Norfolk County Council

The release of fine particles during mechanical landfill mining (LFM) operations is a potential environmental pollution and human health risk. Previous studies demonstrate that a significant proportion (40–80% wt) of the content of fine soil-like materials within the size range <10 mm to <4 mm recovered from such operations originate from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. This study evaluates the potential health risks caused by emissions from LFM activities. MSW samples recovered from the drilling of four different wells of a closed UK landfill were analysed for physical, chemical, and biological properties to determine the extent of potential contaminant emissions during LFM activities. The results show that fine particles (approximately ≤1.5 mm) accounted for more than 50% of the total mass of excavated waste and contained predominantly soil-like materials. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, As, and Cr exceed the permissible limits set by the current UK Soil Guideline Values. The highest geoaccumulation index and contamination factor values for Cu were 2.51 and 12.51, respectively, indicating a moderate to very high degree of contamination. Unsurprisingly, the pollution load index was >1, indicating the extent of pollution within the study area. The hazard quotient values indicated high exposure-related risks for Pb (16.95), Zn (3.56), Cd (1.47), and As (1.46) for allotment land use and As (1.96) for residential land use. The cancer-related risk values were higher than the acceptable range of 1.0 × 10−6 to 1.0 × 10−4. The cancer risk factor indicated that Cr and As were the major human health risk hazards.

BackgroundResidential care homes for the elderly are important settings for transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease.MethodsWe undertook secondary analysis of 248 care homes in Norfolk, UK. The dataset counted nurses, care workers and non-care workers, their status (available, absent due to leave or sickness and extra staff needed to address the coronavirus pandemic) and residents (if any) with suspected COVID-19 in the period 6 April to 6 May 2020. Concurrent descriptions of access by the home to personal protection equipment (PPE: gloves, masks, eye protection, aprons and sanitizer) were in the data. PPE access was categorized as (most to least) green, amber or red. We undertook two-stage modelling, first for suspected COVID-19 cases amongst residents and second relating any increases in case counts after introduction to staffing or PPE levels.ResultsCounts of non-care workers had strongest relationships (P < 0.05) to introduction of suspected SARS-CoV-2 to the homes. Higher staff levels and more severe PPE shortages were linked to higher case counts (P < 0.05) during the monitoring period.ConclusionManaging aspects of staff interaction with residents and some working practices might reduce ingression to and spread of COVID-19-like illness within care homes.

Abstract ObjectivesTo develop a toolkit to provide a structured framework for assessing whether large events are COVID-secure.Study designCross-sectional reporting on the development of the COVID-19 Suffolk Events Toolkit (C-SET).MethodsThe toolkit was developed through an iterative process of writing, discussion, and modification, drawing upon national UK guidance. Pilot cases and a contemporaneous consultation with experts were also undertaken, and C-SET was revised in line with the findings.ResultsC-SET offers a robust, structured approach to identifying areas of concern and potential mitigations, and collates and synthesises current national UK guidance. A flexible, modular design allows it to provide high-level input across all types of event, and allow modification to suit the needs of individual organisations. It is applicable to a variety of users, including event organisers in need of a structure, or bodies whose role is to appraise such events. It provides a semi-quantitative summary output, and in conjunction with the detailed links to guidance in the framework, allows development of clear, actionable recommendations to tangibly improve the quality of events.ConclusionsA necessary trade-off exists between COVID-related health risks and wider risks due to economic downturn, and facilitating large events in a way that minimises COVID transmission risk may offer a way to balance these competing priorities. C-SET was developed to provide a structured approach to identifying areas of improvement across key risk domains, and suggests potential mitigations that are underpinned by national UK guidance. Use of this toolkit may aid event organisers in developing COVID-secure events, and aid regulatory bodies in suggesting actionable recommendations through generation of a summary report of areas of concern.

The paper focuses on a real-world example of how an advanced ITS multi-modal public transport data management solution, developed initially in conjunction with Scandinavian public transport authorities, has been successfully deployed by a Local Government Authority in the UK to deliver significant and measurable operational and financial benefits to the Authority. The paper is a good example of international co-operation to deliver a highly successful project, which has achieved national acclaim through improving the quality and availability of public transport information while reducing the cost of its delivery. (5 pages)

PurposeThe aim of this case study is to explore how Norfolk County Council (NCC) has sustained high employee engagement levels against a backdrop of re‐organization, restructure, redundancies and cutbacks.Design/methodology/approachIn 2007 NCC embarked on an ongoing engagement project with Ipsos Mori. The aim was to restructure; align goals with new values; turn NCC into an “excellent” performing council; and have fully engaged staff and unions. It subsequently improved on already strong engagement levels and these are set to assist the council as it moves into its most challenging period yet.FindingsNCC recognized from the outset that engagement needs to be a collective endeavor and this has been, and continues to be, key to engaging its people through turbulent times. Employee involvement underpinned the engagement program, from the initial survey through to focus groups, employee‐defined values and employee‐initiated programs. In turn, employee engagement underpins its change activities.Originality/valueThis case study would be a useful guide to any HR professional faced with implementing major change and looking to balance the need to maintain engagement and motivation levels with the need to make cutbacks and redundancies.

This study uses a combination of data from U.K. monitoringstations and from modelling undertaken with the U.K.Meteorological Office's NAME Model to investigate therelative influences of primary and secondary particulateson total PM10 levels at sites in the United Kingdom. Co-located PM10 and sulphate aerosol measurementsindicate that sulphate has a disproportionately largeinfluence on the variation of PM10 levels incomparison to its contribution to their total mass.Comparisons of measured PM10 at urban centre, roadsideand rural sites suggest that local primary sources havevery little influence on daily mean levels. NAME has beenused to model both primary particles and sulphate aerosolfrom sources across the whole of Europe. The discrepanciesbetween modelled and observed PM10 suggest that coarseparticles, such as windblown dust and resuspended roaddust,may comprise a very large, if not dominant, proportion ofobserved PM10 levels. The apparently minor role ofprimary particles (especially locally-sourced ones) raisesa number of issues regarding the suitability of current U.K.and European legislation to addressing the particle problem.