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Council and Democracy

Decision details

Health and Safety Annual Report 2017-18

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Safety and Risk Management Advisor presented the report of the Executive Manager - Transformation and Operations to provide a summary of the Council’s occupational health and safety performance during the year 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018. It was noted that the Annual Report was structured in such a way as to reflect Health and Safety Executive guidance. It summarises the Council’s health and safety policies, procedures and activities that had taken place over the last year. The report also provided details on training programmes delivered, as well as provides numerical and statistical data and the proposed health and safety objectives for the year.

 

The Safety and Risk Management Advisor provided a presentation to highlight the main areas of the report. The presentation provided information on:

 

·       the progress made in achieving goals, including:

·       reviewing the effectiveness of health and safety aspects at Rushcliffe Arena,

·       developing and evaluating the use of Lone working devices for the Council,

·       the Implementation of a new electronic accident form.

·       Health and Safety training delivered to staff.

·       the number of working days lost due to accidents.

·       accidents involving members of the public.

 

Councillor Mrs Smith enquired whether the number of working days lost to accidents were due to long or short-term absences. The Safety and Risk Management Advisor advised that a great number of the days lost were due to a few long-term absences and provided information on the types of accidents and the number of working days lost that had contributed to the total number of working days lost. Councillor Davidson asked about the incidence rate for working days lost and how this was calculated. The Safety and Risk Management Advisor advised how the rate was calculated and advised that this calculation enabled direct comparisons to be made between years when the number of staff employed by the Council had reduced. Councillor Brown asked whether driver assessments were carried and out and was advised by the Safety and Risk Management Advisor that assessments were carried out for all employees who drove HGV or fleet vehicles. Members of the Group asked about the support offered to employees who were absent due to illness or injury to return to work. The Safety and Risk Management Advisor advised that where possible employees were encouraged to return to work and that this could be helped by the use of the fit note process by the GP which allowed employees to return to work early on a phased return and/or with adaptations to duties.

 

The Chairman asked about the provision of Health and Safety training for Councillors. The Safety and Risk Management Advisor advised that the personal safety training had been provided for Councillors during 2017, the Executive Manager – Finance and Corporate Services advised that Heath and Safety training could be included on the Member Development Plan or provided by e-learning opportunities. The Chairman also enquired whether COSHH training was provided as this information had not been provided in the report. The Safety and Risk Management Advisor advised that this training was offered cyclically but did not happen each year as most of the staff to whom this was relevant to were employed by Streetwise.

 

The Chairman and members of the Group thanked the Safety and Risk Management Advisor for attending and for answering their questions.

 

It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Publication date: 21/08/2018

Date of decision: 24/07/2018

Decided at meeting: 24/07/2018 - Corporate Governance Group

Accompanying Documents: