufficient training placements for trainee
Environmental Health Officers in Scotland.
Secondary schools in Scotland: Food Hygiene
training initiative
The success of this initiative continues; the FSA
provides funding via REHIS for all course materials,
exam papers and certificates for both the Elementary
and Introduction to Food Hygiene Courses. Secondary
school pupils are given the opportunity to gain a
nationally recognised REHIS qualification. The schools
are approved by REHIS to deliver the Elementary and
Introductory Food Hygiene Course to pupils aged 13-18
years inclusive. In 2013-14 approximately 15,000 pupils
participated in the Elementary and Introductory Food
Hygiene training.
For 2014-2015 the FSA has continued to make
funding available to Scottish secondary schools,
Special Educational Needs Units and Secure Units,
with funding set at £94,000 up until March 2015. It is
anticipated approximately 15,000 young people will
complete these REHIS courses during in 2014-15. This
project illustrates an effective partnership approach, in
combining our resources we continue to deliver a real
benefit to thousands of youngsters each year.
FSA funded training for local authorities
FSA continued to provide a comprehensive programme
of training courses and workshops for local authority
enforcement officers and to work with REHIS to
co-ordinate training effort and provide mutual
support in this important area of work.
Trainee Environmental Health Officer workshop
at FSA, St Magnus House, Aberdeen
During October 2013, FSA hosted a training workshop
attended by trainee Environmental Health Officers who
are completing their practical training programme.
Professor Charles Milne
REHIS Annual Review 2013 20
Food IssuesHorsemeat
Following the report issued by the Food Safety
Authority of Ireland earlier this year on the results of
the compositional analysis of routine samples of a
number of beef burgers to check the authenticity or
labelling accuracy, which revealed that some products
contained horse and pig DNA, the Institute issued
a press statement fully supporting the efforts being
made to protect the food chain and keep the public
informed about what is in their food. The Institute also
expressed concern that the sampling budgets within
local authorities were an easy target for cost cutting
and that the current situation highlighted the need
for the continued commitment by Government and
local authorities to adequately resource this important
activity in protecting public health.
New food body for Scotland
The Institute has participated fully in the process of
establishing a new food body for Scotland from the
initial consultation stage to the current project boards.
Members of Council have attended all consultation
events organised by the Scottish Government.
I represent the Institute on the ‘Working with Others’
Project Board with Lorrainne MacGillivray a member of
the working group looking at:
• reviewing existing functions and resource
requirements to carry out functions specified
in project scope
• developing options for the most efficient new
food body structure to carry out and/or co-ordinate
additional functions and support local authorities
• gathering evidence and complete a cost-benefit
analysis of the options by working with representative
bodies such as the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison
Committee (SFELC).
This workshop was designed to provide an introduction
to the work of the FSA in Scotland for officers
embarking on their career in Environmental Health.
In addition to this programme of work the
FSA endeavours to support REHIS wherever possible
in the delivery of both the REHIS Food Update and
the REHIS trainers’ seminars; by providing expert
speakers and contributing to the promotion of these
important events.
During March 2013, FSAS was delighted to be able to
fund the launch of the new REHIS Intermediate Level
Controlling the Risk of Cross Contamination course
at an event which brought together REHIS registered
food hygiene trainers and local authority enforcement
officers. This event proved to be very popular with
positive feedback from both parties. In particular,
the REHIS trainers commented on how useful it
had been to be able to discuss cross contamination
and compliance issues directly with local authority
enforcement officers. This event included presentations
and table top case study exercises based on the
materials for the new course. The FSA hopes to be able
to continue support the important work of the regional
REHIS centres’ training activities.
In conclusion FSA values the partnership and
collaborative working relationships developed
with REHIS and looks forward to future successful
partnership working and collaboration in order to better
protect public health in Scotland.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 21
Scotland has a unique reputation within the
‘enforcement community’ of working well with all
constituent parts and producing effective working
structures and guidance and hopefully this will be
transferred into the new set-up.
Other representation
Apart from the proposed new food body, the Institute
has given evidence to committees in relation to
‘Lessons to be learned following the horsemeat
incident’ and ‘Better Regulation - street trading’. It also
provided a representative to the ‘Controlling the risk
from cross contamination guidance review group’,
being organised by FSA, reviewing the current FSA
guidance document. The review group comprises
representatives from all four home countries as well
as consumer and commercial interests. It is probably
fair to say that the scale of the group ensures that no
decisions are taken quickly and there is a concern that
the ultimate guidance document will be unwieldy and
far from user friendly. This concern has been expressed
but it is not clear if it will be taken on board.
Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee
The Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee
(SFELC) is a multi-agency body, which includes
representatives from the enforcement sector, the
business/industry sector, Scottish Government and
consumers.
Catherine Brown, the new FSA Chief Executive,
attended SFELC during the course of the year and
praised its work along with the excellent collaborative
working within the Scottish food community.
During the year the committee received
presentations on:
• The proposed new food body for Scotland
• The proposed Regulatory Reform Bill
• The Scottish Food and Drink Federation’s
re-formulation programme
• FSA Audit Programme in Scotland
• Updates on the work programmes relative to the
Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Committees of SFELC also produced:
• ButcherSafe
• Approved Establishments Guidance
• National Standards for Street Traders
• Sampling and Surveillance Working Group Report
•Updated SFELC Membership and Working
Arrangements
• SFELC Annual Report.
The Resources Working Group continued to meet and
covered a wide range of topics, including:
• A Scottish Framework Agreement
• Updating the Effective Sampling Guidance
• The way forward, following confirmation that CoSLA
will no longer fund the LACORS/LGA system
• A common data standards and IT requirements
• Audit Advisory Committee discussions on accuracy of
‘full time equivalent’ staff numbers
•General Charging in relation to the Better
Regulation agenda
• Concern about attendance at Liaison Groups and
the appropriateness of the representatives sent to
the groups. It was agreed that the Society of Chief
Environmental Health Officers in Scotland should
send personnel to the liaison groups to give guidance,
support and encouragement with a view to
reinvigorate them
• Training Strategy
•Export Certificates.
The enforcement of food law, both food hygiene and food standards, in Scottish local authorities is undertaken exclusively by environmental health professionals – Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and Food Safety Officers.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 22
Legionnaires’ disease
The end of June saw an outbreak of Legionnaires’
disease in the Renfrew area. NHS Greater Glasgow and
Clyde’s public health protection unit investigated the
incident together with the Health and Safety Executive,
HPS and local authority partners. Investigations
included visiting all water cooling towers within a 6km
radius of the homes of the confirmed Renfrew cases.
Water cooling towers in these areas were proactively
treated with chemicals that kill the Legionella bacteria.
Samples were taken, however due to the complex
laboratory processes used to confirm or identify
Legionellae, the results of these samples will not be
known for some time.
Legionella longbeachae (L.longbeachae)
L.longbeachae is an unusual form of Legionella.
The major source of human infection is considered to
be commercial growing media and other composted
materials. HPS has had an ongoing involvement
in supporting a number of NHS boards and local
authorities in the investigation of a recent cluster of
L.longbeachae. In the period August-September, six
confirmed cases and one probable case were reported.
Due to cases being identified in two NHS boards, the
investigation was co-ordinated by HPS. A report on this
investigation will be published in 2014.
On 12 September we published the report ‘Increased
incidence of Legionnaires’ disease caused by
Legionella longbeachae in Scotland’. This report covers
epidemiological, microbiological and environmental
investigation, as well as risk assessment and
recommendations. A wide range of professionals
had input to this including public health specialists,
Environmental Health Officers, microbiology specialists
and experts from SEPA and the soil industry.
Health Protection ScotlandThroughout 2013, Health Protection Scotland (HPS)
continued to work closely with NHS boards, local
authorities and national agencies to protect and
improve health in Scotland by offering expert advice
on a range of health protection related issues. We
recognise Environmental Health as being core to
the protection of human health and consider the
Environmental Health community to be a key partner
in this.
Organisational change
On 1 June, HPS merged with the Information Services
Division (ISD) as a result of organisational change
within NHS National Services Scotland. The aim of
this development is to provide stronger public health
insight and support by bringing together our public
health expertise, statisticians, epidemiologists and
information experts.
VTEC/E.coli O157 Action Plan
HPS co-ordinated the production of this plan on behalf
of Scottish Government, involving partner agencies
including representation from REHIS. Setting out
86 recommendations, it is designed to tackle
VTEC/E.coli O157 infection in Scotland. A number of
HPS staff are on the Action Group and will be liaising
with Scottish Government to disseminate key findings
for stakeholders and oversee the implementation of
recommendations during the coming year.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 23
The report makes various recommendations about
control measures, in particular whether bags of growing
media should be labelled with a warning on how to
avoid possible exposure to the organism.
In 2014 HPS will be supporting the Health Protection
Network with the update of the ‘Guidance on
Management of Legionella Incidents, Outbreaks and
Clusters in the Community’, due to be republished in
September. The experiences and lessons learned from
recent outbreaks of Legionella will help to inform the
review of the guidance document.
Air quality and mortality in Scotland
Public Health England (PHE) is scheduled to publish
a report on the estimated impact of air pollution
on mortality levels across the UK in Spring 2014.
In preparation for the publication of this report,
HPS has worked with the Society of Chief Officers
of Environmental Health in Scotland, Scottish
Government, SEPA, NHS Health Scotland, NHS boards,
PHE and Ricardo-AEA to prepare a briefing document
to support local authorities in responding to requests
for interpretation of local data. HPS will share the
briefing document with colleagues in local authorities
to coincide with the release of PHE’s report.
Further information on Health Protection Scotland can
be found at www.hps.scot.nhs.uk.
Healthcare Environment InspectorateThe Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) is part
of Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Since being
established in September 2009, we have carried out
over 140 inspections to hospitals across Scotland.
In this inspection year (September 2012-September
2013), we carried out 35 inspections, 32 of which
were unannounced.
Our inspections look at the infection prevention
and control systems and processes in place at ward,
department and NHS board level to see how these
ensure a safe and clean environment for patients.
We are a non-regulatory body but we make
requirements or recommendations to help NHS
boards identify where they need to raise standards to
improve the cleanliness in hospitals or services.
Should NHS boards not implement any of our
requirements we have the ability to escalate our
concerns to the Scottish Government.
In September 2013, we also started inspecting
community hospitals. Community hospitals provide
care that bridges the gap between the acute hospital
and home. These inspections have the same focus and
same skill mix within the teams as our inspections to
acute hospitals. This includes inspectors with NHS and
non-NHS backgrounds, including environmental health.
As with our acute hospital inspections, we continue to
have trained volunteer members of the public with us
to help gather the views of patients in hospital.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 24
As well as producing local reports after each inspection,
we produce an annual report summarising our findings
from a national perspective. We published this year’s
annual report in February 2014.
Our Chief Inspector talks in this report about the good
progress we have found in the standard of cleanliness,
hygiene and infection control in hospitals over the last
four years.
However, we have found recurring issues with:
• poor standards of cleanliness of patient equipment
• poor hand hygiene
• poor management of waste (domestic and clinical)
and linen
• poor use of personal protective equipment (such as
aprons and gloves) by staff.
Our Chief Inspector makes two important
recommendations in this year’s annual report
to be taken forward nationally:
• NHS boards need to look at the systems and staffing
in place for cleaning patient equipment. Good
examples exist in other healthcare systems where
dedicated patient equipment teams and equipment
stores ensure patient equipment is clean and ready
for use.
•The standards we inspect against, the NHS Quality
Improvement Scotland healthcare associated
infection (HAI) standards, are several years old.
We will work with our colleagues in the wider
organisation, Healthcare Improvement Scotland,
to ensure these are updated. Patients should
understand what they should expect in terms of
good quality care for cleanliness, hygiene and
infection control, regardless of what acute or
community setting they are receiving care and
treatment in. The standards also need to provide
clear guidance to the NHS boards on what the public
should expect from their hospital or service.
We will continue to carry out a minimum of 30
inspections each year to both acute and community
hospitals across Scotland. We will focus on inspecting
hospitals and services that are in most need of support
to improve the quality of their cleanliness, hygiene
and infection control. We are also currently testing
an inspection planning procedure to help us identify
our inspection priorities and where we target our
inspections.
If you would like to read more about us and our work,
local inspection reports and our annual report for
2012–2013 are available on our website:
www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org
Health and Safety Executive2013 saw the launch of the ‘National Local Authority
Enforcement Code’ (the Code) which was developed
in response to Professor Ragnar Löfstedt’s government
commissioned report ‘Reclaiming health & safety
for all: An independent review of health and safety
legislation’. The report recommended that HSE be
given a stronger role in directing local authorities’
health and safety inspection and enforcement activity.
A public consultation drew several hundred responses
from a range of businesses, trade bodies, unions,
professional bodies (including REHIS) and of course
local authorities.
Elaine Harbour, head of LAU delivered a presentation at
the REHIS Annual Conference, discussing the National
Code and putting into context how it fits within the
wider Government’s expectation that only businesses
operating in higher risk areas will face health and safety
inspections. She highlighted how risk-based targeting
made the best use of regulatory resource and needed
competent inspectors who were able to prioritise and
exercise discretion.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 25
The presentation was well received and there seemed
to be a genuine willingness to work towards ensuring
the success of the Code.
Alongside the Code, HSE published a list of high risk
activities in local authority enforced sectors suitable for
proactive inspection. Under the Code, local authorities
should inspect the activities/sectors on the HSE list
or where they have intelligence to suggest a business
is failing to manage its risks effectively. Scottish
authorities are working to meet this requirement of
the Code and are considering the wide range of other
intervention types available to them when preparing
their service plans.
To support local authorities in their implementation
of the Code, HSE published supplementary guidance,
which takes into account several points raised by local
authorities in the consultation. Also, with input from
local authorities through the practitioners’ forum,
LAC 67/2, ‘Targeting local authority interventions’
was revised.
Following joint discussions at HASCOG with the Crown
Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and HSE,
there was recognition that local authority officers do
not routinely submit reports to the Fiscal and a skills
gap may exist. A HASCOG working group was formed
to identify an approach which would allow a core team
of officers to develop their skills and competencies,
enabling them to provide support to their fellow
officers. As a result, an incident investigation response
network was created and the network will work, with
the support of REHIS, to develop training with HSE for
the network members in 2014.
The Legionella programme continued throughout
2013. With support from HSE, local authorities have
been undertaking planned inspection to sites with
evaporative cooling systems. The inspection phase
of the programme is due to finish in March 2014,
and local authorities in Scotland are well on target to
complete all their visits ahead of this date.
In the run up to the Commonwealth Games, HSE is
leading regulation of the construction and overlay
phases with local authorities taking over health and
safety enforcement responsibility for all the sporting
venues during Games time. HSE has been working
throughout 2013 to provide strategic direction and
support to co-regulators by chairing the Health and
Safety Regulators’ Steering Group. This Group considers
high level engagement with the primary duty holder
Glasgow 2014 and is planning co-ordination and
communications during Games time. HSE has offered
advice and specialist support including joint site visits,
where necessary during Games time; this has been
welcomed by the five local authorities involved.
2013 saw the first triennial review of HSE, where the
Cabinet Office requires non-departmental public
bodies (NDPBs) to be reviewed every three years
by their parent department. The review was led on
behalf of DWP by Martin Temple, Chair of EEF - the
manufacturers’ organisation. The review concluded that
all of the HSE’s functions remain necessary and that
it should continue to operate as an NDPB executive.
There was however a number of recommendations
for how HSE should operate in the future, and the
Government intends to publish its formal response to
the review in April 2014.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 27
ASH ScotlandIn 2013 we celebrated ASH Scotland’s 40th anniversary,
marking four decades during which the smoking rate in
Scotland has halved.
We also welcomed the publication of the Scottish
Government’s new tobacco control strategy –
‘Creating a Tobacco-Free Generation’.
REHIS, through its membership of SCOT (Scottish Coalition
on Tobacco), worked hard to influence its development
and directions.
The strategy sets out a five-year plan to counter the harms
caused by tobacco. It also introduced a welcome target for
Scotland to be ‘tobacco free’ for the next generation -
a smoking prevalence of 5% or less by 2034.
It will tackle environmental issues through a range of
measures, including stopping smoking in hospital grounds
and inside prisons and by encouraging councils to prevent
tobacco use in children’s outdoor play areas.
In 2013 we successfully campaigned for a smoke-free 2014
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, meaning children and
other visitors to venues will be able to enjoy a smoke-free
environment at this showpiece sporting event.
We also backed the launch of a public consultation
on whether to ban smoking in cars when children are
present - part of a proposed Members’ Bill in the Scottish
Parliament calling for the restriction to be made law.
In June, REHIS was among those who attended ASH
Scotland’s successful 40th anniversary international
conference, ‘Towards a Generation Free From Tobacco’,
held in Edinburgh.
We continued with our efforts to challenge where
‘health and safety’ is often incorrectly used as a
convenient excuse to stop what are essentially
sensible activities going ahead. Throughout 2013 an
independent panel - the Myth Busters Challenge Panel
scrutinised such decisions.
The Panel is chaired by the HSE Chair Judith Hackitt,
with a pool of independent members who represent a
wide range of interests. This Panel looks into enquiries
regarding the advice given by non-regulators such as
insurance companies, health and safety consultants
and employers and quickly assess if a sensible and
proportionate decision has been made. The Panel
wants to make it clear that ‘health and safety’ is about
managing real risks properly, not being risk averse and
stopping people getting on with their lives.
Throughout 2013 HSE continued to have strong
relationships with local authorities in Scotland on a
number of levels: locally at the four liaison groups; and,
nationally at HASCOG, SoCOEHS and PHASS, and we
look forward to working together throughout 2014.
Sheila Duffy, ASH Scotland’s Chief Executive.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 28
International Federation of Environmental HealthIntroduction
The International Federation of Environmental Health
(IFEH) was founded in 1985 and is a worldwide
organisation promoting environmental health and
disseminating knowledge to Environmental Health
Professionals globally. It provides for a means of
exchange of information and experience and the
discussion between members of environmental health
science and administration. It provides for congresses
and meetings to allow this exchange to happen in
a way that benefits environmental health around
the planet, informing state agencies, governments
and international organisations concerned with
Environmental Health.
REHIS is a founding member of the IFEH, its European
region the European Federation of Environmental
Health (EFEH) and has supported the Federation from
its inception in 1985 to this day and hopefully for the
foreseeable future. REHIS has seen its members and
representatives hold the posts of President, Press
Relations Officer, Honorary Secretary and Editor to
name but a few.
Membership and governance
Federation membership is truly worldwide, being
transcontinental and intercontinental. Membership
categories range from Full Membership for national
associations representing environmental health,
Associate Membership for organisations with an
Later in the year, in partnership with REHIS, we once again
ran the Crofton Awards for young people.
The Crofton Award recognises existing work groups are
doing to tackle tobacco issues and support young people’s
health and wellbeing and provides funds for youth
groups to develop their tobacco work. The Crofton Best
Newcomer Award goes to the group with the best idea
on how they would like to reduce the harm caused by
tobacco in their area.
At a presentation ceremony at the Scottish Parliament,
attended by a number of MSPs, the Crofton Award of
£1,000 was won by Portland High School in Coatbridge,
Lanarkshire, and the Hub Health Drop-in at Kirkcaldy
YMCA in Fife received the Best Newcomer Award of £500.
A key measure that moved forward in 2013 was the
drive for the introduction of plain, standardised tobacco
packaging, which will remove attractive branding and
design features from packets. This is an important initiative
that will help de-glamourise smoking and discourage
young people from taking up the habit. Westminster
announced an independent review of the plain packs
proposal, to report by March 2014, and will decide
whether to bring in legislation across the UK after seeing
its findings. The Scottish Government is committed to go it
alone on plain packs if necessary.
Another developing area in 2013 was the growing
popularity of electronic cigarettes, which provide nicotine
but produce vapour rather than traditional tobacco smoke.
A number of pub chains and other venues have banned
the devices and we have encouraged organisations to
bring in policies on e-cigarette use that are appropriate to
their individual environments, such as whether children
are present.
Finally, I was personally very honoured to be the recipient
of the REHIS Meritorious Endeavours in Environmental
Health Award for 2013.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 29
associated interest including academic bodies,
regional associations and NGOs. Academic bodies
can be part of the Federation’s Academic Forum
and Individual Membership is open to Environmental
Health Professionals.
The current Presidency will change hands at the World
Congress on Environmental Health in Las Vegas in
July this year. The President Elect, Henning Hansen
from Denmark will take over the reins and REHIS
looks forward to working with Henning to ensure a
productive and vibrant period for the IFEH, REHIS and
its members.
The IFEH governance structure includes a Board of
Directors which is made up of the President, President
Elect, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, and the five
Regional Chairs. Board meetings are held 2-3 times a
year, usually by teleconference and work on matters
of governance and strategy. The Federation has its
five operational regions of Africa, the Americas, Asia
and Pacific, Europe and Middle East. These regions
are going from strength to strength and worldwide
membership continues to grow in each of the
membership categories. The Americas Regional Group
has been enjoying a resurgence since 2012, so much so
that it will host the World Congress in Las Vegas in July
2014. This is undoubtedly a milestone for the Americas
and REHIS commends them on what is set to be a
packed, educational and spectacular event.
Meetings and initiatives
The IFEH holds its Council meeting and AGM annually
and every two years holds a World Congress. The IFEH
will host its Annual IFEH Council and Regional Group
meetings, the IFEH AGM and the IFEH International
Faculty Forum for academics and students from
5 to 10 July in connection with the World Congress
in Las Vegas.
This 13th IFEH World Congress, presented in
partnership with the National Environmental Health
Association (NEHA) 2014 Annual Education Conference
and Exhibition, is set to bring together the latest
innovations and unique responses to environmental
health and protection problems. There are more
than 20 different environmental health topics being
covered through educational lectures, hands-on
demonstrations, tabletop exercises, panel discussions,
poster presentations, roundtable discussions and new
interactive and innovative presentation formats. REHIS
is providing some financial assistance to support the
attendance of a Malawi representative in Las Vegas.
World Environmental Health Day
World Environmental Health Day is scheduled for
26 September each year. The IFEH incepted World
Environmental Health Day in 2011 in Bali and it has
been celebrated worldwide each year since. REHIS
along with its fellow IFEH members will continue to
support this important annual event.
Conclusion
As a founding member of the IFEH, REHIS will
continue to support it and its Regional Groups. REHIS
remains committed to protecting and improving
health through its interactions with the Federation, its
partners and affiliates, and looks forward to sharing and
disseminating environmental health knowledge and
public health activities at all the events in Las Vegas and
in the years to come.
‘Working to disseminate knowledge covering
Environmental Health and to promote co-operation
between countries where Environmental Health issues
are transboundary’
REHIS Annual Review 2013 30
Appendix 1
Members of the REHIS
Council 2012/2013
President: Bernard Forteath
Senior Vice-President: Colin Wallace
Junior Vice-President: Martin Keeley
Past President:s Paul Bradley Alistair Thomson
Centre Chair (Northern): Patricia Sheldon
Centre Secretary (Northern): Bob Drummond
Centre Chair (Southern): Drew Hall
Centre Secretary (Southern): David Duffy
EHO (NORTH): OTHERS:
John Love Christine Fraser
Christine Morrison Raymond Hubbocks
Graham Robertson Wendy Barrie
Sandy Fraser Martin Henry
Sarah MacLeod-Bonnar
EHO (SOUTH):
Brian Lawrie
Lorrainne MacGillivray
John Sleith
Evonne Bauer
George McCracken
Alan Morrison
Heather Dick
George Fairgrieve OBE
Linda Kain
Appendix 2
Institute staff
Chief Executive: Tom Bell
Director of Training: Graham Walker
Director of Professional Development: Robert Howe
Training Advisers: Ian McGruther
Dr Jane Bunting
Appendix 3
Fellows of the Institute
From left to right: Robert Drummond, Clare Ireland & Alasdair MacEachen receiving their Fellowships.
Kofi Aidoo
Tom Bell
John M Beveridge
Paul Bradley
David J Cameron
Elizabeth S Corbett
John F Crawford
Robert Drummond
George M Duffus
George Fairgrieve OBE
Robert P Findlay
Bernard J Forteath
Fellowships are awarded to Ordinary Members deemed
to have rendered outstanding and distinctive service
to the Institute.
Clare Ireland
Martin D Keeley
Brian Kelly
Angus Lowden OBE
Alasdair MacEachen
Eoin MacLure
George McCracken
Keith McNamara
George P Morris
Gilbert Robertson
Graham Robertson
John Sleith
Richard A Sprenger
REHIS Annual Review 2013 31
Christine Fraser Kenneth Stewart
John W B Frater John R Stirling
Charles Gibson John P Summers
Michael Halls Alexander S Taylor
Martin G Henry James A Thomson
Patrick Hoey R Graham Walker
Roderick D House Colin Wallace
Robert Howe David G Watson
Appendix 4
Honorary Members
of the InstituteHonorary Memberships are awarded to members
deemed to have made a distinguished contribution
to the field of Environmental Health.
James Fallens Dr Anthony Grimason
Robert P Findlay Michael Halls
Bernard J Forteath Eoin MacLure
John R Stirling
Appendix 5
Honorary Vice-Presidents
of the Institute
George Georgallas Young Samanyika
Kenneth Macintosh MSP John Scott MSP
Stewart Maxwell MSP Dr Jim Smith
Ann Marie Part
Appendix 6
Recipients of the Award for
Meritorious Endeavours in
Environmental Health
This award was introduced in 2006 to recognise
the efforts/achievements of individuals and their
contributions in the context of environmental health.
Recipients:
2006 Stewart Maxwell MSP
2007 Ken Macintosh MSP
2008 Dr Harry Burns
2009 Dr Tracy Morse
2010 Professor T Hugh Pennington
2011 Professor Jim McEwen
2012 Peter Midgley
2013 Sheila Duffy
Sheila Duffy receiving her award from President, Bernard Forteath
REHIS Annual Review 2013 32
SFSORB Higher Certificate in
Food Premises Inspection
Jane Docherty
Juliana Teixeira
SFSORB Higher Certificate in
Food Standards Inspection
Dawn Parks
Alistair Orr Award for the
Best Final Year Student at the
University of Strathclyde
Pamela Fraser
REHIS Award for the Best MSc
Student at the University of
Strathclyde
Cameron McAuley
Appendix 7
Annual Awards Ceremony 2013
Award of Fellowship of the
Royal Environmental Health
Institute of Scotland
Robert Drummond
Clare Ireland
Alasdair MacEachen
Award for Meritorious
Endeavours in Environmental
Health
Sheila Duffy
REHIS Diploma in
Environmental Health
Robert Bowditch Fiona Chapman
Brian Gallacher Ralph N McAleer
Cameron McAuley Hannah J McMorran
Ann Marie Murray David Andrew Strang
Anthony W Taylor David Wilcox
REHIS Annual Review 2013 33
John Merrylees Award for the
Best Final Year Project at the
University of Strathclyde
Pamela Fraser
Graeme Lindop
A M M Connell Award for the
Best EHO Student at the REHIS
Professional Examinations
Hannah McMorran
Iain McDonald Award for
the Best EHO Student in the
Occupational Health and Safety
Programme Area at the REHIS
Professional Examinations
Anthony Taylor
FSA Scotland Award for the Best
Candidate in the Food Safety
Programme Area at the REHIS
Professional Examinations
Hannah McMorran
FSA Scotland Award for the
Best Candidate in the Food
Standards Programme Area
at the REHIS Professional
Examinations
Robert Bowditch
Health Protection Scotland
Award for the Best
Environmental Health Officer
Student in the Public Health
Programme Area at the REHIS
Professional Examinations
Hannah McMorran
REHIS Journalism Award
Hannah Rodger
REHIS Annual Review 2013 34
The President’s Award
This award was is presented annually to an individual or
organisation who has/which has significantly contributed
to the improvement and protection of health and
wellbeing in Scotland through their/its activities in the
Institute’s Community Training activities.
The Engine Shed, Edinburgh Marian MacDonald
Highfield Award for Advanced
Food Hygiene
Vicky Paterson Winner
Margery McBain Runner up
Highfield Award for
Intermediate Food Hygiene
Anna Frankowsla Winner
Matthew Ward Runner up
Highfield Award for
Intermediate Health and Safety
Valerie Nicolson Winner
Robbie Simpson Runner up
Highfield Award for
Intermediate HACCP
Practices Certificate
Anne Dolan Winner
Highfield Award for Certificate
in Advanced Health and Safety
Irene Robertson Winner
REHIS Annual Review 2013 36
Appendix 8
Chartered Environmental Health Officers
The following Environmental Health Officer members have been designated as Chartered Environmental Health Officers:
William R Anderson
Brian Auld
Sheila M Baird
Anthony P Barker
Evonne M Bauer
John N Bell
Tom Bell
Alan J Bentley
Lynne M Bissett
Philip Bloomer
Kevin Boyle
Paul Bradley
Aileen A Brodie
David W Brown
Gordon Brown
Claire Burrows
Kathryn Cairns
Valerie Cameron
Charlotte Cannon
Andrea Carson
Ann J Connolly
Carrie Cooper
David A Cooper
Graeme G Corner
Maria Corrigan
Catriona Cowan
Andrew Crawford
Lynn Cree
Alasdair Cruickshank
Louise Cunningham
Christopher Dalrymple
Ann Dalziel
Elaine R Davies
Claire Devlin
Helena Dewar
Alastair Dewart
Martin Diamond
Heather Dick
Philip J S Dinsdale
Neil A Doherty
Nicola J Donegan
Andrew M Douglas
Rhona Douglas
David Duffy
Veronica Duncan
Ruth A M Ewing
George P Fairgrieve OBE
Lyn Farmer
Isabel M Fellowes
Jake Fenton
Ailsa J Findlayson
James G Flynn
David Forrest
Bernard J Forteath
Peter Fowler
Kevin Freeman
Brian Friel
Steven Glass
Lynsey Glover
Helen Gordon
Alan H Gow
Lindsey E Green
Martin R Hall
Drew Hall
Fiona M Hamilton
Joseph Harkin
Stephen Harold
Silke Hattenhauer
Carol Heaton
Patrick Hoey
Robert C Howe
Coila Hunter
David Hunter
Andy Hurst
John Hutchison
Clare Ireland
Ailsa Johnson
Gillian M Johnston
Gordon Jorgensen
Linda Kain
Louise Kearns
Karen Keeley
Martin D Keeley
Paul Kerr
Michael Kibaris
Stuart J Kinghorn
John W Laird
Kenneth A Lang
Michael Lapsley
Gordon Lauder
REHIS Annual Review 2013 37
Bye-Law 8.3A allows members or Fellows who are Chartered Environmental Health Officers the privilege of using the
designatory letters ‘Ch.EHO MREHIS’ or ‘Ch.EHO FREHIS’. REHIS is the only organisation able to confer ‘Chartered EHO’
status and only REHIS members can be described as Chartered Environmental Health Officers.
Lilianne Lauder
Sharon Lauder
Andrew Law
Brian Lawrie
Elaina J Leach
John M Lee
Lesley Lees
Sharon I Lindsay
John Love
Lorna Lynch
Ruth S Macaskill
Gregor MacCormick
Lorrainne MacGillivray
Donald Mackay
Norina MacPhail
Moira Malcolm
Dawn Manson
Anna Martin
J Lindsay Matthew
Lisa McCann
Iain R McCluskey
Alan McCormick
George McCracken
James McGibbon
Ian D McGruther
Emma McGuinness
Karen McIndoe
Rachel McInnes
Donna McIntosh
Jim McIntyre
James G McLennan
Martin McNab
Lindsey-Anne McNeil
Margaret J McWhinnie
Eilidh S Meechan
Peter J Midgley
Margaret Moir
Crawford Morgan
Alan Morrison
Christine Morrison
Irene B Morrison
Richard Mowat
Matthew Murdoch
John E Murray
Alexander S Ness
Briony Norris
Karen A O’Dell
Derek A Oliver
Pamela Palmer
Barry Parkins
Nicola A Paton
Gordon A Pollock
W Graham Pollock
Fiona Prentice
Christopher Ratter
Lorna J Reid
Leigh B Richardson
Graham Robertson
Ian S Robertson
Mark Robertson
Mary Robertson
Iain Rodgers
Brian Seditas
Alasdair N Sharp
Patricia M Sheldon
Forbes Shepherd
Crawford Sibbald
Karen A Sievewright
Zoe Skinner
John W Sleith
Lynn S Slight
Craig H Smith
Emilie L Smith
Matthew Smith
Eleanor Smyth
Patrick Smyth
Craig Somers
Alana C Steven
Andrew B Stewart
Roy Stewart
Janet M Stitt
Sharon E Stitt
Rachael Stobbs
William S I Stobie
Marion T Summers
Alan R Tait
Paul L Todd
Paul Turner
Lorna R Twynam-Perkins
Christine M Walker
Kirsty Walker
Colin R Wallace
Rowenna Wallace
Mark Walsh
Diane Ward
James S White
Linda A Will
Stephen A Williamson
Alan Yates
Christina Yildirim
Andrew R Young
REHIS Annual Review 2013 38
Appendix 9
Scottish Local Authority Environmental
Health Staffing Statistics
As a result of a Freedom of Information request to all 32 Scottish local authorities
by Stewart Maxwell MSP the following staffing statistics were obtained:
16 September 2011
16 September 2012
16 September 2013
Environmental Health Officers
507 492.5 482
Food Safety Officers 84 83.5 80
Technical Support Staff 467 469 429
Note: The number of Environmental Health Officers employed within Scotland’s
local authorities has fallen from 677 in 1985 to 482 in September 2013.
The Institute records its gratitude to Stewart Maxwell MSP for requesting this
information and for collating the statistics on which the above report is made.
.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 39
List of Contributors: Organisations and Names Tom Bell, Chief Executive, REHIS
Bernard Forteath, President, REHIS
Robert Howe, Director of Professional Development, REHIS
Graham Walker, Director of Training, REHIS
Graham Robertson, Council’s representative, Health and Safety Co-ordinating Group
Brian Lawrie, Honorary Secretary, The Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland
Clare Ireland and Peter Midgley, Food Standards Agency Scotland
George Fairgrieve OBE, Council’s representative, Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee
Environmental Public Health Team, Health Protection Scotland
Susan Brimelow, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Environment Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement
Scotland
Tracy McTaggart, Local Authority Unit, Health and Safety Executive
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive, ASH Scotland
Martin Keeley, Council’s representative, International Federation of Environmental Health
REHIS Annual Review 2013 41
Core Values and VisionREHIS is established to promote the advancement of Environmental Health for
the benefit of the community. Environmental Health embraces all aspects of
public health, hygiene and safety in all or any of their branches.
In particular the Institute aims to promote:
• improvements to the environment which can have a positive impact on
public health or safety
• safe and healthy housing
• an environment which is safe and prevents harm to human health
• good standards of occupational health, safety and hygiene
• food which is safe, wholesome and accurately described
• sustainability, locally, nationally and internationally
• effective education and training to ensure environmental health standards
are maintained and improved
• the resolution of health and environmental health inequalities
• equitable, practical and consistent regulation and enforcement
• high standards of professional training and conduct amongst Environmental
Health Officers and others engaged in maintaining and promoting
environmental health.
REHIS Annual Review 2013 42
About REHISThe Institute was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 16th February 1983, to give
effect to the amalgamation of The Royal Sanitary Association of Scotland and The Scottish Institute of
Environmental Health. The Institute was Incorporated by Royal Charter on 8th March 2001, following
which the Company was wound up.
The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, Number
SC009406.
The objects for which the Institute is established, contained in Article 3 of the Charter, are for the
benefit of the community to promote the advancement of Environmental Health by:
a. stimulating general interest in and disseminating knowledge concerning Environmental Health;
b. promoting education and training in matters relating to Environmental Health; and
c. maintaining, by examination or otherwise, high standards of professional practice and conduct
on the part of Environmental Health Officers in Scotland.
The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is an independent and self-financing
organisation. It neither seeks nor receives grant aid. The Institute’s charitable activities are funded
significantly by the subscriptions received from its members.
The Institute’s affairs are managed by a Council which is elected by members. The Royal
Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is a founding member of the International Federation of
Environmental Health.
The Institute frequently uses the acronym: REHIS®.
REHIS and the Crest device are registered trademarks of The Royal Environmental Health Institute
of Scotland.
Council of REHIS
Management Committee
Examinations and Professional
Standards Committee
Environmental Health Promotion
Committee
Membership, Education and
Training Committee
Scottish Food Safety Officers’
Registration Board
Health and Safety Co-ordinating GroupScottish Pollution Control Co-ordinating Committee
Public Health and Housing Working GroupFood Safety Working Group
Sustainable Development Working Group
REHIS Annual Review 2013 44
For further information on Environmental Health
Please contact:
The Chief Executive
The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland
19 Torphichen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8HX
Tel: 0131 229 2968
Fax: 0131 228 2926
Website: www.rehis.com
E-mail: [email protected]
The Royal EnvironmentalHealth Institute of ScotlandThe Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland
is a registered Scottish charity, Number SC009406.