Corporate Health and Safety Group
12 May 2006
Agenda Item 1
IRVINE, 12 May 2006 - At a Meeting of the Corporate Health and Safety Group of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m.
Present
Councillors David Munn, Peter McNamara, Alan Munro, David O'Neill and Samuel Taylor; J.M. Macfarlane, Assistant Chief Executive, S. Ferguson, Personnel Manager, C. McBreen, Principal Health and Safety Adviser (Personnel); J. Leckie, Head of Service (Educational Services); B. Burns, Manager (Resources)(Social Services) and G. Clark, Operations Manager, Grounds Maintenance (Property Services)(North Ayrshire Council); F. Minnery (GMB); E. Lamb (PAT); S. O'Reilly and A. Cairns (T&GWU); and J. MacDonald, S Herd and C Turbett (UNISON).
In Attendance
M. Anderson, Corporate and Democratic Support Officer (Chief Executive's)(North Ayrshire Council).
Chair
Councillor Munn in the Chair.
Apologies for Absence
I. Ross (EIS).
1. Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Group held on 10 February 2006 were confirmed.
2. 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 Strategy sets out a revised and strengthened framework for the management of Health and Safety within the Council and provides a framework for policy development, organisation of resources, hazard identification and risk assessment, planning, monitoring and audit. The Strategy also defines the roles of senior managers within the Council and the Personnel Health and Safety Division, as well as the contributions expected of individual employees.
The 2005/06 Action Plan was attached at Appendix 1 to the report with progress on management of stress detailed in Appendix 2 to the report. The following progress was highlighted and discussed:-
Health and Safety Planning Groups
Most Health and Safety Planning Groups have now held their fourth meetings. The groups are making a positive contribution to effective cross-service working.
Stress Management
The programme of stress risk assessments is almost complete, with the exception of Educational Services. However, after discussion with HSE, an arrangement has now been agreed to progress the latter.
The Stress Working Group met again in February 2006 to discuss the means of taking forward issues arising. A revised Employee Handbook on stress has been prepared for consultation.
Health and Safety Master File
All Files have now been issued to designated holders and work continues to revise and introduce additional policies and guidance. There has been some slippage in terms of the revision of a number of topics, but action is being taken to address this.
Service Health and Safety Action Plans
All Services now have individual Health and Safety Action Plans in place. The Lead Safety Advisers continue to work with the nominated Officers in each service in order to develop the plans and resolve issues arising from them.
Discussion took place on the appropriate mechanism for requesting that risk assessments be undertaken in respect of particular tasks.
Noted.
4. Employee Accident Statistics: Monitoring Report
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) on employee injury accident statistics for the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2006.
There were 53 employee accidents resulting in injury during the period. Seven were serious enough to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive, including one which required to be reported as an "major injury". The report provided a breakdown of the types of injuries and the causes of these.
Monitoring reports will be submitted to the regular meetings of the each of the Health and Safety Planning Groups. This will allow Services to monitor the statistical reports on workplace accidents and incidents and ensure appropriate action is taken to reduce risk and avoid recurrence.
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 January 2006 to 31 March 2006, a total of 69 incidents involving violence and aggression were reported. The report provided a breakdown of incidents by Service.
Under the Council's Policy and Guidance on Aggression and Violence, incidents must be monitored and identified actions followed up. Monitoring reports will continue to be submitted to the regular meetings of each Service Health and Safety Planning Group and Services will monitor the statistical reports on incidents to ensure appropriate action is taken to reduce risk and avoid recurrence.
Discussion took place on the issues surrounding the reporting of incidents of violence and aggression associated with particular client groups, such as adults with additional support needs and children.
Noted.
6. Affirmation of Office Bearers
The Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel) advised the Group that the current Chair and the Council-nominated Joint Secretary had been appointed for a period of one year on 23 June 2005.
The Group agreed (a) that the Joint Secretaries submit a report on office bearer appointments to the next meeting of the Group in August 2006; and (b) meantime, to continue the appointments of the current Chair, Councillor David Munn and Council-nominated Joint Secretary, the Assistant Chief Executive (Personnel).
7. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Corporate Health and Safety Group will be held on Friday 18 August 2006 in Cunninghame House, Irvine.
The Group agreed that, in future, meetings would commence at 1.00 p.m.
The meeting ended at 2.40 p.m.