HS Report - JCB 10 September 2026

Renfrewshire Council · 10 September 2026
Back to Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching) — 10 September 2026 and its agenda

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OFFICIAL 
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To: Joint Consultative Board: Non-Teaching
On: 10th September 2026
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Report by: Director of Finance and Resources
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Heading: Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Activities Update.
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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 2026. 
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, as 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.
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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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Background 
3.0 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Activities and Performance 
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 Ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, including Trade Unions, One Ren,
RVJB, Scotland Excel, and the NHS, supports the review of policies and guidance
and the delivery of effective health and safety planning and operations, ensuring
compliance with statutory duties and evolving organisational 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. 
4.3 The health and safety team provides professional advice, guidance, and support to
the Council’s construction activities The team continue to support major Council
projects as well as other smaller projects across Council assets. 
4.4 The Council’s Workplace Inspection Programme which looks at the welfare and
safety arrangements across the Council’s estate has stayed steady since the last
report to members, with the Council’s health and safety team carrying out 28 site
visits during Q1 of 2026-27, which include site inspections 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 Q1 of 2026-
27, they examined 33 high-risk and 5 low-risk vendor assessments. 
4.6 The Corporate Fire Working Group was due to meet in June; however, this has been
delayed to bring the meeting in line with corporate meeting dates. The team continue
to work through the actions from the previous meeting. 
4.7 The Council remains committed to reducing workplace incidents as far as is
reasonably practicable and actively encourages employees to contribute to
achieving this important objective. Each Service Health and Safety Committee or
Group, which includes employee representatives, is tasked with focusing on the
underlying causes of incidents. In addition, weekly meetings between Service Health
and Safety Coordinators and the health and safety team support the development
of strategies and local accident reduction programmes.   
4.8 During Q1 of 2026-27 there were 653 health and safety incidents. 
9 of these incidents were reported to the HSE. The most pressing challenge for the
Council remains incidents of violence and aggression, accounting for 60% of all

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reported cases. All incidents are investigated, and preventative actions are put in
place to prevent likelihood of recurrence.
4.9 The health & safety team continues to work with the partners across the services to
focus on targeted preventative measures, including improving and building on
relationships, improving the culture of health & safety & investigating accidents &
incidents to identify measure to reduce likelihood of recurrence.
4.10 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 increased to 136 (from 109 at the
end of 2025/26). 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
progress to increase the number of MHFA’s this coming year.
4.11 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.
4.12 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 Q1 of 2026-27 there were 275 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.
4.13 During Q1 of 2026-27, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted 0 visits,
the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) conducted 0 visits, and the
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFR) conducted 2 visits. None led to enforcement
action.
4.14 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 6 SAR, 4 FOI requests were processed during the Q1 of 2026-27.
4.15 The health and safety team play a critical role in supporting the Council’s Corporate
Events Plan by actively leading on risk management and safety planning for the
year. The team supported Events with Gala Days for Renfrew & Barshaw, and Sma’
Shot Day. The team will now look to support the Events team with upcoming
Halloween and Christmas events.
5.0 Future Plans
5.1 The HSE have selected priority programmes which concentrate on hazards or
sectors where improvements are needed. The HSE’s priority programmes for 2026
that may impact on the Council are:
• Mental health, stress, violence, and aggression, with psychological risks now being
integrated into routine checks

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• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), pushing for engineering controls over
administrative fixes
• Occupational lung diseases, asbestos management, noise, legionella, and
hazardous dusts like silica
• High-risk issues: falls from height, workplace transport, electrical safety, and
explosions 
5.2  The overall aim within the Council is for Services to continue to address concerns in
relation to the above issues and incorporate these into their health and safety action
plans which should include relevant performance indicators. This will ensure that
health and safety continues to be a significant driver and should result in enhanced
health and safety performance. 
5.4  The Council will continue to work in partnership with our occupational health provider
People Asset Management and our employee counselling provider ‘Timeforthriving’
to review and develop innovative health and well-being programmes with the focus
on supporting attendance at work. 
5.5  Over the next twelve months, key areas to be targeted in relation to health safety
and wellbeing are: 
• Continued monitoring of accident, incident and ill health trends and analysis. 
• Promotion of occupational health services to support employees to remain at work,
including physiotherapy and occupational health surveillance
• Developing a consistent approach to vibration management
• Conducting inspections at services and developing action plans to drive
improvement of health & safety performance
• Developing the skills and competence of the health and safety team to further
support council services with health & safety management
• Evaluating suitable vendors that can provide a dedicated health & safety
management system to assist with the management of health & safety across the
council. This aims to include:
o Accident & incident reporting
o Risk assessments
o Auditing & inspections
o Action plans and;
o Reporting of health & safety compliance

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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 - The activities detailed in the report
supports the Council’s commitment to the health, safety, and wellbeing of
employees.
3. Community/Council Planning – The activities detailed in the report support the
Place objectives contained within the Community and Council plans.
4. Legal - The activities detailed in the report support the Council 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 – The ERP system continues to be the main recording
system for incidents.
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 - The Finance and Resources, Health and Safety Section make a
significant contribution to the effective management of risks within the Council’s
procurement system.
10. Risk - The activities detailed in this report underpins the strategic management of
risk across Renfrewshire Council.
11. Privacy Impact - Not applicable.
12. Climate Risk – Good health and safety practices contribute to effective
environmental controls.
13. Children’s rights – Not applicable
14. Cosla Policy Position- Not applicable
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List of Background Papers- None
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Author: Rhona Barnes, Financial & Corporate Administrative Support Manager
rhona.barnes@renfrewshire.gov.uk