Jun162017

HSL: RPE Fit Test-Introduction – Buxton, 20 July 2017

HSE
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Book Course

HSL is to run a 1 day course on RPE Fit Test – Introduction.

20 July 2017

Introduction

Tight-fitting Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) needs to fit the wearer’s face well in order to work correctly and provide the expected protection. As faces come in all shapes and sizes, each wearer needs to be supplied with a facepiece which matches their face. Fit testing demonstrates how well a facepiece matches the individual’s face;  it is used to select a facemask which is a good match for them. HSE’s relevant Approved Codes Of Practice (ACOP) require that fit testing be carried out as part of the initial RPE selection process, to ensure that the wearer has the correct facepiece.

This course will explain the importance of fit testing, the responsibilities of employers and introduce the various fit testing methods. Practical sessions will cover the essential skills of pre-use checking and correct donning of facepieces, before going on to provide opportunity to practice fit testing using the 2 methods which are extensively and almost exclusively in use in the UK.  It is therefore ideal for those new to, or relatively new to, practical fit testing and also suitable for those with responsiblility for correct selection of respiratory protection.

This is in an introductory course which will provide a good foundation on which to build  practical fit testing skills. To become a competent fit tester will require considerable additional practice and experience.  Our Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) fit testing – Advanced course is suitable for those who are well on the way to becoming competent fit testers and are possibly considering applying for accreditation under the Fit2Fit scheme.

All course presenters are Fit2Fit accredited fit testers, some were actively involved in the development of the Fit2Fit scheme.

This Introduction Course includes:CPD Certified

  • Understanding the importance of fit testing                                            
  • Principles of fit testing methods
  • Essential pre-use checking and correct donning of facemasks
  • Responsibilities of employers and fit testers
  • Qualitative fit testing using Bitrex or Saccharin
  • Quantitative fit testing using the Portacount

Who should attend:

Individuals who are new to or relatively new to practical fit testing and those with responsibility for correct selection of respiratory protection.

More information on the Fit2Fit scheme is available at http://fit2fit.org/index.html

Venue

The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport.

Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitpeakdistrict.com.

Cost

The discounted cost of this course is £600 per person (includes course notes, lunch and refreshments).

Book Course

Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers.  If you are selecting the invoice option for payment, it will be mandatory to input a purchase order/reference number as we are unable to process booking forms without this.

For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit
at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806.

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Jun162017

Press release: New SCOPE ADR e-learning module receives European-wide CME/CPD accreditation

HM Government
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Doctors across Europe can now learn more about the importance of reporting suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) via a free e-learning module.

Prompt reporting helps make medicines safer and is part of a doctor’s responsibility. This includes informing patients and carers how they can help by reporting suspected side effects themselves.

Regulators like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) rely on the reporting of suspected ADRs to make sure medicines on the market are acceptably safe. However, all reporting systems suffer from underreporting, and training healthcare professionals to report suspected ADRs is important to both raise awareness and help strengthen the system.

The e-learning module has now received the highest order of accreditation from the European Accreditation Council for CME (EACCME®). This means doctors are awarded 1 EACCME credit upon completion of the 45 minute ADR e-learning module.

The ADR e-learning module was created by the Strengthening Collaboration for Operating Pharmacovigilance in Europe (SCOPE) Joint Action project.

A survey conducted by SCOPE found many European countries lacked sustainable educational materials about ADR reporting. This e-learning aims to support healthcare professionals and medicines regulators by providing clear guidance which is rewarded with CME/CPD points.

Mick Foy, group manager for MHRA’s Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines division said:

The key aim of our work is to make sure medicines are effective and acceptably safe. The reporting of suspected ADRs is vital in helping us achieve this aim.

Doctors are critical to this as their position on the front line of care means they are often the first to recognise an adverse drug reaction.

We’ve created this e-learning module help doctors so they can have confidence that their reports are making a difference.

All healthcare professionals, and indeed patients themselves, can help make medicines safer by reporting any suspected side effects easily and quickly through our Yellow Card Scheme online or via the mobile app. Other countries collect reports in similar methods.

Notes to Editor

  1. The e-learning module is hosted on the SCOPE website. Learners are asked to complete a short survey upon completion of the e-learning.
  2. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks. MHRA is a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which also includes the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) and the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health.
  3. National reporting systems for the collection of suspected adverse drug reactions (commonly known as side effects) have acted as early warning systems to help identify numerous important safety issues, many of which were not recognised as being related to a particular medicine until reports were received by medicines regulators www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
  4. The SCOPE Joint Action project aims to support EU member states in the operation of their pharmacovigilance systems which help safeguard public health. It is funded through contributions from European Commission and the involved Member States.
  5. The SCOPE Joint Action project social media campaign to raise awareness levels of national ADR reporting systems is being taken forward through the Heads of Medicines Agencies Working Group for Communications Professionals.
  6. The European Union of Medical Specialists (Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes – UEMS) is a non-governmental organisation representing national associations of medical specialists in the European Union and in associated countries. Current membership includes 37 countries.

Jun162017

HSL: RPE Essentials – Buxton, 18-19 July 2017

HSE
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Book Course

HSL is to run a 2 day course on RPE Essentials.

18-19 July 2017

Introduction

Whilst the use of RPE should only be considered when other control measures are impractical or after their implementation a residual risk remains, there are many workplace situations where RPE is required.

RPE is capable of providing effective protection, provided that it is correctly selected, used and maintained. Unsuitable, poorly maintained and incorrectly used RPE may give limited protection, or may not provide any protection. This could lead to ill heath in the short or long term, with the possibility of permanent disability. If the RPE is being used in conditions where there is an immediate danger to life and health, the situation could prove fatal.

This course will increase your knowledge and understanding of RPE and how it can be used effectively in the workplace as a control measure. It will provide training in correctly selecting adequate and suitable RPE (following the principles of HSG 53 and COSHH essentials), and how it should be used and maintained. The course will include practical elements to enhance learning and provide practical skills.

What will the course cover?

Who should attend?

Persons with responsibility for RPE selection, use and maintenance in a workplace. Those who users may rely upon for guidance on what equipment to obtain and use e.g. suppliers.

Venue

The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport.

Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitbuxton.co.uk

Cost

The cost of this course is £1100 per person (includes course notes, lunch and refreshments).

Book Course

Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers.  If you are selecting the invoice option for payment, it will be mandatory to input a purchase order/reference number as we are unable to process booking forms without this.

For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit
at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806.

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Jun162017

Speech: Jeremy Hunt: message to NHS staff in support of their excellent work

HM Government
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When I was first made Health Secretary I said it was the biggest privilege of my life, and so it has proved. What I didn’t realise then was that it would also become my biggest passion – working in health is not just a job but a vocation.

The election period reinforced more acutely than ever the incredible work of the NHS, particularly the way staff dealt first with the global cyber-attack and then with horrendous terror attacks in Manchester and London.

After the Manchester bombing I met nurses caring for bereaved families with incredible compassion, whilst in London I heard stories of doctors who cycled the length of the city at 2am just because they wanted to help.

These stories speak to a wider truth: NHS staff do an amazing job, often in the most difficult of circumstances. And it is this which brings us all together – our great belief in the NHS, what it stands for and what we believe it can be.

Your compassion, energy, dynamism and total dedication, day in, day out, are truly humbling.

When I look at what the NHS has achieved in recent years, I think you can feel very proud. Despite the financial crash and ensuing period of constrained budgets, today’s NHS has some of its highest ever satisfaction ratings, carries out 5,000 more operations a day, has lower MRSA rates than France, Germany or Spain, and sees its highest ever survival rates for cancer, heart attacks and stroke.

One of the biggest expansions of mental health provision in Europe is underway right here, and there’s been a transformation in attitudes towards patient safety in the wake of Mid-Staffs. These achievements simply wouldn’t have been possible without you, our world-class doctors, nurses, paramedics and everyone else who works every day, across the country, to make the NHS the best it can be.

I am proud that this country was the first to say that no one – rich or poor, young or old – should have to worry about affording good healthcare. Indeed we have made this pledge central to how people right across the world define a civilised nation.

Going forwards, we must continue to focus not just on equity but also on excellence. We need to continue our work on patient safety, continue the transformation of mental health, continue developing new models of care and continue to put as much energy into prevention as into cure.

That’s my mission – to support the NHS to become the safest, highest quality health system in the world.

This is not to ignore the fact that difficult issues lie ahead. Money is always going to be a pressure, for instance. But I am confident that, working together, we can unite the whole NHS to deliver the safest, highest quality care anywhere in the world.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for your hard work to make this vision a reality.

Jun162017

HSL: Ergonomics – Buxton, 2-6 Oct 2017

HSE
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Book Course

HSL is to run a 5 day course on Ergonomics.

2 – 6 October 2017

CIEHF

Introduction

A human spineEvery year, 35 million days are lost to British industry as a result of accidents and ill health caused by work activities. A large number of these accidents are due to a lack of thought and planning concerning the use of our everyday systems.

The course provides the ergonomics theory and techniques used to maximize the design of the tools, tasks and workplaces for improved comfort, safety and performance of the workforce.   The techniques cover both the physical and psychosocial aspects of a workplace design, following relevant HSE guidance and approaches to assess and reduce risks.

What will the course cover?

  • Ergonomics principles, methods and techniques
  • Human Beings – physical and psychological factors
  • Applied Anthropometry
  • Workplace Design and DSE
  • Manual Handling risks, assessments and controls
  • Upper Limb Disorders – risks, assessments and controls
  • Stress Management
  • Influencing behaviour
  • User investigation methods, such as interviews, questionnaires and focus groups
  • Task Analysis
  • Controls and Displays
  • Environmental Factors – Lighting, Floors and footwear, Noise

Who should attend?

The course is suited to all who have an interest in workplace ergonomics and wish to understand more about possible interventions that could be made to assess and improve worker comfort, safety and performance. No previous ergonomics or MSD experience is required.

Who will present?

Matthew Birtles – Matt has been a practising ergonomist for 13 years. His work at HSL has spanned various industries and topics, such as welding and foundry work, fairground ride safety and other leisure industry projects, food production, railway and train cabin design, furniture manufacturing, construction health and safety and ergonomics in health care. He also co-authored and presents, material on MSD training for HSE inspectors, and manual handing and the material for this Ergonomics course for the public. Matt has particular interest in the prevention of musculoskeletal injury and the design of fit for purpose ergonomic solutions to workplace problems.

Liz Brueck is a physicist with considerable experience in noise measurement and instrumentation, and hearing protection (including level dependent protectors). She represents HSE on the standard committees for electroacoustic equipment and hearing protectors, and represents the UK on the ISO working group for the acoustic testing of hearing protectors.

Victoria Whitehouse is a psychologist with experience conducting literature reviews in behavioural change and worker engagement, as well as developing and testing a toolkit looking to provide construction SME’s with the tools and techniques necessary to improve their health, safety and business performance. Victoria has also developed and delivered a comprehensive training course on behavioural change, and developed two further training courses on work-related violence and wellbeing.

Jane Hopkinson is a psychologist working in HSL’s Social and Organisational Factors section. Jane’s particular area of expertise is in risk communication, knowledge, attitude and behaviour changing techniques and the management of work related stress and how these can be applied with regard to health and safety. Jane has been responsible for developing and delivering HSL training courses on the topics of behaviour change, wellbeing and work related stress.

Comments & Feedback
“Just a short note to thank you for an excellent course last week, it was great, one of the most useful and interesting courses that I have ever been on.”
Roger Barnes, BAE Systems

Venue

The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport.

Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitbuxton.co.uk

Cost

The cost of the course is £1,500 per person  (includes course notes, lunches, refreshments and a course dinner on the second night).

Book Course

Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers.  If you are selecting the invoice option for payment, it will be mandatory to input a purchase order/reference number as we are unable to process booking forms without this.

For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit
at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806.

Back to Health & Safety Training Courses