Agenda item

To consider a number of health and safety policies for recommending to Council for approval.

Members were asked to consider, for recommendation to full Council, the following health and safety policies which were either new policies or existing policies which had been revised to incorporate recent changes in legislation:

·       Fire Safety Policy and Procedures;

·       Manual Handling Policy and Procedures;

·       Accident Incident Reporting and Investigation Policy and Procedures;

·       Display Screen Equipment Policy and Procedures;

·       Contractor Safety Policy and Procedures;

·       Lone Working Policy and Procedures; and

·       Substance Misuse (Drugs, Alcohol & Other Substances) at Work Policy.

Officers confirmed that all of the policies had been approved by the Council’s Joint Corporate Health, Safety and Welfare Committee and the trade unions.  As an employer the Council had a legal duty to have the policies in place.  Whilst the Corporate Health and Safety Policy was an overarching policy, there was a requirement to also have specific policies.  Officers advised that, whilst not explicitly stating this, all of the policies were intended to apply to councillors as well as members of staff, and that the same advice and procedures therefore applied to Members. 

Members raised concerns in relation to the possible risks and practical issues which they faced with lone working, for example when visiting residents’ homes.  As Members were not specifically addressed in the Lone Working Policy and Procedures it was agreed that Officers would undertake an additional piece of work on this.  The matter would be raised at the next meeting of the Joint Corporate Health, Safety and Welfare Committee on 18th March 2016, and as Councillor Yvonne Smith was a member of the Committee Officers would seek her input into this.  Member awareness in considering the safety implications when carrying out their duties was deemed to be key.  The importance of attending relevant training offered by the Council was highlighted by one Member, with previous training in this area having been poorly attended.  Officers highlighted that the Lone Working Policy included use of the Lifeline facility, which not all Members were aware of. 

RECOMMENDED that

1)          the Fire Safety Policy and Procedures at Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

2)          the Manual Handling Policy and Procedures at Appendix 2 to the report be approved;

3)          the Accident Incident Reporting and Investigation Policy and Procedures at Appendix 3 to the report be approved;

4)          the Display Screen Equipment Policy and Procedures at Appendix 4 to the report be approved;

5)          the Contractor Safety Policy and Procedures at Appendix 5 to the report be approved;

6)          the Lone Working Policy and Procedures at Appendix 6 to the report be approved; and

7)          the Substance Misuse (Drugs, Alcohol & Other Substances) at Work Policy at Appendix 7 to the report approved; and

RESOLVED that

8)          further consideration be given by Officers and the Joint Corporate Health, Safety and Welfare Committee in respect of elected Members and the Lone Working Policy and Procedures.