HEALTH & SAFETYMember Briefing

Health, Safety & Wellbeing Teamhealthandsafety@plymouth.gov.uk 01752 312523

Aims & Objectives

Outline PCC health and safety management systems

Know where to find PCC policies and procedures

Appreciate the wider implications of health, safety and wellbeing in decision making

Understand the employer and regulatory obligations of PCC in terms of health and safety

Understand responsibilities for health and safety.

WHAT IS HEALTH AND SAFETY?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Everyone!Chief Executive = top of the organisational structure for paid service, overall responsibility for health and safety  Line managers = day-to-day management of health and safetyEmployees = responsible for themselves and others affectedElected Members = responsible for many local policies and budgets, risks considered in decision-making process.

ELECTED MEMBERS

advocate – champion causes and resources lead - vision and direction for communities enable and facilitate – encourage

communities Part of the decision-making process represent the council and their communities

on external bodies

Actions and decisions affect, employees, contractors, suppliers, service users, communities.

LG Improvement and Development (formerly the IDeA)

WHY WORRY?

Rates have substantially reduced, but still huge impact:1.1 million people suffering from an illness caused or made worse by work in 2011/1227 million working days lost2291people died from mesothelioma in 2011 148 workers were killed at work78 thousand reportable injuries to employees£14 billion cost to society due to work-related ill health and injury (in 2010/11).

Source: The Health and Safety Executive Statistics 2012/13

GETTING IT WRONG

Annual cost of sickness absence & worklessness exceeds £100 Billion (Black report)

Cost of sick pay to PCC £2.6 million 2012/13 7.6 days absence per FTE per year (Feb 14)

Indirect costs include: Reduced productivity Social impacts; family, partners, children, social engagements,

isolation, mental health issues, stress anxiety etc Insurance premiums Fines/legal costs Repairing damage Civil claims Enhanced benefits on retirements

Impact on PCC budgets?

BARROW

2002 legionnaire’s disease, arts & leisure centre

7 deaths £125k fine £90k costs Design Services Manager £15k personal fine

‘’We had policies written on paper but it was not part of the culture of the organisation and there was no chain of command. We ticked all the boxes but there was not a procedure which ensured it was all adhered to’’

Council Leader Bill Joughin.

RECENT CASES

City of Bradford (2012) £12k fine £9.6k costs – unsafe tree pruning, vehicle toppled due to ground conditions

Suffolk County Council (2012) £48k fine £43.7k costs – 2 falls from height, 4 hand arm vibration cases

Northumberland County Council (2010) £13.4k fine £8.4k costs – contact with electric cable (no injury)

Newcastle upon Tyne City council (2009) £12k fine £7.7k costs – member of the public injured hand/fingers at museum exhibit

PCC (2007) £75k fine £16.7k costs – agency worker crushed between fork lift and lorry.

GETTING IT RIGHT

Is enabling Saves lives Keeps people from harm Improves morale Saves money Improves efficiency Sets a good example Sends out positive message and

improves our reputation to employees, contractors, electorate.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Ask yourself:Do I know enough about the health and safety risks facing employees of PCC?Do I understand health and safety issues in the service areas I’m involved with?Has PCC set the right strategy and budget?Do I show commitment to health and safety when I speak to service areas?Have any decisions I’ve made put people at risk?Am I satisfied risks are being sensibly managed?

WHAT CAN I DO (2)

Policy– where is it, is it clear and communicated?

Management – where is HSW performance reported?

Advice – do we have competent HS and OH advice?

Training – is it suitable and sufficient?

Promote sensible risk management – encourage decisions

based on a balance of benefit and risk, rather than fear of litigation..

LINKS

Health and Safety Executivewww.hse.gov.uk

Institution of Occupational Health and Safetywww.iosh.co.uk

Local government Improvement and Developmentwww.idea.gov.uk

Leadership Centre for Local Government/LGAwww.local.gov.uk

National Member Development Community of Practicehttps://knowledgehub.local.gov.uk/web/

nationalmemberdevelopmentcommunityofpractice