Agenda item

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development introduced the report in the absence of the Health and Safety Officer. 

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that there had been no reportable accidents, no serious non reportable accidents and no on-site serious accidents. He said that the Lone Working Contract had changed from Skyguard to Peoplesafe and explained how the lone working devices gave security to council staff working in the field, to include  being able to track their whereabouts if necessary.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that home working staff had completed Display Screen Equipment Assessments. He said that council vehicles had been badged to make then more visible and that  consideration was being given to adding a van to the vehicle fleet for the transportation of dogs.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that there were some increases in non-reportable accidents at Quarter 4 of the report, but these were due to an increase in footfall at the Council’s leisure facilities due to Covid-19 restrictions lifting and Hartham and Grange Paddocks reopening.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development and asked if all the council’s chairs had been replaced following a recent inspection.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that the council had only replaced those which were no longer fit for purpose. He said that the replacement chairs were both better quality and good value.

The Chairman asked if the condemned chairs had been recycled.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that some chairs were offered to staff for a token gesture, but that the majority had been taken for recycling.

Councillor Connolly referred to paragraph 9.1 of the report (which reported no incidents or accidents for the period by the council’s grounds maintenance contractor, Glendale) and sought clarification as this appeared to contradict paragraph 6.2 of the Safety Committee Minutes, in which the incident was detailed.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said that the incident in question did not cause any harm or injuries but required remedial action to ensure that all cables were clearly marked. He said that therefore this incident would not be recorded as an accident.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development said the Health and Safety Annual Report covered the period to March 2023, and that the Safety Committee meeting was held on 9 May 2023, and this may have caused the omission of the incident from the report. He said that he would flag this to the Health and Safety Officer for an update in his Quarter 1 report, which would be on the agenda at the next meeting of the Committee. 

It was moved by Councillor Buckmaster and seconded by Councillor Swainston that the recommendations, as detailed be approved. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Health and Safety Report 2022/23, including the Quarter 4 statistics be considered and that any comments/ amendments be provided to the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development and the Health and Safety Officer.