10. 2025 09 02 Annual Health and Safety Report 2024-25 V2
North Ayrshire Council · 2 September 2025
Back to Cabinet — 2 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 2 September 2025 Cabinet Title: Health and Safety Annual Report 2024/25 Purpose: To provide Cabinet with an annual report on the Health and Safety performance within Council Services during 2024/25. Recommendation: That the Cabinet notes the Annual Health & Safety Performance update for 2024/25 and the statistics covering a 3-year period. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 Health and Safety cuts across every Service within the Council. North Ayrshire Council has a legal duty of care to protect the health, safety and welfare of its employees and others who are affected by its business. Corporate Health and Safety operates in partnership with all Services and external partners to provide advice, guidance and support to improve health and safety culture and reduce the risk of injury and ill-health incidents. 1.2 The Corporate Health and Safety (CHaS) Team issues and maintains a range of guidance documents which reflect the evolving nature of the organisation and updated working practices. 1.3 With reference to the Corporate Health & Safety Annual Report at Appendix 1, information is provided which illustrates the incident trends within the Council and includes 3 years of data. 2. Background 2.1 The Health and Safety at Work Act places a Duty of Care on employers towards employees while they are at work. To meet its Duty of Care, it is essential that the Council works pro-actively to provide safe systems of work, risk assessments and training, as well as monitoring health and safety performance. 2.2 The Corporate Health and Safety Annual Report, which is attached at Appendix 1 to this report, is a key part of the monitoring and reporting process to Senior Management and Elected Members.
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2.3 The Annual Report outlines in detail the following: • Improvements During 2024/25 • Reviews of Policies & Guidance • Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Visits • Health & Safety Training • Incident Statistics and Monitoring • Planned Improvements for 2025/26. Improvements 2.4 One of the most important areas within Health & Safety Management is continuous improvement, which sits at the heart of the Council’s Health & Safety Management System, modelled on the Health & Safety Executive’s HSG65 Guidance and the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle. The following are some of the improvements implemented in 2024/25. Incident Reporting System 2.5 In 2023, the Council procured a new incident reporting system called Evotix Assure. The system has a state of the art reporting function whereby all employees can report an incident directly by using a mobile device such as a phone or tablet. Employees can scan a QR Code that opens up an incident reporting form and the system also allows photographs to be uploaded directly which is a significant improvement. 2.6 The CHaS team continued to work with services during 2024/25 to streamline and improve the system. 2.7 It is recognised that due mainly to the ease of access to report incidents, we continue to see an increase in the number of incidents being reported. Fire Risk Assessment 2.8 A significant area of risk to the Council is in relation to the management of Fire Risk Assessments. In early 2024, the CHaS team led the development of a new Risk Assessment Process which will see the introduction of a new Premises Fire Risk Assessment Register. The register will cover every non-domestic property owned by the Council and sheltered housing units. 2.9 The register will show when the last fire risk assessment took place and the total number of open actions. This will provide a quick reference tool for service senior managers to discuss the status of fire risk assessments. It is also recommended that Fire Risk Assessment will become a standing agenda item for the Directorate Health & Safety Planning Group Meetings. 2.10 To further improve the management of fire risk assessments, the CHaS Team has developed a new Fire Risk Assessment Action Tracker, again with all relevant premises recorded. The action tracker will show at a glance where the actions sit, e.g. whether they are for PMI or the Premises Manager/Responsible Person. The tracker will also show progress against each action, and will be a useful tool for service senior managers to monitor the closure of actions. 2.11 To assist managers, CHaS has also developed a quick reference fire risk assessment process flowchart.
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2.12 The implementation of the new system will also be welcomed by the Council’s insurance provider, and reflect good practice in the Council’s fire risk management measures. The new process is expected to be fully operational during the first quarter of 2025/26. Training 2.13 A broad training offer is available through the CHaS Team. This includes access to on-line resources and delivery of in-house training. Delivery of three IOSH training courses; IOSH Managing Safely, IOSH Managing Safely Refresher and IOSH Working Safely will be supplemented by a procurement process to address any excess demand. 2.14 During the course of the year the CHaS Team delivered 17 Risk Assessment courses and 1 Fire Warden course. Stress 2.15 The Stress Guidance document was updated and enhanced during the year, and a new Stress Assessment form was developed to identify specific employee issues and to provide guidance to managers in supporting employees through the challenges in this area. The new guidance and assessment form was developed in consultation with trade unions and has received positive feedback since its launch in early 2025. Incident Monitoring 2.16 Monitoring the Council’s health and safety performance requires statistics to be analysed to identify appropriate actions. Monitoring is undertaken by a variety of stakeholders, including Elected Members, Chief Officers, Senior Management and Trade Unions. To support effective Health and Safety monitoring, each Directorate holds a Health and Safety Planning Group meeting, normally chaired by a Chief Officer on a quarterly basis. The purpose of these meetings is to review, discuss and plan operational Health and Safety performance, actions and improvements. 2.17 Section 4 of the annual report provides a detailed statistical review across a three- year period. However, it should be noted that the introduction of the new Communities & Housing Directorate will mean slight changes in the Place Directorate statistics when making historical comparisons. 2.18 The data shows that there has been a total of 2245 incidents for 2024/25 which is up by 361 compared to 2023/24. 2.19 The ease of reporting incidents through the new Assure Incident Reporting System has most likely contributed to cases being reported that would previously not have been reported. It is recognised that this is the main reason for the higher number of incidents being recorded. Moving forward this will help draw out further areas of risk and trends that require to be addressed to ensure a safe working environment for employees. 2.20 With regard to the more serious incidents, which are reported under RIDDOR (Reporting of Incidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations), there were 39, which was a decrease of 7 on the previous year. Of the 39 incidents: • 28 were within the less serious category where an employee was off work
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for more than 7 days with injuries such as strained backs, sprained ankles etc. • 6 incidents were categorized as specified injuries such as broken bones or loss of consciousness. • 5 incidents involved individuals who were taken to the hospital from the scene of the incident and received treatment or remained in hospital for over 24 hours. 2.21 The type of incident returning the highest numbers is aggression and violence within education settings, accounting for 64% of all reported incidents. This was in line with expectations, with the new reporting mechanism making it much easier for incidents to be recorded. A number of these incidents (approx. 5.5%) were identified as “without intent”. 2.22 A working group, including trade unions and corporate health and safety, has been set up to look at ways of reducing the incidence of aggression and violence , with a relationship-based approach as the focus for improvement. The working group will report into the Corporate Health & Safety Group on a quarterly basis. Planned Improvements 2.23 Plans have been developed to deliver further improvements to the Health and Safety framework during 2025/26 – these include the: • implementation of a new Fire Risk Assessment Overview Register • implementation of a new Fire Risk Assessment Action Tracker • review and cascading of new or amended Health and Safety Policies/Guidance • procurement of a supplier for lone working devices • development of a new Corporate Risk Indicator Database • reissue of updated Driving at Work Guidance; and • release of an updated 6 Monthly Inspection Form 3. Proposals 3.1 It is proposed that the Cabinet notes the Annual Health & Safety report for 2024/25 and the statistics covering a 3-year period. Also, that Cabinet notes in April 2024, the new Communities & Housing Directorate was formed, and this is reflected in the health & safety data. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 None. Human Resources 4.2 Supporting health, safety and wellbeing for Council employees, customers and service users. Legal 4.3 Ensuring that the Council meets its Duty of Care and complies with Health and Safety
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legislation. Failure to do so may result in prosecutions or financial penalties. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 None. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 None. Key Priorities 4.6 A robust Health and Safety culture supports the delivery of the key priorities in the Council Plan 2023-2028. Community Wealth Building 4.7 None. Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) 4.8 None. United Nations Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 4.9 None. Consumer Duty 4.10 None. 5. Consultation 5.1 The Corporate Health and Safety Team consults regularly on Health and Safety with Elected Members, employees and Trade Unions. The subject matter within this report has been shared at directorate planning groups and at the Corporate Health and Safety group. Mark Boyd Head of Service (Finance) For further information please contact James Walls, Team Manager (Health & Safety), on 07920 845048. Background Papers None.
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Appendix 1 CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25 & 3 Year Statistical Comparison (2022/23 – 2023/24 – 2024/25) Version: 1.0 Date: August 2025 Author: James Walls Classification: Public
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY ANNUAL REPORT 2024/2025 1 Background 1.1 The Health and Safety at Work Act places significant requirements on employers to ensure a Duty of Care to employees while at work. To meet its Duty of Care, it is essential that the Council provides safe systems of work, carries out risk assessments and monitors health and safety performance in relation to its services, employees and service users. Monitoring the Council’s performance of health and safety requires statistics to be gathered and analysed, to identify appropriate action. The monitoring is undertaken by Elected Members, Chief Officers, Senior Management, Employees and Trade Unions. 1.2 To support effective Health and Safety monitoring, each directorate holds a Health and Safety Planning Group meeting, normally chaired by a Chief Officer on a quarterly basis. The purpose of these meetings is to review, discuss and plan operational Health and Safety performance, actions and incident statistics. 1.3 On a quarterly basis, the Corporate Health and Safety team reports on combined directorate statistics, health and safety projects and performance to the Corporate Health and Safety Group chaired by the Leader of the Council and attended by senior health and safety representatives from all Council Services and also Trade Unions. 1.4 The Corporate Health and Safety Team comprises three Health and Safety Advisers, and the Health and Safety Manager, who provide professional advice, guidance and support to Council Services, including the Health and Social Care Partnership. 1.5 The Corporate Health and Safety Team continues to promote the theme of “Safety in Mind”. The overarching aim of this theme is to raise the profile and understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace and to keep health and safety at the forefront of all our employees' minds on a day-to-day basis. 2 Improvements during 2024/25 2.1 The sections below include the areas where the Corporate Health and Safety Team has supported all Services. Stress 2.2 The Stress Guidance document was updated and enhanced during the year, and a new Stress Assessment form was developed to identify specific employee issues and to provide guidance to managers in supporting employees through the challenges in this area. The new guidance and assessment form was developed in consultation with trade unions and has received positive feedback since its launch in early 2025. Fire Risk Assessment 2.3 A significant area of risk to the Council is in relation to the management of Fire Risk Assessments. In early 2024, the CHaS team led the development of a new Risk Assessment Process which will see the introduction of a new Premises Fire Risk
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Assessment Register. The register will cover every non-domestic property owned by the Council and sheltered housing units. 2.4 The register will show when the last fire risk assessment took place and the total number of open actions. This will provide a quick reference tool for service senior managers to discuss the status of fire risk assessments. It is also recommended that Fire Risk Assessment will become a standing agenda item for the Directorate Health & Safety Planning Group Meetings. 2.5 To further improve the management of fire risk assessments, the CHaS Team has developed a new Fire Risk Assessment Action Tracker, again with all relevant premises recorded. The action tracker will show at a glance where the actions sit, e.g. whether they are for PMI or the Premises Manager/Responsible Person. The tracker will also show progress against each action, and will be a useful tool for service senior managers to monitor the closure of actions. 2.6 To assist managers, CHaS has also developed a quick reference fire risk assessment process flowchart. 2.7 The implementation of the new system will also be welcomed by the Council’s insurance provider, and reflect good practice in the Council’s fire risk management measures. The new process is expected to be fully operational during the first quarter of 2025/26. Reviews of Policies and Guidance 2.8 The following documents have been Developed/Updated since the last Cabinet report: • Stress Guidance 2.9 The following documents have been under review and will be updated in 2025/26: • Fire Guidance • Asbestos Guidance • DSE Guidance • CRID (Corporate Risk Indicator Database) Guidance • 6 Monthly Inspection Guidance • 6 Monthly Inspection Form • Lone Working Guidance (dependent on procuring Lone Working Devices). HSE Visits 2.10 On the 18th of April 2024, we received one visit from the Health & Safety Executive, this was to the Streetscene Central Avenue Depot in Ardrossan. A total of 3 issues were identified relating to the storage and control of Plant Protection Products. All issues were rectified in a timely manner and evidence was forwarded to the relevant inspector. 3 Corporate Health and Safety Training 3.1 A broad training offer is available through the CHaS Team. This includes access to on-line resources and delivery of in-house training. Delivery of three IOSH training courses; IOSH Managing Safely, IOSH Managing Safely Refresher and IOSH Working Safely will be supplemented by a procurement
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] process to address any excess demand. 3.2 During the course of the year the CHaS Team delivered 17 Risk Assessment courses and 1 Fire Warden course. 4 Incident Statistics 4.1 A key part of the Corporate Health and Safety Team’s monitoring role is to collect and review statistics on all reported Health and Safety incidents and near misses. Please Note: When analysing the statistics in the following sections within the report, we need to take into consideration the introduction of a new Communities & Housing Directorate from April 2024. All Health and Safety Incidents 4.2 Graph 1 below provides an analysis of incidents over a 36-month period and shows a comparison of all incidents from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025. Graph 1 Total No of Incidents 4.3 Graph 1 shows that in 2024/25 we had a total of 2245 incidents, 1884 incidents in 2023/24, and 1567 incidents in 2022/23. 1567 1884 2245 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] RIDDOR Incidents by Directorate Graph 2 Total No of RIDDOR Incidents 4.4 The Council has a legal duty to report certain incidents to the Health and Safety Executive as per the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Graph 2 above shows the total number of incidents for the 3 year period. Graph 2 shows that NAC have had a decrease of 7 incidents this year, but is still 14 higher than 2022/23. 4.5 With regard to the 39 RIDDOR incidents, it should be noted that 28 incidents were of a less serious nature and were categorized as Over 7 Day Incidents where the outcome could be a strain or a sprain or a back problem resulting in the employee being off work for more than 7 days. 4.6 Six incidents were categorized as Specified Injuries, this is where the outcome is more serious such as broken bones or unconsciousness. 4.7 Five incidents involved individuals who were taken to the hospital from the scene of the incident and received treatment or remained in hospital for over 24 hours. 4.8 Graph 3 below shows that the Education Directorate has reported the highest number of RIDDOR incidents with a total of 13, down by 5 on the previous year, followed by Health and Social Care Partnership with 11, up by 4 on the previous year, Place with 9, down by 12 on the previous year and then Communities & Housing with 6. 4.9 Whilst the Place directorate has seen a decrease in the number of RIDDOR incidents, this is partly due to transfer of key services, (e.g. building services) from Place to the newly formed Communities & Housing Directorate. As a result a direct, year-on-year, comparison is not possible for both Place and Communities & Housing directorates, although the incident statistics for each are included within the Council’s totals. 25 46 39 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Graph 3 4.10 It should be noted that Directorates comply with the findings identified in all RIDDOR Incident Investigation reports which detail corrective actions to help prevent reoccurrence. Directorates also share their RIDDOR incidents and findings with the Corporate Health and Safety Group to help others learn from experience. All Incidents by Directorate 4.11 Graph 4 below gives an analysis of the total number of all incidents that have occurred over the 3-year period and breaks down the incident statistics by Directorate, the figures include Aggression & Violence incidents. Graph 4 11 4 10 18 7 21 13 11 9 6 Education Health and Social Care Partnership Place Housing & Communities 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 1 1317 165 84 02 1375 366 141 01 1620 427 89 108 Chief Executives Education Health and Social Care Partnership Place Housing & Communities 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] 4.12 Graph 4 shows that Education continue to record the most incidents with a total of 1620 which is up by 245 on the previous year. Health & Social Care Partnership returned 427 up by 61 on the previous year. Communities & Housing (first year of incident stats) and lastly Place returning 89 incidents, down by 52 on the previous year. 4.13 As per paragraph 4.9 above the reduction in Place related incidents can in part be attributed to transfer of key services (e.g. building services) to the newly formed Communities & Housing directorate. 4.14 Further details on the incidents within the four main Directorates is provided later in this report; however, no further information is provided on Chief Executive’s as the number of incidents is very low. This helps to focus attention on the most significant areas. Most Common Incidents (excluding Aggression and Violence) 4.15 Graph 5 below shows the total number of incidents by cause across the Council over the past 3 years. Graph 5 4.16 The incident type showing the highest numbers across the 3-year period is ‘Slip Trip and Fall’ with 125 recorded for 2024/25 which is up by 18 on the previous year. Struck Against/Struck By is next with 92 incidents, up by 23 on the previous year, Moving & Handling of People with 40, up by 35 on the previous year, and then Use of Work Equipment 27 down by 3 on the previous year. 4.17 The reporting of near miss incidents is a pro-active way of investigating issues before they become accidents/incidents where people are injured, and a high number of Near Miss Incidents is a positive safety performance indicator. Graph 5 above shows that we had 94 recorded for 2024/25 which is up by 32 on the previous year. 8 5 7 16 0 51 2 5 70 65 28 78 5 14 31 5 62 1 30 107 69 30 2125 3 16 17 40 94 1 20 125 92 27 8 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Aggression and Violence Incidents 4.18 Graph 6 below gives an indication of where the most aggression and violence incidents are taking place, Education returning the most incidents. Significant work is ongoing in the directorate to both to ensure all incidents are recorded and to ensure that an early intervention and prevention approach is taken to health and safety. A more detailed breakdown can be found later in this report. 4.19 H&SCP have been pro-active in ensuring that staff are reporting all incidents of physical and verbal aggression towards staff, however minor. 4.20 Place Directorate are returning low numbers however still realise the need to train staff, and as a result, Corporate Health and Safety have been continuing to deliver Aggression and Violence training to employees. 4.21 The new Communities & Housing Directorate have returned the third highest A&V numbers with 49 incidents recorded, more information on this can be found within the Communities & Housing section later in the report. 4.22 Per paragraph 4.9 above, the reduction in Place and corresponding growth of A&V incidents within Communities & Housing can be attributed to transfer of key services when the latter directorate was formed at the start of 2024/25. Graph 6 4.23 Graph 7 below, gives more detail on the type of aggression and violence incidents that are taking place across all Directorates, with Physical Violence being the most significant cause. 0 1159 118 26 01 1209 257 34 00 1431 280 17 49 Chief Executives Education Health and Social Care Partnership Place Housing & Communities 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Graph 7 Analysis of Incidents by Directorate Place Directorate 4.24 Graph 8 below gives a detailed analysis of the common types of incidents (excluding Aggression and Violence) within the Place Directorate. Graph 8 4.25 For the year 2022/23 there was a total of 58 incidents, 107 for 2023/24 and 72 for 2024/25. Over the 3-year period, the type of incident returning the highest numbers was ‘Struck Against/Struck by Object’ (51), ‘Slip Trip Fall’ (38), ‘Manual Handling’ (33), and Use of Work Equipment’ (29) 4.26 With reference to graph 3 in the report, we can see that RIDDOR incidents have reduced significantly on last year with a total of 9, down by 12. Further analysis shows that 8 of the incidents were categorized as Over 7 day injuries, and one was a Specified Injury (fracture). We continue to roll out learning outcomes from 1066 103 134 1138 147 216 1267 245 265 Physical Violence Verbal Abuse Threatening/Intimidating Behaviour 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 1 4 0 7 5 0 0 12 16 8 5 2 3 3 21 14 0 4 17 19 15 9 5 1 5 5 13 0 8 9 16 6 4 Place Incidents (exc Aggression & Violence) 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] all our incidents and with increased training and awareness the focus is to drive the number down. 4.27 Focusing on 2024/25 activities, improvements have been made in the following areas: • HWRC site fire safety improvements to risk assessments and safe systems of work regarding the outbreak of fires on site. • Hot Works SSOW improvements for Transport Garage. • Road Sweeper incident investigation will introduce important engineering inspection improvements. • Review of safety arrangements for carrying fuel in electric vehicles. • Awareness of aggression & violence has been promoted. • Remedial works undertaken to minimise the risk of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). • Improvements regarding the storage and control of Plant Protection Products at all Streetscene Depots. 4.28 With regards to the control of Hand Arm Vibrations (HAVS), a post has been created for an employee to undertake real time HAVS monitoring with the resource and costs to be shared between teams. Furthermore, a HAVS App is being piloted in Building Services and Streetscene. Building Services are continuing with their HAVS testing schedule which will benefit other services within the Council in relation to the control of exposure to vibrating equipment. 4.29 Looking towards 2025/26, the Place Directorate will focus on improvements in the following areas: • Hand Arm Vibration • Fire Safety, • Asbestos Awareness, • Aggression & Violence, • Risk Assessments • Incident Reporting including the encouragement of near miss reporting • Parking Enforcement Officer aggression and violence • Coffin Manual Handling risk assessment for Bereavement Services • Cemetery grave headstone safety Health and Social Care Partnership 4.30 Graph 9 below gives a detailed 3-year breakdown of incidents within the Health and Social Care Partnership (excluding aggression and violence). This shows that 2022/23 returned 46 incidents, 2023/24 returned 108 and 2024/25 returned 147.
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Graph 9 4.31 Over the 3-year period, the incident type returning the highest numbers is ‘Slip Trip Fall’ with a total of 99. The next highest incident type is Moving & Handling of People with 43 and then ‘Struck Against/By Object’ with 29. 4.32 Near Miss Incident Statistics are pro-active indicators, and are up by 4 on last year, however overall, numbers are still low. It is hoped that these numbers will increase with the on-going use of the new health and safety reporting system. 4.33 With reference to RIDDOR incidents, graph 3 shows that there were 11 RIDDOR incidents up by 4 compared to last year. 4.34 Planning has commenced for the workforce Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme and in conjunction with colleagues from East and South Partnerships are also in the process of planning the Childhood Flu Programme across Ayrshire. Clinics will be delivered within localities in community centres, nurseries, primary and secondary schools, as well as Community Pharmacies. Additionally, pop-up clinics will be arranged at staff events to target hard to reach staff groups. 4.35 The Moving & Handling training programme continues to focus on refreshing all existing staff in knowledge and practical skills, along with new staff members who undergo the full Moving & Handling training induction. Over 1K staff attended the moving & handling courses in 2024-25 4.36 The basic lifesaving skills overview, for use in medical emergencies, is now delivered to any staff on a voluntary basis after their Moving & Handling training. This course covers CPR, controlling severe bleeding and assisting someone who is choking. All trainers have completed their level 3 teaching course. 4.37 We continue to provide awareness on Naloxone (lifesaving medication) which can be administered via a nasal spray to counteract the effects of opioid overdose. This again is delivered to staff on a voluntary capacity. 4.38 Generic and Person Centred people handling risk assessments and paperwork has been fully reviewed and a new risk assessment template introduced. 4.39 We continue to carry out an “incident re-enactment” by Moving & Handling trainers in conjunction with Corporate Health and Safety colleagues and the staff involved. 7 0 1 5 0 15 0 0 10 6 25 0 3 7 5 11 1 14 38 9 6 1015 0 2 0 38 15 0 5 51 14 6 1 Health and Social Care Partnership Incidents (exc Aggression & Violence) 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] This will help determine what additional control measures are required and provide additional support and guidance to the staff group and service user and provide a lessons learned guide that is distributed to the wider staff group. 4.40 We continue to add Moving & Handling training technique videos, demonstrated by our trainers to the Moving & Handling you tube channel; this allows staff to review techniques and equipment. 4.41 We have also introduced stretching exercise videos for staff to warm up & cool down before and after their shift on a voluntary basis. To date the channel has received over 70K views. 4.42 HSCP continue to maintain a PPE Distribution Centre to the Care at Home workforce that includes gloves, aprons, wipes, gel etc. Full body coveralls and shoe coverings are also held as per infection control guidance and risk assessments. This PPE is also available to all staffing groups as required by their risk assessments. Selected staff within HSCP and Corporate Health & Safety have also undertaken face fitting training certification to allow them to face fit relevant staff groups as necessary. 4.43 West Road is a new centre that aims to change the way the residents of Ayrshire and Arran receive Mental Health care. The West Road Centre in Irvine will act as a centre for outpatient services for the all-age Community Eating Disorder Service (CEDS) and the Neuro-CAMHS team (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), providing a modern, bespoke space for individuals to receive the support they need. 4.44 The building, which is owned by North Ayrshire Council, was previously used by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Children and Families Service. It has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment to create a calm and welcoming environment designed specifically to suit the needs of clients and staff teams, with a treatment room, kitchen area, clinical rooms, and a sound-proof therapeutic room that can be used for activities such as music therapy. 4.45 This purpose designed space will benefit individuals from across Ayrshire and Arran who are open to the Neuro-CAMHS and Community Eating Disorder services, many of whom would have previously been treated on a hospital outpatient basis. 4.46 North Ayrshire Council activities-Healthy Working Lives activities and information is promoted within the Service. Information is circulated across the Partnership notifying staff of available activities to assist with health and wellbeing across the workforce and staff are encouraged to take advantage of these NAC activities. We have received positive feedback from staff about these activities. Staff are also encouraged to take advantage of the wellbeing and relaxation spaces that have previously been set up in various buildings throughout HSCP properties. Staff continue to have access to and use the NAC occupational health services provided. 4.47 The Wellbeing Grant Scheme which has currently been suspended, focused on team building/development through organized events, as well as the creation of wellbeing spaces for teams.
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Education Directorate 4.45 Graph 10 below gives a detailed analysis of incidents within the Education Directorate (excluding aggression & violence), where across the 3 year period, Slip Trip Fall returned 156 incidents, Struck Against/By Object’ returned 130, followed by Use of Work Equipment which returned 35 incidents. Graph 10 4.46 Comparing this year with last year, Slip Trip Fall returned 56 incidents up by 4 on the previous year ‘Struck Against/By Object’ returned 46 up by 5 on the previous year, and Use of Work Equipment returned 9, up by 1 on the previous year. 4.47 With reference to Near Miss Incidents, this is a positive health and safety performance category and would fall into the pro-active bracket as it results in corrective actions being implemented to prevent an incident taking place where someone suffers an injury. 2024/25 returned a total of 52 incidents which is up by 15 compared to the previous year’ and up by 22 when compared to 2022/23, so we can see that the trend is upwards which is good. 4.48 With reference to Aggression and Violence, the following totals were generated across the 3-year period, 2022/23 (1159) for 2023/24 (1199) and for 2024/25 (1411). 4.49 Graph 11 below gives further analysis and shows that over the 3-year period, the highest number of incidents are taking place within Primary Schools with a total of 1811, followed by Additional Support Needs with a total of 1471 and Secondary Schools with 455. It is acknowledged and reported nationally that COVID 19 and the ongoing cost of living crisis has had an impact on behaviour in schools. 0 1 6 4 0 30 2 0 48 43 18 11 2 8 3 0 37 0 12 52 41 8 21 2 7 7 2 52 1 5 56 46 9 1 Education Incidents (exc Aggression & Violence) 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Graph 11 4.50 Graph 12 below shows a comparison of the type of aggression and violence incidents, where physical violence is returning the highest numbers with an increase of 122 incidents in 2024/25 compared to the previous year. 4.51 The Assure System allows staff to record incidents that they believe to be unintentional (without intent), and with reference to the Aggression & Violence incidents recorded last year (2024/25), 78 were deemed to be without intent. Graph 12 4.52 Staff and Trade Unions continue to work collaboratively to explore ways of trying to reduce the number, type and negative impact of Aggression and Violence incidents; establishments will continue to review pupil plans in consultation with Parents/Carers and Health Partners. A working group including the trade unions and Corporate Health and Safety was set up to look at ways of reducing the incidence of aggression and violence incidents, including a focus on relationship based approaches. The group have written a policy detailing the approaches taken by establishments to reduce incidents of violence and aggression and also to lay out a consistent approach to responding to such incidents. 654 14 346 142 3 0 387 9 668 134 1 0 430 20 797 179 0 5 Additional Support Schools Early Years Centre Primary Schools Secondary Schools Connected Communities Facilities Management Education A&V Incidents by location 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 1002 83 74 1040 103 66 1162 150 119 Physical violence Threatening/intimidating behaviour Verbal Abuse Education A&V Incidents by Type 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] 4.53 Education continues to have a clear focus on improving current approaches to aggression and violence, wellbeing and health and safety: • Working alongside Corporate H&S and Trade Union colleagues, we developed a bespoke Violence and Aggression Policy which had a specific focus on educational establishments. This made clear the position that whilst our understanding of child development enables us to work with compassion and empathy, there is no place for violence and aggression within any of our establishments. • New Health and Safety sub-groups were discussed and early plans put in place for their introduction in session 25/26. These will consider the data per quarter and ensure that appropriate learning, training and support is in place for all employees. • Additional government funding enabled us to invest in tailored risk- assessment training for colleagues in order to strengthen approaches to ensuring safety. This was rolled out in a targeted manner to ensure that there were appropriate numbers of trained staff in all establishments. This training will continue in session 25/26 to implement the training strategy: particular posts are targeted to ensure consideration of staff movement. • In order to support staff to manage dysregulated behaviour which can lead to violence and aggression, all senior leaders were trained in CALMS Theor, functional behavioural assessment and personal safety planning. • The Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme continues, with all 9 secondary establishments in North Ayrshire taking part. Senior pupils are trained as peer mentors annually, and deliver lessons to S1, S2 or S3. To ensure breadth and depth of learning, and embed the programme, establishments are encouraged to use trained staff to deliver the remaining MVP lessons as part of the PSE/HWB curriculum. We have 3 local authority staff who are trainers and 1 day staff training is offered twice annually • The Education service has piloted a Gender based violence early intervention programme for Primary Schools. (Everyone’s Included) • Staff from Glebe, St Mary’s and Whitehirst Park Primary Schools took part in this 1 day or 3 twilight Education Scotland programme. A comprehensive evaluation of impact has been conducted by Education Scotland and 4 staff from North Ayrshire have now been trained as trainers to deliver the programme. Aims of the programme are to support social inclusion and reduce bullying by encouraging children and young people to be active bystanders in a safe way when they witness harmful behaviours. • Senior Education Staff have supported national work around the HWB Curriculum Improvement Cycle. Curricular staff are encouraged to utilise resources shared through the glow HWB Blog. This session there have been 4,867 engagements with the site.
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] • A comprehensive HWB Professional Learning Programme has been delivered. This includes Applied Suicide Prevention Skills (ASIST) which is offered twice yearly along with Assessing Suicide Risk in Kids (ASK). Pupil Support Assistants (PSA) have taken part in SafeTALK (Suicide Prevention) and Mental Health Improvement – A Practical Approach, this course is designed to provide information and practical tools to improve wellbeing and build resilience in children, young people, and adults. Around 60 PSAs have engaged with these courses. • Through the Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports and Services Framework grant funding we have supported 6,527 children and young people and 1,212 family members through a range of programmes. 6283 children and young people engaged with positive mental wellbeing activities. Feedback has been positive with most saying they feel more confident to manage their wellbeing and cope with everyday stressors. • This academic session we provided support materials to deliver the SQA Award in Mental Health and Wellbeing at levels 4 and 5. Achievement of this award aims to reduce stigma, build resilience, and improve understanding of mental health by equipping young people with coping strategies, promoting informed choices, and raising awareness of the impact of behaviour, social media, and myths surrounding mental health. This session 343 young people across the authority have achieved the full award. • Services continued to invest time and effort to repost Livewell opportunities and initiatives through Service wide SharePoint sites to promote uptake and participation. At Service quarterly meetings, there is a direct input from the Livewell team which ensures information is directly shared with senior leaders. • Engaging establishment link Senior Managers in supporting establishments to complete their Education Business Continuity Plans. • Close scrutiny of reported incidents of violence and aggression broken down by link Senior Managers and Executive Manager to ensure appropriate support and training for establishments where a higher level of incidents are being reported. • Education staff continued to assist with the sharing and promotion of any new initiatives, processes and procedures relating to Health, Safety and Wellbeing Communities & Housing Directorate 4.54 The Communities & Housing Directorate has completed its first full year operating under the updated Health, Safety, and Wellbeing reporting framework, reflecting strong performance and a firm commitment to fostering a robust safety culture. Throughout 2024/25, the Directorate successfully embedded the new Health &
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] Safety performance and reporting framework, consistently applied effective risk management practices, maintained high compliance levels in workplace inspections, and implemented targeted initiatives to reduce serious incidents. The comprehensive data and reflective insights gathered over the year are now guiding focused improvements for 2025/26, with particular attention to addressing violence and aggression, near misses, and physical safety concerns. This data will also serve as a benchmark for measuring and comparing future performance. Graph 13 4.55 Graph 13 shows the incident data for the new Communities & Housing Directorate and as this is the first year of data, a trend analysis cannot be undertaken. 4.56 The category returning the highest number of incidents was Struck against/By object with 16, followed by Slip/Trip/Fall with 9 and use of work equipment with 6. It is good to see that Communities & Housing have reported 13 Near Misses over the course of the year. Key Year-End Highlights 4.57 Streamlined Reporting and Action Plans: • Developed and implemented streamlined processes for reporting and managing Health, Safety, and Wellbeing performance, alongside an ambitious, targeted action plan designed to drive continuous improvement. 4.58 Fire Safety in Sheltered Housing • Progressed a targeted Action Plan to meet Fire Safety requirements for Sheltered Housing establishments, advancing comprehensive evacuation plans and policies to ensure full compliance. 4.59 Workplace Inspection Performance • Achieved 99.5% completion of 134 planned workplace inspections throughout the year. Minor maintenance issues were promptly identified and addressed, maintaining safe environments across all service areas. 4.60 Incident Management and Reduction • Recorded 101 total incidents over the year, including 81 involving employees. Importantly, no serious incidents were reported during this period. The number and nature of incidents remain proportionate to the scale and complexity of the Directorate’s business operations. A steady 5 1 5 5 13 0 8 9 16 6 4 Communities & Housing Incidents (exc Aggression & Violence) 2024/25
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] decline in RIDDOR reportable incidents was observed across each quarter, culminating in zero reportable incidents in Q4—a significant safety milestone. 4.61 Focus on Violence and Aggression • A spike in violence and aggression incidents in Q4 (16 cases compared to 7 in Q3) prompted a renewed, targeted focus in the 2025/26 Action Plan. Proactive training and awareness campaigns are currently underway to address these challenges. 4.62 Comprehensive Training Programs • Delivered critical training covering fire safety, asbestos awareness, manual handling, trauma-informed practice, mental health first aid, and service-specific topics such as sharps handling and traffic management. 4.63 Hand Arm Vibration • Introduced a new robust reporting and recording process for Hand Arm Vibrations (HAVs). This included the roll out mobile devices with software, the creation of a new post to ensure continuous testing (from current resources) and a new test facility at Stevenston Complex. 4.64 Enhanced Safety Initiatives • Expanded Automated External Defibrillator (AED) checks and Council- wide training, supported by mandatory toolbox talks and updated guidance to improve staff readiness. Rolled out new risk assessments and toolbox talks on slips and trips, lone working, hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), hot works, dog attack prevention, avian flu, legionella, maintaining professional boundaries, and conflict resolution. Additionally, launched a comprehensive near miss reporting campaign with promotional materials distributed across all sites and teams to encourage proactive hazard identification and boost overall safety awareness. 4.65 Innovative Business Continuity Planning • The Directorate’s collaborative National Power Outage Resilience Plan received national recognition and was successfully tested during Storm Éowyn, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery and community support during adverse conditions. 4.66 Driving Checks • The Directorate also continued to proactively manage and record and address all driving infringements highlighted weekly by Transport, while awaiting the issue of the pending “Driving at Work Policy 4.67 Employee Wellbeing • Continued promotion of wellbeing initiatives, including the “Drop Everything and Move” program and stress management support, complemented by ergonomic adjustments to enhance staff health and comfort
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14/08/2025 [PUBLIC] 5 Corporate Health and Safety Planned Improvements 5.1 To meet the requirements of Health and Safety legislation in relation to the Duty of Care and to improve the management of Health and Safety within the Council, it is important to identify areas to improve the safety culture and performance at all levels. 5.2 Corporate Health and Safety in conjunction with Directorates will seek to implement continuous improvement in a variety of ways. The following improvement actions are currently planned for 2025/26: • Implement a new Fire Risk Assessment Overview Register • Implement a new Fire Risk Assessment Action Tracker • Review and cascade new or amended Health and Safety Policies/Guidance • Procure supplier for Lone Working Devices • Update Driving at Work Guidance • Update 6 monthly inspection Guidance and Template and • Develop a new Corporate Risk Indicator Database (Council IT Department)