Agenda item

Present:-  Councillors Dodson, G. A. Russell, R. S. Russell, Swift and Wootton; together with Mrs. J. Adams (NUT), Mrs. S. Brook (NASUWT), Mrs. K. Hall-Garritt (UNISON), Mr. G. Millns (UNISON). Mr. K. Stoddart (ATL) and Mr. P. Harris (GMB).

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. A. Russell, Sharman and Whelbourn.

1.                      

Appointment of Chairman 2013/2014

Resolved:- That Councillor R. S. Russell be appointed Chairman of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel for the 2013/2014 Municipal Year.

(Councillor R. S. Russell in the Chair)

2.                      

Appointment of Vice-Chairman 2013/2014

Resolved:- That Mrs. S. D. Brook (NASUWT) be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel for the 2013/2014 Municipal Year.

3.                      

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 26th April, 2013

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel, held on 26th April, 2013, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman, with the inclusion of Councillor Swift in the list of persons present at the meeting.

4.                      

Annual Health and Safety Report 2012

Consideration was given to the contents of the Council’s Annual Health and Safety Report 2012. The main conclusions contained within the report were:-

: the total for all injuries has increased and this can be attributed to more robust reporting procedures. The main causes remain consistent with 2011 (physical assaults, slip, trips & falls and manual handling).

: on a national basis, the Health and Safety Executive suggests that there may be under-reporting of RIDDOR incidents. Due to the fact that Rotherham MBC ‘all accident’ figures have remained relatively consistent, the Health and Safety Team are reasonably confident that the procedures in place are being adhered to and that accurate recording of RIDDOR incidents is being achieved.

: the move to over 7-day reporting for RIDDOR from April 2012 will impact on the statistics from 2013. Furthermore, there are additional changes to the reporting criteria for RIDDOR over the coming months and this will also impact on the statistics and the ability to use RIDDOR reliably to measure trends.

: accidents cost organisations money and in the current financial climate, it is important that the Council maintains comprehensive management of health and safety.

: the use of “near-miss” reporting continues to assist in the reduction of accidents.

Summary details of accidents and injuries which had occurred in the year were included in respect of each Directorate and identifiable key locations and services.

The Panel noted the section of the report which stated that since October 2012, the Health and Safety Executive has recovered its inspection, investigation and enforcement costs from employers found in breach of health and safety law. This “Fee for Intervention” applies to ‘material’ breaches of health and safety law, namely when a Health and Safety Executive inspector judges that there has been a contravention of health and safety law requiring the Health and Safety Executive to notify the employer in writing, by notification of a contravention, an improvement or prohibition notice or a prosecution. The fee is based on the amount of time the inspector spends identifying the material breach, helping the business to take corrective action and investigating and taking enforcement action. The “Fee for Intervention” is charged at £124 per hour, but does not apply to health and safety enforcement by local authorities. This cost could have a significant impact on Directorates and the Council as a whole. In the event of a fatality, serious incident or breach of legislation, were the Health and Safety Executive inspectors to undertake an investigation lasting thirty seven hours, for example, the cost would be more than £4,500.

Resolved:- That the Annual Report be received and its contents noted.

5.                      

Visits of Inspection held on 21st June, 2013

Consideration was given to matters arising from the visits of inspection made by the Panel on Friday, 21st June, 2013. It was noted that Councillor Wootton had been present at these visits of inspection. The report included the responses provided by Service Areas to the various issues raised at the inspections.  Particular reference was made to:-

(a) Hellaby Depot

The Panel noted that, at the recent meeting of the Hellaby User Group, the issues raised at this visit of inspection were considered and have now been dealt with. Reference was also made to issues concerning the garage used by the company May Gurney.

(b) Sandbeck Building

An application is being made for funding from the Local Energy Fund, in order to replace some of this building’s window frames.

(c) Depot at Barber’s Avenue, Rawmarsh

The Panel received updates on the responses to the various matters raised at the visit of inspection to the Barber’s Avenue Depot.  Discussion took place on issues affected by the COSHH regulations.

(d) Doncaster Road, Rotherham – highway repair scheme

The Panel noted the very good standard of health and safety at this site.

(e) Sitwell Infant School

The Panel noted that thermostatic control valves have now been installed, to ensure the correct temperature of water.

Resolved:- (1) That the responses to the issues reported at the visit of inspection to the Hellaby Depot be updated at the next meeting of this Panel.

(2) That the Panel be provided with details of the requirements for the provision of signs at highway repair and construction sites, in respect of the wearing of protective clothing and use of equipment on site and prohibiting access to the site by unauthorised persons.

6.                      

Dates of Future Meetings and Visits of Inspection

Resolved:- That, during the 2013/14 Municipal Year, meetings and visits of inspection of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel take place as follows:-

Friday  20^th September, 2013 – visits of inspection (9.30 am)

Friday 18^th October, 2013 – meeting (earlier start at 1.30 pm)

Friday  6^th December, 2013 – visits of inspection (9.30 am)

Friday 10^th January, 2014 – meeting (2.00 pm)

Friday  14^th March, 2014 – visits of inspection (9.30 am)

Friday 11^th April, 2014 – meeting (2.00 pm)

Friday  20^th June, 2014 – visits of inspection (9.30 am)

Friday 11^th July, 2014 – meeting (2.00 pm)