We have good working relationships with the national health and safety authorities and many of our health and safety practitioners participate in professional bodies including the Electricity Industry Occupational Health Advisory Group, British Occupational Hygiene Society, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Society of Occupational Medicine.

In March 2010 our General Services Director and Group Health Service Delivery Manager attended the official launch of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance’s (ARMA) ‘Charter for Work for people affected by Musculoskeletal Disorders in the UK’ at the Scottish Parliament.

The Charter calls on policymakers, employers, healthcare providers, employee representatives - people whose lives are affected by MSDs – to take positive steps to prevent work-related MSDs, provide prompt diagnosis, effective treatment and improve the services and support that enable affected people to work.

During the year Doug Wilson, UK General Services Director, was asked by the industry to Chair of the two of the most influential Health & Safety Committees in the UK Power Sector.

He was confirmed an as Ex-Officio Board Member of the UK Energy Networks Association (ENA) and Chairs the ENA Safety Health & Environmental Committee from January 2011.

This Committee includes senior representatives from all key UK power companies and regularly meets with the Health & Safety Executive. In addition, Doug will Co-Chair the UK National Health, Safety & Environmental Committee with Mike Clancy, who is Deputy General Secretary of the Prospect Union.

Both of these positions give us direct access to key politicians and the most senior members of the UK Health & Safety Executive.

Judith Hackett, Chair of the HSE Board, visited Longannet Power Station in July 2010 to discuss process safety and clean coal generation. Afterwards, Ms Hackett commented:

"I was very pleased to visit Longannet and impressed by ScottishPower's commitment to clean coal technologies. HSE will work closely with the generation sector in support of the safe development and operation of this technology, which offers great potential to address carbon dioxide emissions and combat climate change. Turning to the subject of process safety, there is no doubt that delivering best-practice in asset management will bring many operational benefits whilst also reducing the risk of a major incident."