Agenda item

The Health and Safety Apprentice presented the report to the Committee.

The total number of Council employee accidents in Quarter 4 2024/25 was 5. This compared to 8 accidents during Quarter 4 of 2024/25.  Employee accidents occurred in the following service areas: Streetscene (4); and Housing (1).

The types of incidents were: cuts & abrasions (2); manual handling (1); slips, trips and falls on same level (1); and ill health (1).  None of these were RIDDOR reportable.

The number of near misses reported during Quarter 4 2024/25 was 2 (both near misses with no injury).  The report provided further details of the dates, locations, severity, etc. of incidents.

The total number of accidents reported by members of the public was 47 (none of these were serious enough to be RIDDOR reportable).

Additionally, 1 non-employee incident occurred (slipped on snow) at Pleasley Vale Business Park (also not RIDDOR reportable).

There was 0 near misses and 2 accidents reported by Dragonfly Development Ltd. (DDL) and Dragonfly Management (DM) during Quarter 4 2024/25.  These included a cut & abrasion and a slip, trip and fall on same level.

The Health and Safety Apprentice drew the Committee’s attention to an error in the report – while it was stated 0 days were lost due to accidents / incidents, this actually stood at 55 (including the day of the meeting – this tally was ongoing).

Graphs included in the report showed the number of monthly incidents by each month of employees, members of the public, contractors and ‘other’ for Quarter 4 2024/25.

The Health and Safety Apprentice shared that during Quarter 4 2024/25, 35 Council employees had received training including: Institution of Occupational Safety and IOSH) Managing Safely (3); IOSH Managing Safely Refresher (2); First Aid (11); and First Aid Refresher (8).

77 DDL / DM employees had received training in the same period including: IOSH Managing Safely (4); First Aid Refresher (1); Ladder and Stepladder Training (2); and Asbestos Removal (Category A) (51).

The report detailed inspections carried out at 6 Council locations (Cresswell Wellness Centre; Pleasley Vale Mills 1, 2 and 3; Pleasley Vale Outdoor Activity Centre, Unit T and the Boathouse; and The Tangent Business Centre) and 8 formal inspections at DDL sites (Ashbourne Court; Woburn House; Parkfields; Jubilee Court; Valley View; Victoria House; and Briar Close (twice)).

To a question on the 2^nd January 2025 and 14^th January 2025 incidents involving Streetscene Officers, the Strategic Director of Services informed there was a weight limit on what black bin liners could withstand and animal faeces proved dense and heavy – the “cat litter” for the 2^nd January 2025 incident had been discarded into a public waste bin.

The Strategic Director of Services noted on occasion third parties discarded waste that was not typically expected for street litter – it was not uncommon for traders to inappropriately discard their waste in and around public waste bins.

The Strategic Director of Services informed no time had been lost from these incidents and the Council continued to encourage officers to report near misses and incidents.

To a question from the Chair on the results of the inspections that had taken place at the Pleasley Vale Mills, the Strategic Director of Services informed, for the general safety and issues being recorded, some plaster had fallen from the third floor ceiling in Mill 1, resulting in tenants being relocated elsewhere in Mill 1 or to other premises.

The Council had met with officers from DM, property services, Health and Safety and the Environmental Health Joint Service to agree an approach to risk assess each floor and establish an inspection programme to identify issues and manage repairs.

A report on this and other facility issues at Mill 1 would be provided to the Executive’s next meeting.  Measures would be detailed in the report with the aim of safeguarding tenants.

The Chair thanked the Health and Safety Apprentice for presenting the report and noted it was good no incidents were RIDDOR reportable in Quarter 4 2024/25.

Moved by Councillor Justin Gilbody and seconded by Councillor Tom Munro

REOSLVED that: 1) Safety Committee members note the Health and Safety updates and provide any appropriate advice to officers on this work stream; and,

2)    Safety Committee members be assured that good Health and Safety management remains a key performance priority for Bolsover District Council