Western Group Environmental Health Service - Derry City Council

SunbedsThe NI Health & Safety Liaison Group has considerable involvement in the preparations for the implementationof the new Sunbed legislation (which comes into effect on 1 st May 2012). This included responding toconsultations, revising draft legislation, and preparing guidance and training for EHOs on the new legislation. Aguidance document for sunbed providers was produced and distributed to approximately five hundred sunbedpremises in Northern Ireland. Western Group Environmental Health Departments will be making contact withpremises in the year ahead to ensure compliance with the legislation.Gas SafetyGas Safety continues to be a focus for Health and Safety due to the number of fatalities occurring, particularly in relation to CarbonMonoxide poisoning. Western Group Councils have highlighted areas of concern such as the necessity to service and maintain gasappliances. During Inspections, businesses have been encouraged to use only Gas Safe Registered engineers and request a full gassafety check. Council websites have recommended installation of an audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarm as a furtherprecautionary measure.Safety at Sports GroundsWestern Group staff and Environmental Health Officers throughout the five Councils continued to undertake monitoring of safety arrangements at alldesignated sports grounds during the past year. A Regional CEHOG Sports Ground group continued to meet to ensure consistency across DistrictCouncils. In addition, subgroups were established to consider specific issues affecting Soccer and GAA grounds.All designated Sports Grounds were reviewed against standards set for General Safety Certificates in autumn 2011. 95% of all designated grounds willhave either maintained or improved their compliance standards. A number of new draft Guidance Documents prepared by SportNI were consideredthroughout the year before being finalised. In addition, Western Group staff coordinated two successful desktop review exercises testing contingencyplanning in October 2011 and March 2012. This involved devising realistic scenarios for Soccer and GAA Sports Grounds, and preparing facilitator packsand delegate packs for the exercises.22