Health, Safety & Wellbeing Update
Renfrewshire Council · 11 September 2025
Back to Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching) — 11 September 2025 and its agenda
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2 ___________________________________________________________________ To: Joint Consultative Board: Non-Teaching On: 11 September 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Finance and Resources ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Update. ___________________________________________________________________ Summary 1.1 This report provides an update on the Health, Safety and Wellbeing arrangements and performance of the Council since the last board in June 2025. 1.2 The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended) place duties on the Council to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health of their employees and others that could be affected by work activities. 1.3 This report demonstrates the Council’s continued commitment to ensuring the health, safety, welfare, and wellbeing of our employees. It supports the aims of the “Our People, Our Future” People Strategy, the Councils’ Values and contributes to the delivery of best value outcomes. _________________________________________________________________ 2.0 Recommendations 2.1 Members are asked to note the following health, safety and wellbeing activities and performance of the Council. _____________________________________________________
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3 Background 3.1 A safe and healthy organisation is one that successfully balances the needs of individuals with the needs of the organisation. Health and Safety at work is not only about health and safety management, occupational health and promoting healthier lifestyles, it is recognised that the way in which work is organised and how people behave, is significant to nurturing positive outcomes. To be truly effective, health and safety must be an everyday process and continue to be an integral part of the workforce culture at all levels across the Council. 4.0 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Activities and Performance 4.1 The Council works in collaboration with a range of key stakeholders including Trade Unions, Services, One Ren, Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board (RVJB), Scotland Excel and the NHS to review our policies and guidance documents in line with statutory compliance, as well as business needs. 4.2 To ensure a collaborative approach to health and safety engagement with employees, the Corporate Health and Safety Committee (CHSC) continues to progress health and safety issues that cannot be resolved at Service level. The Committee has representation from all Services and Trade Unions. During the reporting period the CHSC has had the quarterly meeting to discuss and resolve general health, safety and welfare issues raised by our Trade Union colleagues. 4.3 The Health and Safety team provides professional advice, guidance, and support to the Council’s construction activities and during the reporting period there were 16 construction site visits. The team continue to support major Council projects such as: The Renfrewshire House ramp works, Paisley Grammar new build, Dargavel Primary School, St James’s Primary School, Park Mains High Schools as well as other smaller projects within the school estate, which include The Lady of the Peace and Heriot. 4.4 The Council’s Workplace Inspection Programme which looks at the welfare and safety arrangements across the Council’s estate, has progressed since the last report to members, with the Council’s Health and Safety Team carrying out 28 site visits, which include site audits and support to the services management team. 4.5 The Health and Safety team ensures compliance with safety standards by assessing supplier documentation during the Council’s procurement process. Over this period, they examined 30 high-risk and 13 low-risk contracts. 4.6 The Council’s Health and Safety team continues to drive and progress the fire, health and safety arrangements within the Corporate Fire Working Group. During the period, progress has been made to support Brediland Road Childrens House with revised plans, The Renfrew Care Home action plan was completed, and work continues to develop the Fire Risk assessment module on the CAMIS system. 4.7 The Council has an ongoing commitment to reducing incidents, so far as is reasonably practicable and encourage employees to play their part in achieving this important objective. Each Service Health and Safety Committee/Group involving
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4 employee representatives, are required to focus on the causes of incidents. Further to this, weekly meetings with the Service Health and Safety Coordinators and the Health and Safety team, assists in the development of strategies and local accident reduction programmes. 4.8 During the reporting period there were 168 health and safety incidents reported in total. No RIDDOR reports were submitted to the Health and Safety Executive. The most pressing challenge for the Council remains incidents of violence and aggression, accounting for 45% of all reported cases, continuing to mirror national trends. All incidents are fully investigated, and preventative actions are put in place to prevent a recurrence. 4.9 Protecting the mental health and wellbeing of our workforce remains a key priority as defined in the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Plan. The number of Council trained and accredited mental health first aiders remains at 91. The Council’s mental health first aiders support our workforce by initially providing a safe space to discuss mental health concerns and available specialist support in areas such as financial or psychological wellbeing. Plans are in place to increase the number of MHFA’s in the coming months, alongside running an event with the current MHFA’s to better understand the usage of mental health first aid support and issues that are being presented. 4.10 In addition, to support managers, The Quality of Working Life (Stress) Risk Assessment (QWLRA) is an important tool to identify perceived workplace stressors and to generate an action plan that may remove or reduce the impacts of the perceived stressors. 4.11 To support employee wellbeing, Council officers have worked with a few subject matter experts to deliver a range of successful Rentalks. These Rentalks have been recorded and are available for all employees as either toolbox talks or training through the Council’s I’Learn Training Platform. Recently the team delivered a Rentalk on Strathclyde Pension Fund which was attended by 435 employees, with 39 employees attending the Supporting Our Unpaid Working Carers Rentalk. 4.12 The Council’s new Menopause Champion has also introduced ‘Let’s Pause’ monthly sessions for employees, which are supportive spaces for anyone experiencing menopause who wish to share their experiences and connect with others in a relaxed and friendly setting. Additionally, we have provided a Menopause Ilearn course with over 181 course completions to date. 4.13 The Council works closely with its Occupational Health provider to deliver its Health Surveillance programme. The programme provides focussed support mainly to employees within Environment, Housing and Infrastructure and Children’s Services. During the reporting period there were 58 appointments, covering a mixture of audio, hand arm vibration, skin, respiratory and workplace functionality. There have been no RIDDOR reportable diseases reported to the HSE during the reporting period. 4.14 During the reporting period, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted zero visits, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) conducted zero visits,
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5 and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFR) conducted two annual care home audits. 4.15 Data support for insurance claims, subject access requests (SAR), and freedom of information (FOI) requests continues to be a key function of the Health and Safety team. A total of 5 SAR/FOI requests were processed during the period, primarily concerning workplace incidents and accidents. 4.16 To support of the Council’s Corporate Events Plan, the Health and Safety Team were involved in the planning and delivery of major events such as Renfrew Gala Day, Pipe Bands, Barshaw Day, SMA Shot day. The team are currently involved in the planning for the Halloween festival and local Christmas lights switch on events. 4.17 The Health and Safety team continue to support the new ways of working arrangements being developed across the Council. This includes reviewing floor plate designs, ventilation impacts, and the recent minor construction works. More recent works include the service upgrades and moves on the lower ground and 1st floor, supporting contractor management and general health and safety related tasks.
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6 Implications of the Report 1. Financial - Continuing to improve health and safety performance will reduce accidents/occupational ill health/claims and associated costs. 2. People & Organisational Development - This report supports the Council’s commitment to the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees. 3. Community/Council Planning – This report and plan supports the objectives contained within the community and council plans. 4. Legal - The Council will continue to comply with current health and safety legislation. 5. Property/Assets - Having a robust health and safety management system in place and an effective risk control system can reduce the risk of property damage and potential loss of premises which could be caused by fire for example. 6. Information Technology - Not applicable. 7. Equality & Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report as it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety - This report supports and demonstrates the Council’s commitment to ensuring effective health and safety management. 9. Procurement - Finance and Resources, People & Organisational Development Health and Safety Section has a valuable input to the Council’s procurement system. 10. Risk - This report supports the overarching management of risk within Renfrewshire Council. 11. Privacy Impact - Not applicable. 12. Climate Risk – Good health and safety practices support environmental controls. 13. Children’s rights – Not applicable 14. Cosla Policy Position- Not applicable _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers- None ________________________________________________________________ Author: Steven Fanning, Strategic Lead Partner (Health and Safety) steven.fanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk Tel. 07747790211
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