Agenda item

To present the report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development incorporating the Council’s Annual Health and Safety Report for 2024/25 was presented for the committee’s consideration. The report provided an overview of health and safety activity at the Council during the period including an analysis of accidents and incidents together with the Council’s response to those issues. It also listed key achievements and set out an action plan for the following year.

The report was presented by the Chief Public Protection Officer to provide the committee with assurance regarding the Council’s Health and Safety performance.

In considering the report, the committee discussed the following matters –

·      The committee questioned how many of the reported accidents and incidents were attributable to insufficient training or failure to follow health and safety protocols.

The Principal Corporate Health and Safety Advisor explained that while this specific statistic is not recorded, each accident and incident is investigated to determine its cause. He noted that the majority of staff have received the necessary health and safety training,  and that a significant proportion of incidents in the data are not employee related involving pupils in schools or clients in care homes. For employee specific incidents the adequacy of training and the presence of appropriate risk assessments are reviewed. Although the exact figures are not available, in most cases training has been sufficient and protocols have been followed.

In a follow up question, the committee asked whether such information should be tracked and reported, as identifying cases of non-compliance or insufficient training could help prevent future accidents. The Chief Public Protection Officer acknowledged the point and stated that based on the incident data received by the Corporate Health and Safety team, it may be possible to analyse and identify patterns such as training gaps. He confirmed that the committee’s suggestion had been noted.

·      The committee referred to the 2025/26 health and safety strategic action plan which was included in tabular form within the report. Members noted that the proposed actions were very broadly defined, making it difficult to monitor progress effectively. It was suggested that each action should be SMART i.e. specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound.

In response, the Chief Public Protection Officer confirmed that the service is currently developing a more detailed three to four year strategic plan which will include defined targets and measurable outcomes. The plan is intended for presentation to the corporate management board.

The committee welcomed the information and proposed that the completed three year strategic plan incorporating SMART actions be brought to this committee for review in due course.

·      The committee asked whether the reduction in RIDDOR reports during 2024/25 was the result of deliberate action by the Council to mitigate risk or whether it was a matter of good fortune.

The Principal Corporate Health and Safety Advisor responded that the decrease was due to a combination of both factors. He explained that since the pandemic, the Corporate Health and Safety team has taken a proactive approach in sharing information with staff and helping them re-familiarise themselves with health and safety systems. This has led to increased awareness among staff of the policies and procedures that must be followed, supported by ongoing engagement from the Health and Safety team. While this heightened awareness may have contributed to the reduction in reportable incidents, he emphasised that accidents can occur at any time. He noted that the importance of health and safety must continue to be reinforced consistently across the organisation.

·      The committee asked whether in-year reporting is available to indicate how the current 2025/26 year is progressing.

The Principal Corporate Health and Safety Advisor advised that reports are provided to the individual services and to the corporate management team. Based on his recollection, incident figures are currently slightly lower than those of the previous year although historical patterns suggest that incidents tend to rise in the third quarter. He confirmed that figures could be provided if required.

·      In relation to the Council’s maturity in managing health and safety, the committee sought clarification on how the organisation classifies itself in this regard. The committee also  enquired whether the underlying trend in employee related statistics is a cause for concern.

The Chief Public Protection Officer acknowledged that attitudes towards Council staff are  a concern and is actively being addressed this year. Processes for capturing, monitoring and sharing data are being reviewed in collaboration with the Transformation and IT services to adopt a more digital approach and improve accessibility.

·      The committee questioned whether incidents of challenging or violent behaviour where staff are absent due to mental rather than physical impact, are recorded.

The Principal Corporate Health and Safety Advisor confirmed that such incidents are recorded. He explained that where there is a known injury and the member of staff goes off work following an incident, it would be recorded and may trigger a RIDDOR report. While physical injuries are more commonly the cause of absence, mental health related absences lasting seven days or more are potentially RIDDOR reportable and would also be reported to the HSE.

·      The committee noted that different locations such as schools require tailored responses and individual health and safety plans. It was asked whether activities undertaken during the year are measured against these plans.

The Principal Corporate Health and Safety Advisor advised that while the team is aiming to adopt a more strategic approach this year, service specific action plans have historically been prepared. He noted that schools differ significantly from services such as highways, waste and property with control measures tailored to each environment. Services are expected to maintain service relevant health and safety action plans to monitor progress throughout the year.

It was resolved, subject to the proviso in bullet point three below, that the committee –

·      Accepts that the Council’s activities regarding Corporate Health and Safety adequately address the risk and priorities of the Council.

·      Takes assurance that reasonable measures are in place to manage health and safety risks to an acceptable level.

·      Notes and welcomes the service’s intention to produce a three year strategic plan incorporating SMART actions and requests that the completed plan be presented to a future meeting of this committee.