Health & Safety – Scottish Menshed

Ten Scottish Men’s Sheds receive life-saving kit through charity partnership

**Springburn Park Men’s Shed with their defibrillator**

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has partnered up with Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity and leading first aid training provider, St Andrew’s First Aid, to provide free Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds.

The SMSA put a call out to the 190+ Men’s Sheds across Scotland inviting them to apply for the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and received 44 applications showing a huge demand for this vital equipment (retailed at just over £1,500) to be located at Shed premises across Scotland.

The ten recipients will use the equipment to not only protect their members but – with the addition of an outdoor cabinet purchased by the Shed – will also make them accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sudden cardiac arrest strikes 7 million people a year worldwide with no warning and no pattern. There’s little time to react and even less time to think, this means an AED must be close at hand, easy-to-use and ready to shock. Chris Jowsey, Treasurer of Glenkens Men’s Shed, said: “One of our members had a cardiac arrest whilst at the Shed and sadly passed away despite the prompt actions of his fellow Shedders to get medical assistance. We can’t help but wonder if we’d had a defibrillator that day, if the outcome might have been different.

“We are delighted to have received this defibrillator through the SMSA and St Andrews First Aid and to be able to make it accessible to our entire community.”

Tom Bennett of Springburn Park Men’s Shed said: “We have been trying to raise funds for a defibrillator for over two years for our Shed located within a public park in our village. We are thrilled to accept and maintain this defibrillator and make it accessible to our members, other community groups, park users and the general public.”

Brian Kerr, Secretary of Dumfries Men`s Shed, said: “We are very pleased to have been one of the ten Sheds selected to receive one of the defibrillator units. We really appreciate it, and being in larger premises with new members already joining, it is re-assuring to know that in the unfortunate event that it is needed, we could possibly save someone`s life with this kit. It doesn’t get any more serious than life and death and we are very grateful to both the SMSA and St Andrews First Aid for their donation.”

Jim Dorman, Director of Campaigns and Public Engagement at St Andrew’s First Aid, said: “Knowing that these vital pieces of equipment will be available to both members of the ten Sheds and to the wider communities will hopefully bring considerable peace of mind. With every minute that passes following a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival drops by 10%. Swift use of a defibrillator is all the difference needed to significantly increase a person’s chance of survival. We are delighted to donate these defibrillators to help more communities save lives.”

The successful Men’s Sheds across Scotland are: Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed; Forfar and District Men’s Shed; Glenkens Men’s Shed; Inverurie & District Men’s Shed; Macmerry Men’s Shed; Mens Shed Dumfries; Pentlands Men’s Shed; Peterhead & District Men’s Shed; Springburn Park Men’s Shed; and Whale Firth Men’s Shed.

Machine competence and woodwork training courses for Sheds

REOPENING TRAINING DEAL FOR SMSA SHED MEMBERS

*£580 for one full-day on-site training for your Shed.
£290 for the first five Sheds that apply (with a low bank balance)!

David Young Training has offered an additional 10% discount on his machine competence and woodwork training courses for reopening Sheds as an SMSA Shed Membership benefit.

Original discounted price for Sheds: £638, new discounted price: £580 and the SMSA will pay 50% of this fee for the first five Sheds that apply (with a low bank balance). REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE.

David Young Training at Garnock Valley Men’s Shed

As runners up in the 2020 ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards, Garnock Valley Men’s Shed (GVMS) received a 50% discount on machinery competence and health and safety training through SMSA’s partner, David Young Training.

Having recently lost their Shed Manager to full-time employment, GVMS decided to follow the example of other Sheds and have a group of Supervisors available on a rota system. David Gardner, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of GVMS, said: “We quickly realised that our new group of Supervisors required training on our workshop equipment so decided to take up the offer of the discounted prize from David Young Training.

“Arranging the date was difficult, due to COVID-19 restricting travel and numbers, but we eventually settled on Wednesday 14^th July 2021. The trainer, David Young, arrived at our Shed at 10am on the day and having been shown around and introduced to the training volunteers he started what proved to be a very successful day.

“The comments from each of the guys at the end of training were very upbeat and complimentary (see right for a few examples). We felt that the investment in this training was excellent and we would have no hesitation in recommending David Young Training to carry out professional, instructive and user-friendly training for other Sheds.”

Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “To support Sheds during the reopening process, we are delighted that our partner, David Young Training, has offered an additional 10% off his already discounted price for Scottish Sheds that are members of the SMSA.

“On top of this, the SMSA would also like to offer to pay 50% of the cost (now £580) for the first five Sheds that receive training within the next 60 days meaning that those Sheds will received a full day’s training—for up to eight of your members in your Shed—for just £290. With machinery being dormant for over a year and the need for refresher training, this is the perfect opportunity to come back to the Shed and stay safe.”

Feedback from GVMS

“May I take this opportunity to express my appreciation/ privilege to have been involved. The theoretical and practical aspects of ‘best working practices’ were inclusive, extensive and delivered in a most understanding manner. I took from the workshop, a broader knowledge base of the safe working operation of the various machinery as instructed. Much appreciated and recommended” Sandy

“Gave us exactly the training we needed, in our own workshop. David is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and a very enthusiastic trainer. Highly recommended!” Stewart

“This training gave me confidence to handle some machinery for the first time, it reinforced safe use and also gave us a knowledgeable assessment of our equipment. It highlighted what we need to do to make a more efficient and safe working environment” Steve

“As someone whose tool of choice is a pen, I found David’s training day fascinating. I now know what some of the machines in our Shed do. I was particularly impressed by his emphasis on safe use of potentially dangerous devices.” Henry (GVMS Chairman)

Glasgow Caledonian University launches toolkit to help roll out Men’s Sheds across the UK

Glasgow Caledonian University has launched a new ‘toolkit’ to help increase the number of Men’s Sheds across the UK after research showed they improve the mental and social wellbeing of older men.

The community spaces offer the chance for men to take part in practical activities, such as woodwork, metalwork, model making or gardening, and are credited with tackling loneliness and social isolation.

Originating in Australia in the 1990s, the number of Sheds in Scotland has increased from one in 2013 to more than 190 today. There are more than 1500 across the UK and Ireland.

Researchers at GCU have been working with Men’s Sheds in Scotland to make the movement financially and socially sustainable, as part of a project backed by the National Lottery Community Fund.

It’s resulted in a new ‘toolkit’ for communities, a guide full of information on how to access funding, source sites, set up committees, run services and offer social activities.

Dr Danielle Hutcheon, research associate at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health at GCU, said: “The Sheds offered a lifeline for a lot of people struggling with social isolation and loneliness, especially for men who live alone or are carers.

“What we’ve seen with the Sheds being closed, since March last year, is a real decline in men’s health and wellbeing.

“A lot of the Shedders we spoke to only left the house a couple of times a week to go to the shop or to go to the Men’s Shed. That was the only social contact they had throughout the week.

“Going to the Shed gives a lot of the men a sense of purpose, they treat it almost like a job. It gives them a sense of confidence and value in their lives that they didn’t have before.

“The key to the success of the Men’s Sheds is men’s ability to talk ‘shoulder to shoulder’, while doing a task, rather than sitting face to face in a lunch club or a pub. It’s a relaxed, informal, welcoming environment.”

The toolkit, created in partnership with a range of stakeholders, including the Scottish Men’s Shed Association, Scottish Government, and Age Scotland, will be made available throughout the UK and Ireland.

Dr Hutcheon added: “It comes at an important time. There is a lot of competition for funding at the moment. The toolkit will hopefully help Sheds expand, survive and sustain.

“There’s no doubt the Sheds are having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of a hard to reach group of men.”

Case study

Bill Core

Bill Core is a co-founder and trustee of Barrhead Men’s Shed, which opened in 2014. He’s 78-years-old and used to work in the furniture trade.

Barrhead’s Shed has 58 members and is based in an industrial unit in the town.

He said: “When I was semi-retired, I remember sitting in the house fed-up, thinking to myself what is my life going to be like when I’m fully retired? What the hell am I going to do?

“It’s fine in the summer if you can get out and do things but, in the winter, when the weather is bad, it can feel as if the walls are closing in. You find yourself looking up into the sky and thinking how long do I have before I’m up there?

“The Shed gave me a purpose to get up in the morning, it was a place to go to meet people like myself, keep busy, have a laugh and enjoy myself.

“The guys look forward to coming and arrive with a smile on their face and leave with a smile on their face.

“You get satisfaction from helping other people, from keeping minds active. A lot of members had high powered jobs in the past, there’s a real cross-section of society.

“I thoroughly enjoy making clocks from chunks of wood. I get an immense amount of satisfaction from it. Some of the stuff we’ve produced has been donated to local schools and nurseries, so the whole community is benefiting from the Shed.

“If anyone is sitting at home and thinking they would like to come along my advice would be put on your coat and do it. You won’t regret it, it will change your life for the better.”

Ten FREE defibrillators up for grabs for Scottish Men’s Sheds

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) is working in partnership with St Andrew’s First Aid to offer FREE Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds on a first-come, first-served basis.

St Andrew’s First Aid is Scotland’s dedicated first aid charity and leading first aid training provider and the Association is delighted to be teaming up to provide this life-saving kit to Sheds to not only protect Shedders but also the wider community.

The HeartSine Samaritan PAD 500P Fully Automatic Defibrillator (RRP: £1,557.60 inc. VAT)

Ready to Shock: Small, portable and lightweight (2.4 lbs) and offers the highest level of protection against dust and water.
Easy-to-Follow Instructions: Easy-to-understand visual and voice prompts guide the rescuer through the entire resuscitation process, including CPR—a key link in the chain of survival.
Simple, two-button operation – an ON/OFF button and SHOCK.
After analyzing heart rhythm, the unit will automatically deliver a shock (if needed), eliminating the need for the rescuer to push a shock button.
Always Ready: A System Status Ready Indicator flashes to show that the complete system is operational and ready for use.
Self-check: The device automatically runs a self-check each week.
View full product info here

Conditions

The AED’s are being offered FREE OF CHARGE to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds however, as they are not new, they will require new pads/electrode batteries (which will last for four years) at a cost to each individual Shed of £117.60.
St Andrews First Aid advise that these defibrillators are accessible to the public 24/7 outdoors and are placed in cabinets (available at a discounted cost of £540 inc.VAT for Sheds through St Andrew’s First Aid), however, if this is not possible, they are still happy to donate them to Scottish Sheds.
Interested Sheds will pay a delivery charge for the equipment.

Register your interest

Please register your Men’s Shed’s interest by submitting your details online at the link below. Defibrillators will be issued to ten SMSA Shed members on a first-come, first-served basis.

Last chance to apply for Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants

PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has so far allocated over 700 FREE Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants to 75 Men’s Sheds across Scotland – to support safe social engagement and Shed re-openings – but time is running out if your Shed has not yet applied.

Following a successful trial with ten Scottish Men’s Sheds in Autumn 2020, the SMSA secured a £60,000 Scottish Government grant for the roll-out of Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants to all 190+ Scottish Sheds and to complement the Association’s COVID-19 reopening guidance and Shed support.

This technology is supporting post COVID-19 recovery across the business sector and our Scottish Men’s Sheds. This simple, but highly effective, piece of kit can be worn around the neck or clipped on to clothing and emits a short audible or vibrating alert when another wearer is detected within 2 metres, advising both wearers to check and increase their distance. The range can be changed from its pre-configured 2m, as a result of revisions to the legislation. There is no complicated set up, no software to install and no training is required.

If you have not already applied to the SMSA, we urge you to apply for this FREE support offer before the end of June 2021 when this funding will no longer be available.

There is no minimum or maximum amount of devices you can request, simply let us know how many you require for your Shedders and the devices will be posted out to you, it is as simple as that.

Feeback from Sheds

“We are in the second week of cleaning/sanitising our Shed utilising the distancing units supplied by the Association. The units have been highly successful in reminding the volunteer members to maintain their social distancing.” Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed

“The Pathfindr devices are a much-welcomed safety device for our Shedders.
They constantly remind us to check our distance and avoid those awkward conversations of letting someone know they are getting too close.” Men’s Shed Govan

“Following our request to the SMSA, our Shedders received Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants in time to wear for a recent site clearance. The devices gave us confidence and ensured that we kept the required two-metre distance apart and were a welcomed health and safety tool.” Carluke Men’s Shed

Case study: Men’s Shed

Scottish Men’s Sheds reopen 26th April?

On the 26th April 2021, Scotland will return to the levels system. On this date, it is hoped that Men’s Sheds will be able to re-open their doors—in line with SMSA’s ‘Reopening Guidance for Men’s Sheds in Scotland’—if they choose to do so.

SMSA recommends that individual Shed committees now begin to have these discussions on the reopening process (if not already started) as to whether or not your Shed is in a position to open to some extent.

Following the consultation on the guidance with Shed members and our partner organisations, SMSA is now releasing the revised version. SMSA is indebted to the organisations—including SMSA Shed Members, Age Scotland, Healthy Working Lives, Public Health Scotland, Scottish Community Development Centre and Scottish Government—that took the time to review the documents and provide us with feedback.

The guidance provides advice and examples for Sheds on steps and safety measures to put in place prior to opening their doors again when the time is right. The documents are intended for guidance only and were developed by the Association to attempt to cover all types of Men’s Sheds across Scotland and aid the individual decision-making process for each Shed Committee.

SMSA will regularly review the guidance and advise Sheds of any changes. The guidance is now available in the SMSA online resource library (member log-in required) at:

www.scottishmsa.org.uk/shed-manual-resources/shed-resource-reopening-guidance-for-sheds

Request for SMSA Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants

PLEASE NOTE: THIS FUND IS NOW CLOSED

The SMSA has been trialing the Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants in ten Scottish Men’s Sheds – made possible with funding from its partnership with the Scottish Community Alliance. Due to the success of this trial, the Association has now received full supported funding from The Scottish Government to roll this out to other interested Sheds across Scotland.

Moffat Men’s Shed demonstrates Pathfindr devices

Check out Moffat Men’s Shed’s video demonstrating the Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants in action at their workshop.

The clip (filmed before the second lockdown) shows this simple piece of kit – available for free to SMSA Shed Members – being used to assist with training and awareness of social distancing.

The device which can be worn around the neck or clipped on to clothing emits a short audible or vibrating alert when another wearer is detected within 2 metres, advising both wearers to check and increase their distance.

The range can be changed from its pre-configured 2m, as a result of revisions to the legislation. This effective piece of technology has no complicated set up, no software to install and no training.

If your Shed would like to request some devices from the SMSA for use when lockdown measures ease, please complete this short online form.

Men’s Shed ‘Covid-19 Poster Resource Pack’ Now Available!

Kinross & District Men’s Shed 3D Prints Face Shields For Key Workers

Kinross & District Men’s Shed (KDMS) is producing face shields to protect key workers on the front line during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This vital piece of kit provides a barrier to stop workers from touching their face and also protection from the patient if they cough or sneeze.

KDMS is using 3D printers to make the Polylactic Acid (PLA) face shields and requests are coming in at a tremendous rate from the community. KDMS Chairman, David Conner, said: “KDMS wanted to help and one of our Shedders, Jim Forbes, started working in his shed at home to come up with a solution to meet the demand for this life-saving protective equipment. The Shedders have really stepped up and there is a team of around 12-15 of us involved in taking and recording orders, administration, printing, assembly, quality checks and delivery. More and more Shedders are becoming involved each day to lend a helping hand to this cause.

“Orders are coming in thick and fast from NHS workers, carers, testing hubs, postal workers and shop workers across Ayrshire, Perthshire, Fife, Forth Valley and Clackmannanshire. We had to set up a business model quickly and efficiently to get this right. Everything is done safely from our homes and we communicate through phone and video calls. We have fulfilled over 100 orders so far and now have an order for 100 more. We have been receiving photographs and video calls from the key workers when they have received their face shields and it makes everything that we are doing worthwhile.”

Jim Forbes, 81, said: “I had a vision to do this and researched face shields online and came up with a quality product – quick to produce, washable/reusable and light – consisting of four simple parts: the shield’s top frame; standard A4 acetate sheet protector screen; bottom support; and elastic to keep the shield firmly on the face. An advantage of the design is the bridge between the forehead and the face plate which greatly reduces breath aerosol mist (possibly infected) from entering the users’ eyes. This 3D printed version needs no tools to assemble except for a pair of scissors to trim the face plate. For Shedders with no access to a 3D printer, we also developed a second product where no tools are required other than scissors.

“Every single item is checked and the shield comes with an instruction leaflet for the end user. We initially had our one Shed 3D printer and my machine but now Culture Perth & Kinross has dedicated their five printers bringing us up to seven solely dedicated to this task. A local lady in Powmill who has been printing hundreds of shields has also bought herself another one and offered that second printer to help us if she has any free space. We are now able to produce an output of 40-50 shields per day. When it comes to delivery, there is obviously no contact. The order is simply placed in our gardens when we are notified that the person is on their way to collect.”

Shedders have been creating the products at home but are running low on supplies and have set up a Go Fund Me page to pay for much-needed supplies. The Shed has already raised over £2,000 towards materials to date.

KDMS has created assembly instructions, spreadsheets, instruction leaflet and 3D Printer files (STL files and G-codes) – now available in the SMSA members’ online resource library (log-in required) – that it is happy to share with other Sheds interested in becoming involved to help with their orders or wishing to replicate the model in their local area. Interested Sheds are urged to contact David Conner, Chairman of KDMS.