Safety, Health & Environmental Forum (Scotland)

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Events:

Mar 18, 2009:
SHEF(S) AGM.

Apr 15, 2009:
Enforcement.

May 20, 2009:
Site Visit.

Jun 17, 2009:
Members Day.

Programme »

Welcome!

SHEF (Scotland) is the oldest safety group in Scotland; we have been promoting safety for over 70 years. Read more about our history here. Safety

We meet on the third Wednesday of every month from September to June at Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Headquarters, click here for more information.

Meetings are open to everyone and membership is available from £40 for new members. If you would like to join click here for the application form or get in touch if you want to know more.

Members Day & End of Session

The 17th sees the final meeting of the 2008-2009 session. Dona McLafferty & Alan Gunn will be speaking on their specialist topics - Eye care and Health & Safety Software. What a great year it's been! We've seen a large number of new members join and old members get back involved. The group won the Alan Butler Award for Communication and we've had some really great meetings - Safety Panto and SFR Technical Rescue Visit being highlights. Next session promises to be even better, so spread the word and get involved.

Technical Rescue Training Centre Site Visit

The site visit to Strathclyde Fire & Rescue’s Technical Rescue Training Centre in Hamilton took place on the 20th May. You can see a video of the day here. The centre came about as a result of 9/11, the ICL Plastics factory explosion in May 2004 and the 7/7 London bombings in 2005. Named Grovepark, after the street where ICL Plastics was based, the centre trains Strathclyde fire fighters in Road Traffic Collisions, Trauma Management, Urban Search and Rescue, Rope Rescue and Confined Space/Trench Rescue.

First Charges for Corporate Manslaughter

A company has become the first in the UK to be charged under the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter Act. Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings is accused over the death of employee Alexander Wright, 27, who was killed when a pit collapsed in September 2008. See BBC for more.

Enforcement

Despite our best efforts, sometimes things go wrong and the organisations we work for and their employees can face enforcement and prosecution. Peter Gray QC from the HSLA will be discussing prosecution and sentencing of companies, the increasing use of existing powers to prosecute directors and criminal liability of companies and directors in relation to fatal road traffic and construction accidents. This is an excellent opportunity to bring directors and other key management staff to hear about the risk of failing to comply and the consequences in event of conviction.

AGM & Strategy Update

The SHEF(S) Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 18th march 2009. The meeting included a presentation from Lesley Hammond on the HSE's future strategy.

Deadly Rules

A recent article in The Guardian reports that Health & Safety should be common sense, but do we all use it?

Be part of the Solution - HSE Consultation

The HSE's consultation on future strategy closes on Monday 2nd March. Feedback from the seven consultation workshops is available on the HSE Website.

Picture Gallery Live

The picture gallery is now available.

STRESS!!

Work-related stress is a major cause of occupational ill health. That means sickness absence, high staff turnover and poor performance in your organisation. HSE’s Nicola Urqhuart spoke about Management Standards that can help you, your employees and their representatives manage the issue sensibly and minimise the impact of work-related stress on your business.

SHEF(S) Temporary Venue Change

Strathclyde Fire & Rescue are in the process of upgrading their reception area, which means we are unable to use the McGill Theatre for our meetings. Thankfully, the University of the West of Scotland have offered us Room C3.5 in the Caird Building, Caird Street in the Hamilton Campus. It's only a stones throw from Fire Headquarters, here are directions if you need them.

Scottish Construction Safety Forum

The Scottish Construction Forum is holding a major seminar on health and safety entitled “AIMING HIGH – LANDING SAFELY” at Glasgow City Chambers on the morning of Wednesday 18 February 2009. Key speakers include Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism and Stephen Williams, Chief Inspector of Construction (UK), HSE Director for London and 2012 Olympic Games. The cost is £75, you can download the booking form here.

Alan Butler Awards Presentation Ceremony

Thursday, 22nd January saw SHEF(S) travel to the House of Lords to be presented with the prize for Category 4 – Best Communication of the Alan Butler Awards. View more photographs in the gallery. The day included a tour of the Palace of Westminster, meeting of SGUK in the Moses Room in the House of Lords, Luncheon with Baroness Gibson and the presentation ceremony in the Cholmondeley Room on the Terrace. Lord Jordan of Bournville, the new President of RoSPA presented SHEF(S) with their award certificate. Presentation by Lord Jordan

Substance Abuse in the Workplace

Now that the Christmas holidays are past, it seems like a good time to make some new years resolutions. One of the best might be to tackle the difficult issue of Alcohol and Drug misuse in the workplace. A study by Norwich Union shows that over three quarters of employers consider alcohol to be the number one threat to employee wellbeing. David Todd from Grendonstar, a leading authority on the problems associated with drugs and alcohol in the workplace will be dispensing his thoughts at the next meeting, come along and get your fix.