Issue - meetings

(a)       That the report and initiatives taken to improve health and safety in schools be noted; and

(b)       That the monitoring and evaluation role of the Corporate Health and Safety Steering Group be recognised.

The Head of Culture and Leisure introduced a report to provide the Committee with a summary on accidents and incidents in schools during the academic year September 2012 to August 2013 and a summary of actions taken by the Council to support schools in achieving healthy and safe learning environments.

 The Head of Culture and Leisure provided background information and reported that the total number of accident/incident report forms received for the above academic year had reduced.  He also referred to the number of accidents to pupils, accidents to employees, and accidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). 

 Councillor Paul Shotton referred to the programme for re-inspection/asbestos surveys in schools and asked if the two year programme which had commenced would be continued in the future.  Councillor Shotton also referred to the cleaning of schools and asked if there was consistency in the standard of cleaning across all schools.  In his response to the questions the Director of Lifelong Learning outlined the very detailed regime in place concerning inspection of asbestos in schools.  Regarding the comments on cleaning standards he agreed to provide the Committee with a summary of School Cleaning Schedules.

Councillor Nigel Steele- Mortimer asked if more funding could be made available to protect school staff from incidents or threats of verbal and physical abuse.  Mr. David Hytch also raised concerns about the protection of staff from assault and commented on the measures taken in other public services to protect employees, citing hospitals as an example.  The Director of Lifelong Learning assured members that the Authority intervened strongly wherever it could and had seen an upturn in incidents where it had been able to intervene which included online abuse through the use of social media.

Councillor Ian Dunbar raised concerns about the procedure for reporting health and safety matters in schools and cited the example of an incident concerning a ramp to a portacabin which had been reported a number of times.  The Head of Culture and Leisure responded and said he would circulate a copy of the frequency of inspection and reporting procedures to the Committee following the meeting.    

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RESOLVED

 (a)      That the report and initiatives taken to improve health and safety in schools be noted; and

(b)       That the monitoring and evaluation role of the Corporate Health and Safety Steering Group be recognised.