Issue - meetings

Report of the Director - Neighbourhoods

The Strategic HR Manager delivered a presentation that summarised the Council’s occupational health and safety performance during the period 1 April 2021 to end March 2022 which complimented the Health and Safety Annual report circulated with the agenda.

It was noted that the Annual Report is structured in such away as to reflect the Health and Safety Executive guidance, including health and safety policies, procedures and activities which have taken place over the year and sets out training programmes delivered, providing statistical data and the proposed health and safety objectives for 2022/23.

The Strategic HR Manager provided an overview of activities and performance in relation to health and safety, with the response to the Covid pandemic remaining a key priority.

The Strategic HR Manager provided data on staff training and explained why there had been dips in training completion due to the administrative system, adding that a system upgrade is due to be launched in the next 6 to 8 weeks which will enable automatic re-enrolment once refresher training is due which is expected to have a positive impact on course completions.

The Group were advised that the number of accidents to employees had increased slightly compared to last year, but remains consistent with previous years and included slip, trips and fall accidents and manual handling accidents. It was noted that at the Group’s request an Incidence Rate had been added to the reporting figures.

In respect of days lost due to absence or injury, the Strategic HR Manager advised that this remains low in comparison to previous years, with only 4 accidents resulting in time off work, and out of those four only one accident needing to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.

The Strategic HR Manager informed the Group that a Health and Safety audit by BDO the Council’s internal auditors had been completed in March 2022. The conclusion from the report was as follows:

‘Our review noted that there are a number of good areas of practice at the Council regarding health and safety, these areas include the reviewing of heath and safety policies, the defining of roles and responsibilities in the management framework and the clear reporting groups for health and safety.’

The audit revealed that areas for improvement included improved training rates for e-learning and more consistent processes for reviewing risk assessments in Pentana. The Strategic HR Manager advised that there had been a review and update of all health and safety policies, that there are plans to complete a health and safety audit at Fountain Court, and that significant activities continue to take place to deliver the workplace health initiatives in line with the Workplace Health Gold award.

The Strategic HR Manager advised the Group that in April 2022 the Council had engaged with Bolsover District Council to support with some aspects of the Health and Safety work at Rushcliffe.

In concluding the Group were advised of the objectives for 2022/23 including:

·       Review and update the Violence at Work Policy

·       Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8