IRVINE, 18 August 2006 - At a Meeting of the Corporate Health and Safety Group of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m.
Present
Councillors David Munn and Alan Munro; J. M. Macfarlane, Assistant Chief Executive, C. McBreen, Principal Health and Safety Adviser and T. Quigley, Safety Adviser (Personnel); J. Leckie, Head of Service (Educational Services); B. Burns, Manager (Resources)(Social Services) and J. Currie, Head of Cleansing, Grounds Maintenance and Transport (Property Services) (North Ayrshire Council); F. Minnery and P. Houston (GMB); E. Lamb (PAT); A. Cairns (T&GWU); I. Ross (EIS); B. Thomson and E. Duncan (SSTA); and S. Herd (UNISON).
In Attendance
M. McKeown, Corporate and Democratic Support Officer (Chief Executive's) (North Ayrshire Council).
Chair
Councillor Munn in the Chair.
Apologies for Absence
A. Smith (GMB) and T. Dalling and C. Turbett (UNISON).
1. Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 12 May 2006 were confirmed.
2. Affirmation of Office Bearers
The following office bearer appointments were confirmed for a period of one year:-
Chair - David Munn
Vice Chair - Ian Ross
Joint Secretaries - J.M. Macfarlane and S.Herd.
3. Health and Safety Strategy and Policy: Progress Report
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) on the implementation of the Council's Health and Safety Strategy and Policy.
The Council's Health and Safety Strategy, which was approved by the Corporate Services Committee in March 2005, is now entering its second year. The revised Strategy reinforces the strengthened framework for the management of Health and Safety within the Council and sets out a framework of policy development, organisation of resources, hazard identification and risk assessment, planning, monitoring and audit.
A revised Council Health and Safety Action Plan for 2006/07 was agreed by the Corporate Management Team in June 2006. Appendix 1 to the report summarised the progress being made against the revised action plan. Progress on management of Stress is shown in the Council Health and Safety Action Plan shown at Appendix 2. The following areas were highlighted:-
Health and Safety Planning Groups
All Groups are now well established within each Service and continue to meet on a quarterly basis although there is still scope for better representation from the employee side.
The Services representatives present provided an update on the work of their respective Groups.
Stress Management
The programme of stress risk assessments is now complete. The Stress Working Group will now be recalled in August/September to consider the results and also consider a revision of the Stress Management Action Plan in order to take forward issues arising.
The Stress Management Handbook has been revised and will be made available on Navigate initially. Hard copies will be issued at a later date.
Health and Safety Master File
All Files have now been issued to designated holders. Additional policies and guidance continue to be revised and introduced. A significant number of the documents have now been included in an electronic version of the File and placed on the Council's Intranet "Navigate". Hard copies will be issued at a later date.
Service Health and Safety Action Plans
All Services have now been requested to update their 2006/07 Health and Safety Action Plans to conform to the revised Council Health and Safety Action Plan. Greater emphasis in these plans is given to ensuring that key issues are identified and programmed so that progress is able to be monitored. The Lead Safety Advisers will continue to work with the nominated Officers in each Service in order to develop the Plans and resolve issues arising from them.
The Corporate Management Team will ensure effective implementation of health and safety management throughout North Ayrshire Council, and in particular will:-
agree developments of the health and safety management system;
agree Health and Safety Strategy and Policy;
establish strategies to implement policy and ensure these are integrated into the general activities of the Council;
agree the Corporate Health and Safety Action Plans; and
agree Service Health and Safety Plans and monitor progress.
Noted.
4. Employee Accident Statistics: Monitoring Report
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) summarising employee accident statistics during the period 1 April to 30 June 2006.
During the period there was a total of 54 employee accidents of which 12 were required to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive. Details of these incidents were provided in the report.
In future regular monitoring reports will be submitted to each Service Health and Safety Planning Group. Services will continue to monitor reports on workplace accidents and incidents and ensure that appropriate action is taken to reduce risk and avoid recurrences.
Noted.
5. Violence and Aggression Incidents: Monitoring Report
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) summarising incidents involving violence and aggression towards employees during the period 1 April to 30 June 2006.
During the period there were 96 incidents involving violence or aggression towards staff. A breakdown of incidents by Service was provided in the report. The majority of incidents did not involve physical injury and none were required to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
Reporting of incidents across all Services has been improved. The Council's Policy and Guidance on Aggression and Violence is now in place and all employees with responsibilities or duties under the Policy will be required to monitor incidents and follow up on incidents. Monitoring reports will continue to be submitted to each Service Health and Safety Planning Group. A "Violent Warning Markers database" is also being compiled to identify and share information about persons who may present a risk to Council employees.
Noted.
6. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Corporate Health and Safety Group will be held on Friday 17 November 2006 at 1.00 p.m. in Cunninghame House, Irvine.