I've never been particularly interested in cycle racing and the news that the TdeF would be coming to our area didn't exactly float my boat.  As the preparations get more and more evident and the date gets ever closer I am becoming more and more anti as the days go by!  We have signs of road closures everywhere, there are council workers out cutting grass that gets left for the rest of the year, potholes which have been there for months are finally being filled.  A relative who hardly ever contacts us suddenly wants to come and visit - coincidentally that weekend 'so we can watch it together'.  Will I watch it?  No, because the road closures mean we will be pretty much locked in at home!  I long for 7 July when it's all over!!

by Stefan Tangen
Executive Officer at Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)

In 2012, ISO decided to adopt a new format for all MSSs in order to simplify intergretated use as well as make it simplier to under standard and follow these standard. The work on harmonizing all ISO will take some time but have already come quite long in this process.

Published standards in accordance with the new format (Annex SL)
ISO 14298 Printer service
ISO 20121 Event
ISO 22301 Business continuity
ISO 27001 Info Sec (rev)
ISO 30301 Record
ISO 39001 Road safety
ISO 55001 Asset

Ongoing work in accordance with the new format (Annex SL)
ISO 9001 Quality (rev) DIS
ISO 14001 Environmental (rev) CD
ISO 34001 Security DIS2
ISO 18788 Private security WD
ISO 37001 Anti-bribery WD
ISO 37101 Smart cities WD
ISO 45001 Ohsas WD
ISO/TC 279 Innovation NP

Standards in older formats, no info on upcoming revisions 
ISO 20000-1 IT services (2011)
ISO 22000 Food safety (2005)
ISO 28000 Supply chain security 2007)
ISO 30000 Ship recyling (2009)
ISO 50001 Energy (2011)

Day 5 of a training programme which I've been running in Scotland this week and I shall be so very glad to escape from this perfectly dreadful hotel!  The last 5 days have provided me with so very many examples to use on future programmes about 'how not to do customer service'.  Having to spend time apologising to delegates for the poor service reflects so badly on the hotel but more importantly on the training provider and it brings home to me how much we depend on our suppliers to enable us to in turn deliver to our customers.  It has also made me realise how some hotels just 'get it right' time after time after time and that achieving this doesn't come without a lot of effort.  So, Goodbye North Queensferry Hotel - I won't be back.

The changes which are looming for the ISO9001 standard get nearer and nearer, and clients are now asking whether they should wait till it lands in 2015 to do Lead Auditor training, or go for training now with the current version of the standard.  My answer is a resounding 'do it now' - and the reasons for this are quite simple.  The qualification is one which is hard won with an intensive 5 day course including a closed book examination.  It's enough having to get to grips with the concepts involved without having to work with a new standard too!   Conversion programmes will be running throughout 2015 and onwards to enable qualified auditors to get to grips with the new standard, without the added pressure of an exam.

With this in mind SQMC are running a number of Lead Auditor courses, with the next one due to run in Yorkshire in July and subsequent programmes scheduled for September, October and December.  Visit www.qualityauditor.co.uk to find out more and to book places - demand is going to increase and these next few programmes give you a chance to get ahead of the game.  

The HSE’s draft CDM Regulations propose significant changes in a number of areas.  The proposed changes to the CDM Regulations include:

- Significant structural simplification of the Regulations
- Replacement of the ACoP with targeted guidance
- Replacement of the CDMC role with a new ‘Principal Designer’ role 
- Removal of explicit competence requirements
- Addressing areas of TMCSD relating to domestic clients
- The threshold for appointment of Coordinators and notification

Watch out for more information on this change, which will have major implications for many businesses.