Chamber and committees

Data held centrally on patientstreated in accident and emergency units does not allow the identification of theplace where the injury occurred.

However, information is availablefor patients who are subsequently admitted to hospital as an emergency inpatientas a result of their injury. This is shown in the following table for years ending31 March 1999 to 31 March 2005.

Table 1: Emergency HospitalAdmissions^1,2 as a Result of an Unintentional Injury, which hasOccurred in the Home³ - All Ages, by Area of Residence, Year Ending31 March

Numbers	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Scotland	19,869	18,809	17,962	17,968	17,325	16,807	16,632
NHS Borders	423	523	553	517	442	461	493
Standardised Discharge Rate4
Scotland	341.0	326.4	312.5	311.0	296.2	286.2	279.3
NHS Borders	308.4	384.5	381.9	366.8	300.8	307.5	321.5

Notes:

1. SMR01 data are derived fromin-patient and day case discharge summaries from non-obstetric, non-psychiatricspecialties in general acute NHS hospitals in Scotland.

2. Figures are based on episodesof care. Each episode is initiated by an admission and is ended by a discharge.A patient with more than one episode of care in any one year or across years willbe counted each time he/she receives an episode of care.

3. SMR01 admission type code33 – “Patient Injury - Home Accident (including accidental poisoning in the home)”.

4. Directly standardised usingthe European standard population.

The information requested isnot held centrally.

This information is not heldby the Scottish Executive. The regulationof health and safety at work in Great Britain, including within the construction industry, and thepublication of related statistics, is a matter for the Health and Safety Commissionand Executive. However, my officials havebeen able to obtain the following information from the Health and Safety Executiveshowing accidents recorded in the construction industry in East Lothian since 1999.

East Lothian

Year	Fatal Injuries	Major Injuries*	Over-3-Day Injuries**
1999	0	9	18
2000	0	6	29
2001	1	5	22
2002	0	4	17
2003	0	4	16
2004	0	11	14
2005	0	11	14

Notes:

*Reportable “major injuries” include: fracture other thanto fingers, thumbs or toes; amputation; temporary or permanent loss of sight; injuryresulting from an electrical shock or burn leading to unconciousness or requiringresuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours, and any other injuryleading to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or unconciousness; or requiring resuscitation;or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.

**An “over-three-day injury” is one which is not major butresults in the injured person being away from work or unable to do the full rangeof their normal duties for more than three days, not counting the day of the injuryitself.

The information requested couldonly be obtained at disproportionate cost.

It is not possible to givean absolute time period because each case depends on its own facts andcircumstances.

If large numbers of anthraxspores or bacilli are present then a sample might be reported provisionally asbeing positive within a few hours, with confirmation in around one day. Samplesnot assessed provisionally as being positive need to be cultured for a periodof around one week to allow any bacilli present to reach a detectable level.

Scottish EnterpriseEdinburgh and Lothian is playing a key role working with Edinburgh Crystal and withMidlothian Council in its discussions with Deloitte, the administrator. To helpEdinburgh Crystal staff who may be affected, the local Partnership Action for ContinuingEmployment team stand ready to assist any who are made redundant in finding suitablealternative employment.

In Scotland, therehave been no notifications of suspected cases of Anthrax in humans recorded since1995. The last suspected cases in animals were in 2005 and the last confirmed casein animals was in 1997.

Responsibility for nuclear weaponsstored in Scotland is reserved to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Arrangementsfor responding to radiation accidents are covered by The Radiation (Emergency Preparednessand Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR), which provide a frameworkfor the protection of the public through emergency preparedness for radiation accidentswith the potential to affect members of the public. The Executive, Scottishministers, emergency response organisations and Ministry of Defence staff with responsibilityfor civil contingencies planning, maintain a close liaison to ensure effective responseswould be in place where necessary. Further information can be found in the CivilContingencies Act 2004 and its accompanying guidance Preparing Scotland publishedon the Scottish Executive website:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/27140215/0.

Advice and guidance on the potentialrisk from Anthrax to individuals and businesses who work with animal hides is amatter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has advised the ScottishExecutive Health Department that guidance published in 1997 on Anthrax: Safe Working andPrevention of Infection (HSG174) is available via HSE Books.

Advice and guidance on the potential risk from Anthraxto individuals and businesses who work with animal hides is a matter for the Healthand Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has advised the Scottish Executive Health Department that guidancepublished in 1997 on Anthrax: Safe Working and Prevention of Infection (HSG174)is available via HSE Books.