Issue - meetings

The report of the Director for Neighbourhoods is attached.

The Health and Safety Advisor presented the report of the Director – Neighbourhoods which provided a summary of the Council’s operational health and safety performance during the period 1 April 2020 to the end of March 2021. The Health and Safety Annual Report summarised the Council’s health and safety policies, procedures and activities which have taken place over the last year, training programmes delivered, statistical data and the proposed health and safety objectives for the year.

The Health and Safety Advisor delivered a presentation to the Group which covered:

• The Council’s response to Covid-19
• Progress to achieving goals
• Training
• Accident forms completed
• Accident forms by type
• Number of days absent
• Lost time due to injuries
• Accidents to members of the public
• New objectives for 2021/22.

Following the presentation, members of the Group were informed that staff who worked in the Business Support Unit were provided with first aid training as they had a larger presence working at Rushcliffe Arena during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Group raised concerns that only 24% of staff had completed the fire safety e-learning course and that low numbers of staff had completed their display screen equipment assessment. It was explained that the e-learning system had recently been upgraded and that managers would now be able to see which members of staff had completed courses and they would also be sent electronic reminders if courses had not been completed within a certain time frame.

The Group were informed that members of staff were provided with the opportunity to attend Red Umbrella webinars which covered topics such as anxiety, working from home and working collaboratively as a team during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was acknowledged that the Council was in a strong position at the outbreak of Covid-19 as most staff were already used to remote working but that staff were provided with additional IT equipment and office chairs if required once they had undertaken a Desk Screen Equipment assessment at home.

It was noted that none of the Council’s health and safety legislative policies were out of date but that minor changes needed to be made such as the change of officer’s names and job titles following the Council’s restructure. The Health and Safety Advisor agreed to send the Group a list of policies which needed to be updated.

The Group wanted more detail about the impact of Covid-19 on the  working environments for staff at home and in the office. For example, when considering remote working, the recording of accidents which take place at home and the investment in additional equipment to allow staff to work from home effectively. The Group agreed that this should be incorporated into a review of the Council’s response to Covid-19 that had been highlighted as necessary but accepted as too early at the present time.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The report of the Director – Neighbourhoods be noted

b)    The proposed health and safety objectives for 2021/22 be endorsed