Agenda item

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 & Safety audit of Streetwise

·       Improvements to the e-learning compliance rates

·       Ensure risk assessments are reviewed by managers in a more timely manner

·       Continue to deliver appropriate workplace health initiatives

Members asked specific questions relating to the take up of fire safety e-learning and what HR officers had in place to improve staff uptake and achieve targets, highlighting the fire at County Hall and the importance of fire awareness and safety. The Strategic HR Manager explained that e-learning courses were not the primary source for training, adding that more complimentary training is provided at regular intervals for staff who have been assigned as fire marshals, including Facilities and Business Support Officers. The Strategic HR Manager also advised that all staff are provided with fire safety training at their induction.

Councillors were also advised that complimentary training is also provided for asbestos and legionella awareness.

The Chairman questioned the rational of the Health and Safety Service Level Agreement with Bolsover District Council and whether there was any risk with this provision being provided on an ‘as an when required’ basis. The Strategic HR Manager explained that due to her recent promotion and additional work, her capacity to deliver the Health and Safety functions had reduced, adding that the Council had allocated a budget for external support and had reached out to other authorities within the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Health and Safety Advisory Group to explore if there was any capacity for other authorities support, to which Bolsover was the only responder.

The Group commented on the risk assessment review and the audit recommendation for assessments to be kept in a central location. The Strategic HR Manager advised that a more consistent process for reviewing risk assessments had been implemented and reports were being logged in ‘Pentana’, the Council’s Performance Management System.

It was RESOLVED that Corporate Overview Group:

a)    Considered the detailed information contained within the annual Health and Safety Report

b)    Endorsed the proposed health and safety objectives for 2022/23 as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report.