Agenda item
Health and Safety Update
Update for JNC Sept 2015
New Chairs
Following a review of the chairs at the Civic Centre it was found that a number were not DSE (Display Screen Equipment) compliant.
CMT agreed to bring forward the budget for new chairs for the Forum.
A tender process was set up a number of suppliers provided samples which went through staff evaluation. The winning chair with the scoring evaluation will be presented to CMT on the 15th Sept 2015 with a recommendation that the winning chair is purchased.
The new chairs will assist in the hot desking arrangements.
The DSE complaint chairs at the Civic Centre will then distributed elsewhere in the Council.
DSE Software
A further update will be provided at JNC as the software is due to go to the trial stage the week commencing 1st Sept 2015.
After the trial, training sessions will be delivered to staff and managers prior to it being rolled out to other departments.
The software will also be used for homeworking DSE assessments.
Manual Handling Training
Approximately 90 CSG staff had manual handling training.
During September 2015, the cleaning staff for housing (approx. 40 staff) will also undergo manual handling training.
Level 2 Principles of Health & Safety Risk Assessments
This course is continuing to be delivered, the courses are:
Ø 29th Sept 2015
Ø 29th Oct 2015
Ø 18th Nov 2015
Handbooks
CSG have had health & safety handbooks produced as the operational staff do not have access to computers
Sun Protection
Sun cream is now available for CSG and Waste Services Staff, also sun protection advice leaflets have been provided for Cupid Green
Minutes:
Councillor Chapman read through the report provided by Paul O’Day, the Corporate Health and Safety Officer, which gave the following updates:
New Chairs
Following a review of the chairs at the Civic Centre it was found that a number were not DSE (Display Screen Equipment) compliant.
CMT agreed to bring forward the budget for new chairs for the Forum.
A tender process was set up , and a number of suppliers provided samples which went through staff evaluation. The winning chair with the scoring evaluation will be presented to CMT on the 15th September 2015 with a recommendation that the winning chair is purchased.
The new chairs will assist in the hot desking arrangements.
The DSE compliant chairs at the Civic Centre will then be distributed elsewhere in the Council.
DSE Software
A further update will be provided at JNC as the software is due to go to the trial stage the week commencing 1st September 2015.
After the trial, training sessions will be delivered to staff and managers prior to it being rolled out to other departments.
The software will also be used for homeworking DSE assessments.
Manual Handling Training
Approximately 90 CSG staff had manual handling training.
During September 2015, the cleaning staff for housing (approx. 40 staff) will also undergo manual handling training.
Level 2 Principles of Health & Safety Risk Assessments
This course is continuing to be delivered, the courses are:
Ø 29th Sept 2015
Ø 29th Oct 2015
Ø 18th Nov 2015
Handbooks
CSG have had health & safety handbooks produced as the operational staff do not have access to computers.
Sun Protection
Sun cream is now available for CSG and Waste Services Staff, also sun protection advice leaflets have been provided for Cupid Green.
Discussion
New Chairs
Councillor Whitman asked if the UNISON representatives had seen the chairs?
P O’Day explained that they had to go through the tendering procurement process. Around 12-14 chairs were seen and staff had tested them. Scores were given to each in order to pick a winner. The new chairs will go to the Forum and any chairs not DSE compliant will be offered for home working (around 70%) as they would be suitable for 1 person.
The committee were happy with the choice of new chairs.
DSE Software
P O’Day said they were ready to go live. The required links were now available and would be confirm to be in working order later this week. This will then b trialled in Environmental Health as there was a good mix of users. Their feedback will then be used to assist with the roll out of training.
W Cherry noted that the DSE requirements for home working was a big problem at the start of discussions, however this seemed to have been addressed. He thanked the officers for their work on this.
P O’Day said that employees could do both, a home and a work assessment, to see what arrangements needed to be in place.
Councillor Chapman asked that P O’Day emailed the committee to give an update on progress.
Manual Handling Training
W Cherry noted that this had already been completed. He added that people thoroughly enjoyed the course, it was a dry subject made interesting, and thanked P O’Day.
The Committee were happy with this update.
Level 2 Principles of Health & Safety Risk Assessments
Councillor Chapman asked how many staff had to go through this process.
P O’Day said that any staff could be required to do the assessment (team leaders etc). Staff had a choice of dates for the course and it was noted that there was a maximum of 12 on a course.
He added that next year the courses would possibly be run on a quarterly basis instead of monthly.
W Cherry said that he had already achieved a level 3, but not through DBC. He asked if he had to do level 2 at DBC.
P O’Day confirmed this was not necessary.
Handbooks
P O’Day asked how the handbooks were wearing.
B O’Gorman explained that they were kept in the vans, so were doing ok.
Sun Protection
A Stunell explained that ideally they wanted this to be provided before the summer, however felt it was around 6 weeks too late.