Agenda item

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive that provided an update on Health and Safety statistics and activity during Quarter 3 (Q3) (1 October to 31 December 2024). The Chairperson introduced the report and deferred to the Assistant Director - Place and Community and Corporate Health and Safety Manager to present the detail.

The Assistant Director took the Committee through the report advising on the numbers of accidents / incidents, near misses and unacceptable behaviour which were relatively low and dealt with according to Council policies with no particular trends identified during this period. It was noted that the number of accidents and near misses reported demonstrated that Officers continued to follow the correct procedure. The report provided further update in respect of the following areas:

·                Health and Safety Actions – the report detailed a number of actions along with an update on the progress of each. It was noted that those actions completed had been removed.

·                Health and Safety Groups – Reported incidents were scrutinised through the monthly Health and Safety Managers’ Group along with compliance in other areas and monthly performance updates were provided to the extended Corporate Leadership Team.

·                System resources

·                Fire Risk Assessments

·                Policies and procedures

·                Health and Safety inspections

·                Legionella

·                Training – a number of training events had been undertaken during this quarter, including over 70 staff attending training on dealing with violence and aggression.

·                Accident-near miss reporting

·                Health and Safety Audit – Following the recent audit an action plan had been produced and Members were advised that good progress was being made to implement the related recommendations.

The Chairperson proposed that the recommendations as set out in the report be agreed and this proposal was duly seconded.

During the discussion that followed and in response to questions raised, the following information was provided:

·                Shellfish Sampling – Members were advised that there was a statutory requirement for this and certain techniques that had to be employed for sampling and the Council was exploring using an external consultant. The Health and Safety Manager advised he was unable to provide information regarding the suggestion that a boat was used to carry out sampling however, would raise this matter with the appropriate team.

·                The Council employed best practice along with a Strategy regarding the assessment of trees in public parks. The Assistant Director - Customer Services and Operations advised that in addition the Council had a regular programme of tree inspections which provided a good level of reassurance. A high winds new working practice had recently been introduced and provided clear guidance to staff regarding wind speed and the steps taken if there were high winds.

·                In response to a question regarding the impact of unacceptable behaviour on members of staff, the Health and Safety Manager agreed to get an update from the relevant Manager.

The Chairperson then moved the recommendations which were duly agreed. 

RESOLVED

(i)             That Members considered the accident and incident statistics and incidences of unacceptable behaviour reported;

(ii)            That Members considered progress of key health and safety themes (as set out in section 3.2 of the report).