IRVINE, 23 June 2005 - 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. Leckie, Head of Service (Educational Services); J. Currie, Head of Cleansing, Grounds Maintenance, and Transport (Property Services); B. Burns, Manager Resources (Social Services); J. M. Macfarlane, Assistant Chief Executive and C. McBreen, Principal Health and Safety Adviser (Personnel); and M. McKeown, Corporate and Democratic Support Officer (Chief Executive's) (North Ayrshire Council); E. Lamb (PAT); I. Ross (EIS); H. O'Neill (T&GWU); and W. Thomson (SSTA).
Chair
Councillor Munn in the Chair.
1. Appointment of Chair
The Group agreed to appoint Councillor David Munn to Chair the meeting.
2. Adoption of Constitution and Appointment of Office Bearers
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) (North Ayrshire Council) on the adoption of a constitution for the Group, and on the appointment of a Chair, Vice-Chair, and two Joint Secretaries.
The Group agreed (a) that Councillor David Munn be appointed as Chair of the Group; (b) that the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) be appointed as the Council's Joint Secretary; and (c) to seek confirmation of these proposed appointments, and appointments to the remaining positions, at the next meeting.
3. Health and Safety Strategy and Policy: Progress Report
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) (North Ayrshire Council) on progress in implementing the Council's Health and Safety Strategy and Policy and Action Plan for 2005/06.
In March 2005, the Council's Corporate Services Committee agreed to approve a new Health and Safety Strategy and Policy and a Health and Safety Action Plan for 2005/06. Progress against the action plan was highlighted as follows:-
Copies of the new Health and Safety Strategy and Policy have been issued to nominated Managers including Head Teachers, and made available on NAVIGATE.
All Services have now nominated a Senior Manager to assume responsibility for health and safety issues.
Health and Safety Planning Groups (HSPGs) have been established within each Service to provide a forum for discussing health and safety issues on a service by service basis.
Health and Safety Action Plans have been prepared by each Service as part of the service planning arrangements.
Training will be provided to those individuals with specific responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy as required, including those officers identified to carry out risk assessment audits.
Noted.
4. Stress Management Working Group: Update
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) (North Ayrshire Council) on progress in implementing a new stress management policy within the Council in response to the Stress Management Audit undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE audit was undertaken in August 2004 and resulted in recommendations in respect of revisions to the Council's existing policy and guidance on stress management. Appendix 1 to the report provided information about the action plan put in place to address these recommendations.
At its meeting in June 2005, the Council's Corporate Services Committee approved a new Managing Stress Policy, a copy of which was attached as Appendix 2 to the report, which sets out the Council's commitment to the management of stress issues, identifies key stakeholders, and clearly defines responsibilities. The revised Policy will be issued to service managers and employees in due course. The Stress Working Group, which was established to consider stress management related issues, has been consulted on the revised Policy.
A pilot risk assessment on stress in the workplace is currently being carried out in accordance with HSE management standards. The results of this exercise will be reported to the Stress Working Group.
Noted.
5. Employee Accident Statistics: Monitoring Report
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) on employee injury accidents during the period 1 April to 31 May 2005.
A total of 41 employee accidents resulting in injury occurred during the period, of which 4 required to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive in accordance with RIDDOR 1995. Details of these accidents and injuries were set out in the report.
Reports on accidents and injuries will in future be submitted to the Service Health and Safety Planning Groups and the Corporate Group, to ensure that incidents are monitored and action taken as appropriate. The Group requested that information on incidents of violence and aggression occurring within Council Services be reported to future meetings.
The Group agreed to (a) note details of employee accidents and injuries occurring during the period 1 April to 31 May 2005; and (b) receive reports on incidents of violence and aggression occurring on a service by service basis at future meetings.