ANNUAL HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT

2021-2022

PREPARED BY:

Bury Council Health & Safety Team

DATE: May 2022

Contents Page

Introduction 2

2021-22 Health & Safety Performance 3-8

National priorities and changes 9

The Year Ahead (2022-23) 10

Conclusion 11

Appendix 1 Accident/Incident Statistics 12-13

Appendix 2 Health and Safety Training Plan 13-17

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1. Introduction

This report provides an overview of health and safety activity during 2021/22,
including progress with the Council’s agreed health and safety priorities for the year,
as well as an analysis of health and safety accidents and incidents. It identifies the
key health a safety risks facing the Council, reflecting on both the organisational,
local and national context and sets out the Authority’s health and safety priorities for
2022/23.
2021/22 saw a number of significant changes in relation to the Council’s health and
safety management systems and structures. These changes were informed by an
internal audit of health and safety across the Council which provided a limited
assurance opinion. In response to this, strengthened governance arrangements
have been introduced alongside a new Health and Safety Policy and incident
reporting system. The internal audit highlighted specific concerns in relation to
buildings related safety matters and responsibility for this area transferred to the
Council’s Corporate Landlord function as part of the resultant structural changes. –
The Health and Safety Team is continuing to work closely alongside the Corporate
Landlord and in partnership with the Trade Unions to review and strengthen
arrangements in this area.
During the past year, the Council has also reviewed its arrangements in relation to
health and safety within Bury’s Maintained Schools and developed and issued a
model Schools’ Health and Safety Policy and assurance arrangements in
consultation with school leaders and Professional Associations.
Health and safety activity for much of 2021/22 has continued to focus on
arrangements to manage the risk posed by Covid-19 and respond to the changing
national guidance and local infection rates. This work included the development of a
generic Covid-19 risk assessment and focused work on infection prevention and
control measures in key Council buildings, as well as continued support to Council
departments and to individuals. All legal restrictions related to Covid-19 ended in
March 2022. However, the Council has continued to ensure robust arrangements
and guidance are in place in accordance with the latest government and Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on managing the spread of respiratory infections in
the workplace. Alongside this, focus has continued addressing the health and safety
implications of agile working for Council staff, with the continued roll-out of a
comprehensive health and safety toolkit for agile workers.
During 2022/23, the Council’s health and safety priorities will continue to focus on
embedding and strengthening the core basic requirements of a robust health and
safety management system, informed by the recommendations from the internal
audit referenced above and a comprehensive programme of service level risk
assessment needs reviews. Alongside this, there will be an increased emphasis on
training and work to strengthen and embed a culture of health and safety risk
awareness and management across the Council.

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2. 2021-22 Health & Safety Performance

2.1 Progress against 2021/22 Objectives

This section provides an update on the health and safety priorities for 2021/22
agreed through the last annual report.
1. Governance, Consultation & Communication
a) Improved communication and engagement in relation to health and safety to
increase individual and collective awareness of risks, roles and responsibilities.
(To commence with communication of the new Health and Safety Policy)
Following approval of the Council’s new health and safety policy 4 staff/manager
drop-in sessions were held in February and March 2022 to publicise the launch of
the policy and the new accident/incident reporting and recording system, as well as
to provide an opportunity for managers and staff to raise questions and concerns.
Health and safety has also been included regularly within all-staff broadcast emails
to raise awareness of the topic in general as well as key changes in expectations for
staff and managers. As part of the Council’s developing arrangements for employee
engagement and leadership development, and in support of embedding a
strengthened health and safety culture, a range of further activities are planned for
the year ahead.

b) Strengthening governance arrangements, including recommencing meetings of a

Corporate Health and Safety Joint Consultative Committee and formal quarterly
reporting
The Health and Safety Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) has been reintroduced to
ensure improved governance of health & safety and has received quarterly reports
on health and safety performance. There is a direct line to the Council’s executive
team from this group via the Deputy Chief Executive. The trades union are now
working closely with the council’s health & safety team, in particular through a series
of joint inspections of council buildings, which includes direct communication with
employees during the inspections. A school’s health & safety committee has also
been established to strengthen governance and Trade Union engagement in relation
to health and safety in maintained schools.
c) Development of quality assurance and feedback systems, including a clear
quarterly reporting cycle through the Council’s Executive Team and Health and
Safety JCC which will include tracking of investigation outcomes and actions.

Work on improving the standard of quality assurance and feedback reports began at
the start of this reporting year in the form of quarterly reports and this annual health
& safety report, which are provided to both the Council’s Executive Team and Health
and Safety JCC. This process and the quality and analysis of reporting will be further
improved on throughout the next year, supported by the new online incident
reporting system and a clearer process for monitoring the outcomes of health and
safety investigations and audits.

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d) A review of internal reporting arrangements. This will include stronger quality
assurance of reports and assurance of the delivery of required follow-up
investigations and actions
A new electronic accident/Incident reporting and recording system was developed,
implemented, and communicated to all staff. This will improve the quality of
assurance reports and better inform future investigations and corrective actions.
Day-to-day operation of this system is being managed by the Council’s new
Business and Executive Support Service who work in partnership with the Health
and Safety team to ensure incidents are considered and wider issues and risks
addressed in a timely manner. Work is ongoing to further develop and embed this
system, which will include the ability to provide more detailed and regular reports to
Trade Union colleagues in relation to incidents.

2. Robust Safety Management Systems

a) Provision of continued support for control of Covid at work including response to
any national changes

Throughout 2021 and into the start of 2022 the Country was working under
Government restrictions introduced as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As of
March 2022, all remaining restrictions were lifted. The Health & Safety Team
continue to advise Bury Council senior management and support staff in-line with the
latest government guidance and HSE advice. The Council has continued to maintain
a generic Covid-19 risk assessment to provide the basis for all activity and risk
management considerations across the Council.
Alongside the above work in relation to infection control and prevention there has
been a continued emphasis on mental wellbeing, including the further roll-out of the
Council-wide EAP, increased guidance and support for managers and targeted work
with priority service areas.
b) Supporting the development of facilities management and CDM arrangements

During the 2021-22 year the Health and Safety Team supported the Corporate
Landlord function in relation to Fire Risk Assessment and Covid-19 secure
requirements in areas such as building ventilation and working space.

Arising from the Bradley Fold fire investigation report an audit of Construction Design
and Management (CDM) arrangements within Bury Council is due to be undertaken
following an internal audit of Architectural Services.

c) Developing and implementing health and safety arrangements to support agile

working

A comprehensive agile working “Health & Safety Tool” was developed and
implemented during the 2021-22 year for completion by all agile workers in
partnership with their line manager. This toolkit is regularly reviewed to ensure it
remains up-to-date and reflects learning from the practical implementation of agile
working.

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d) Provision of clear health and safety standards for schools; for monitoring
implementation and compliance; and for appropriate action when problems arise

A new Schools’ Health and Safety Policy has been launched, alongside supporting
documents to confirm the practical expectation of school leaders and to signpost
available support. A Schools’ Health and Safety Committee has also been
established including representatives from the Council alongside School Leaders
and the Trades Union. The intention is that the Policy and supporting documents will
be reviewed annually and schools asked to confirm that appropriate arrangements
are in place.

e) Ongoing maintenance of relevant guidance and standards

Relevant guidance and standards have been introduced through new policies for
Bury Council and School’s as well as guidance around specific hazards e.g. Covid
guidance on safe working arrangements. A full and comprehensive review of all
health and safety guidance will begin during the coming year.

f) A programme of scheduled and risk-based Health and Safety audits

A member of the Health and Safety team has now completed accredited Health and
Safety Audit training (ISO45001) and a risk-based annual audit schedule for 2022/23
has been developed, informed by the outcomes of individual Service Risk
Assessment Needs Checkers.

g) Work to strengthen the analysis and understanding of industrial injury and work-
related absence and ill health.
A much-improved electronic reporting and recording system is now in place and will
be monitored for its effectiveness in the analysis and understanding of work-related
absences. Improvements to the Council’s system for recording sickness absence
were also launches in April (ITrent) which will allow improved absence monitoring
and include automated notifications in relation to absence which may require
reporting or consideration in line with health and safety policy and legislation. This
new system will also allow improved data reporting and analysis over the coming
year.

h) A review of national and internal health and safety management standards (BS
ISO 45001 and 45003) and accreditation options to identify any lessons that can
be learned and to consider whether it would be beneficial to seek accreditation
Following an initial review, the recommendation is that the Council does not seek to
formally adopt one of these health and safety management standards at this point.
This position will be reviewed in twelve months time once the organisational
arrangements and culture in relation to health and safety have further matured.

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3. Effective Training and Development
a) Development of health and safety tools which cover key information, risk
assessment procedures and identification and agreement of management
arrangements for agile working, office based work, and higher risk activities

See point C above re: Agile working policy support and new Health & Safety
Policies. There was also a ‘Risk Assessment Needs Checker’ document produced
and distributed to all Bury Council Heads of Service to assist with the targeting of
support and to prioritise areas for auditing and training needs. Complementary tools
for office-based staff and high-risk services have also been produced and are being
finalised with a view to role out in the first half of this financial year.

b) Review of health and safety training and development arrangements and

standards

A high-level health and safety training approach has been developed and agreed
and delivery of this work is a key priority for the year ahead. This covers both specific
training for high-risk areas as well as a significantly enhanced approach to essential
training for all staff and managers.

The Health and Safety Team have also worked with Heads of Service in the
Operations Department and completed a detailed training needs assessment.
Following this 3 IOSH accredited training packages are in the process of being rolled
out.

2.2 Investigations, Incidents, Absence & Claims

1. Investigations
Three formal health and safety investigations took place during 2021/22 and learning
from these has been taken forward via the relevant services.
A high-level investigation into a fire at the Bradley Fold Depot was undertaken.
Failings in the control of contractors were identified through this investigation and.
improvements were recommended. These improvements are being taken forward,
supported by a thorough review of the management of contractors via the
Council’s Architectural Services function.

An investigation was carried out following a sign pole snapping and highways
maintenance damaging a cable when trying to make the rest of the column safe.
Several improvements are being carried out to procedures, safe system of work,
risk assessment review and refresher training for all operatives involved in this
type of activity.

An investigation was undertaken which involved the same school when a pupil,
who has an allergy to egg was accidentally exposed to it on two occasions.

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 • Incident 1 happened in the school canteen when a panini containing egg was
accidentally served to the pupil
• Incident 2 happened during a food technology lesson.
Both services involved consequently reviewed their arrangements for the
management of allergens and relevant staff undertook additional training. The
Food Standards Agency was contacted for advice and they subsequently
responded to confirm that they were happy with the actions taken.

2. Accidents, Incidents and Near-Misses

During the 2021-22 year there were 159 reported accidents/incidents/near

misses/dangerous occurrences and hazard reports.
 There were 65 reports involving members of the public
 There were 89 reports involving employees.
 2 hazardous situations reported
 1 near miss
 2 dangerous occurrences.
10 of these incidents had to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
 There were 4 over 7-day absences related to injuries at work
 There were 4 Fractures to bones
 There were 2 where a pupil was taken to hospital following the incident
Trends
The number of reported incidents in 2021/22 is a significant increase on the previous
year (105 to 159) and RIDDOR reportable incidents also saw an increase (6 to 10).
However, comparison here should be treated with caution as the implementation
(and continuation) of home working arrangements during 2020/21 had a notable
impact on the number of incidents recorded during that year. The Council has also
significantly improved its reporting systems and processes over the last 12 months
which will likely have had an impact.
One notable variation in the number and nature of reported incidents does however
relate to those involving Work Related Violence, which increased from 6 in 2020/21
to 16 in 202/22. (This category includes assaults, behavioural, verbal abuse, and
intimidating behaviour). This is an area of suggested priority for the year ahead.
More detailed analysis of the 2021/2022 incident statistics is provided at Appendix 1.
3. Sickness Absence
The Council lost an average of 14.69 days per full-time equivalent employee due to
sickness in 2021/22. This is an increase on 14.14 days during the previous year. – In
considering this position it is worth noting four key points:
 Mental health related absence continues to be the most significant cause of
sickness and accounts for around 26% of days lost, followed by musculoskeletal
problems at circa. 16%
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 Sickness absence levels vary significantly across Departments with the most
significant levels in the One Commissioning Organisation (22.15 days) and
Operations (17.61 days)

 The introduction of absence managing self-service through iTrent will

significantly improve the accuracy and timeliness of data on sickness absence

 The impact of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has significantly affected sickness
levels at year-end. As of December 2021, the average days lost per FTE
measure was 12.79 days, a significant decrease on the previous year. During
January, Covid related absence increased from contributing 18% of sickness
cases to 35%.
Addressing sickness absence is a significant area of focus for the HR Department at
present who will work closely with the Health and Safety Team on this.

4. Employers Liability Claims

There were 4 employers liability claims received during the year. The total reserve
against these 4 claims was £27,846 as opposed to 1 claim in 2020-21 at a cost of
£6,580.

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3. National Priorities and Changes

In reviewing health and safety performance during 2021/22 and setting priorities for
the year ahead, it is important to consider the national landscape and the priorities of
key regulatory and sector bodies. HSE have identified the following priorities which
are particularly relevant to local government:

 Wider ownership of health and safety – “health and safety is everyone’s

business”

 The need to tackle ill-health at work, especially:

o Occupational lung disease
o Musculoskeletal disorders
o Work-related stress

During 2021-22 the following pieces of H&S legislation were amended:

 All remaining domestic coronavirus restrictions were lifted in March 2022 and
guidance issued on “living with covid-19”.
 Towards the end of the 2021-22 reporting year the HSE identified the area of
reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete as an area needing further investigation
since this substance was widely used in the construction of schools, colleges,
and other buildings from the mid-sixties to the mid-eighties.

The following changes in legislation are anticipated to take effect in this financial
year:

 Fire Safety Act – this received Royal assent in April 2022, no implementation date
has been publicised yet. The new Act strengthens the responsibilities of the
“responsible person”. It also has implications relating to construction, regarding
the use of fire-retardant materials mainly in housing applications

 PPE Regulations (revisions) – extends the liability to limb (b) workers e.g agency
workers/casuals

 COSHH Regulations (revisions) – changes to Occupational Exposure Levels

(OEL’s) lowers the level of exposure for certain substances which could impact on
services that use such substances.

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4. The Year Ahead (2022-23)

During 2022/23, the Council’s health and safety priorities will continue to focus on
embedding and strengthening the core basic requirements of a robust health and
safety management system, informed by the recommendations from the internal
audit referenced above and a comprehensive programme of service level risk
assessment needs reviews. Alongside this, there will be an increased emphasis on
training and work to strengthen and embed a culture of health and safety risk
awareness and management across the Council.
The Health and Safety team will work collaboratively with staff, managers and the
Trade Union in delivering on the proposed priorities set out below.
1. Covid-19 -The Council will continue to monitor the situation regarding covid
secure working arrangements and risk assessments and update guidance and
working arrangements as required.

2. Health and Safety Auditing - An annual programme of in-depth health and

safety audits will be undertaken across the financial year, with the aim of
undertaking one audit per quarter in-line with the ISO 45001 standard. The audit
location will be risk-based, informed by the service risk assessment needs
checkers, with the initial audit undertaken in the Waste Management service.

3. Accident/Incident Reporting System – We will continue to develop the

electronic system with a view to improving the system and the quality of
reporting and promote the reporting of incidents of all types including near
misses and dangerous occurrences.

4. Training - We will deliver a comprehensive programme to improve both the

generic and specialist training available to Council staff, informed by the Service
Risk Assessment Needs Checker process. (The outline plan is included at
Appendix 2)

5. Information, Procedures & Guidance – We will review and update H&S

Policies, Procedures & Guidance documentation with priority being given to the
new Work-Related Violence documentation. This has been highlighted as a
priority area due to the increase of incidents in this current year. – The intention
is to fully review 15% of all Health and Safety guidance during this year.

6. Schools - We will work to embed the new arrangements for Schools’ health and
safety and provide support and guidance where appropriate, working through the
new Schools’ Health and Safety Committee.

7. Health and Safety Communications & Awareness – We will develop a

programme of communication, engagement and awareness raising activities to
strengthen understanding, awareness and confidence around health and safety,
particularly in relation to Council leaders.

8. First Aid – We will undertake a review of First Aid provision within Bury Council.
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5. Conclusion

During 2021/2022 a large amount has been achieved as set out above. There has
been an increase in reported and reportable incidents, this however should not be a
cause for concern and has likely been significantly impacted by the change in Covid
restrictions. There remains more to do to ensure the Council has fully robust health
and safety management arrangements in place and a safety aware culture and the
priorities set out above are intended to provide a r robust framework for this work.

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Appendix 1 Accident/Incident Statistics

During the 2021-22 year there were 159 reported accidents/incidents/near

misses/dangerous occurrences and hazard reports.
Reported Accidents/Incidents for 2021-2022
1 Members of the public 65
2 Employees 89
3 Hazardous situations 2
4 Near miss 1
5 Dangerous occurrences 2
TOTAL 159

10 of these incidents had to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases

and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Breakdown of RIDDOR reported incidents
1 Over 7-day absence 4
2 Fractures to bones 4
3 School pupil taken to hospital 2
TOTAL 10

Breakdown of incidents involving employees reported by Department 2021-2022

Breakdown of incidents by Department
1 Operations 59
2 Children & Young People 12
3 One Commissioning Organisation 9
4 Corporate Core 7
5 Business Growth & Infrastructure 2
TOTAL 89

Breakdown of incidents involving employees reported by Department 2020-2021

Breakdown of incidents by Department
1 Operations 22
2 Children & Young People 4
3 One Commissioning Organisation 15
4 Corporate Core 1
5 Business Growth & Infrastructure 1
TOTAL 43

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Breakdown of incidents involving members of the public and clients 2021-22
Breakdown of incidents by Department
1 Operations (Leisure) 50
2 One Commissioning Organisation 14
3 Corporate Core 1
TOTAL 65

Breakdown of incidents involving members of the public and clients 2020-21

Breakdown of incidents by Department
1 Operations (Leisure) 1
3 One Commissioning Organisation (Adult Care) 12
TOTAL 13

Breakdown of incidents involving employees by cause 2021-22.

Breakdown of incidents by cause
1 Work Related Violence 20
2 Road traffic collision 4
3 Work related stressors 1
4 Hit against or by an object 15
5 Slip, trip or fall 16
6 Exposure to hazardous chemicals 3
7 Manual handling 14
8 Exposure to physical agent 3
9 Exposure to biological agent 1
10 Trapping/crushing incident 2
11 Medical condition 1
12 Animal related attack 4
13 Fall from height 1
14 Hazardous situations 2
15 Near miss 1
16 Dangerous occurrences 2
TOTAL 89

Breakdown of incidents involving employees by cause 2020-21

Breakdown of incidents by cause
1 Hit against or by an object 4
2 Trapping or crushing 4
3 Handling, lifting, or carrying 7
4 Slip, trip, or fall (on same level) 13
5 Fall from height 2
6 Contact with sharp object 2
7 Exposure to physical agents 1
8 Violence, aggression, behavioral, threats, 6
intimidation, etc.
9 Other 2
Total 41

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Appendix 2 Health and Safety Training Plan

HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING PLAN

Training is an important part of any organisation’s Health and Safety Management system. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE ) takes
a wide view of the nature of training:
“Training isn’t just about formal ‘classroom’ courses – it can be delivered in a number of ways, for example:
 informal, ‘on the job’ training
 written instructions
 online information
 simply telling someone what to do.
Employees must be given information about the risks involved in their work, and the steps that need to be taken to reduce or remove
those risks.”
The plan below covers proposed corporate actions in relation to Health and Safety training. These will need to be supplemente d by local
activity and role specific training flowing from local service needs and risk assessments.
Area of Training / Development Current Position Actions
Mandatory training for all and Awareness Raising
Communications and Engagement  Regularly updated health and safety Plan for a focused month promoting health
intranet and safety awareness and training to be
 Broadcast messages linked to new policy included in refreshed annual
and incident reporting process communications calendar.
 Staff and manager ‘drop in’ sessions held
to support policy launch Roll-out of programme of Toolbox Talks
across Operations.

E-Learning The following courses have been identified as  Strengthen monitoring and tracking
required: arrangements for mandatory e-learning
 Area of Training / Development Current Position Actions
 Driving for work – Mandatory for anyone who  Develop a compulsory ‘all staff’ Health
carries out journeys that meet the driving for and Safety E-Learning module including
work criteria. an off-the-shelf course supplemented by
 Asbestos Awareness – Mandatory for local information on Council policy and
anyone who manages buildings or contracts procedure.
which involve structural disturbance to
building materials
 First Aid – Mandatory for anyone who works
out of Council premises
 Fire Awareness – Mandatory for anyone who
works out of Council premises
 Manual handling – Strongly recommended
for anyone who carries out handling, moving,
carrying activities at work.

Health and Safety Toolkits. – Guides to Toolkit in place for agile workers Toolkits to be finalised for
provide core risk assessments and
 Office based staff
training through guidance and
information  H&S management in higher risk services
Leaders and Managers
Core training for all managers Briefings held related to new Policy Core module to be included in new
corporate management programme, to
launch in September 2022
Briefing for senior leaders Intention to schedule an externally
facilitated session in Q3 2022/23 and
circulate HSE guidance for leading health
and safety at work
(https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg417.pdf)

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 Area of Training / Development Current Position Actions
Corporate Support to high-priority specialist training areas
First aid training E-learning recommended to all employees and Ensure robust training provision to meet the
required for office-based staff. Council’s core first aid training needs.
Specialist training for high risk services A programme of accredited training for IOSH Safety, Health and Environment for
in Operations Operational Services is planned to be Construction Managers (4 days) to also be
delivered by a member of the health and safety available to Facilities Management,
team. Courses are tailored to service needs Architectural Services, Engineers staff who
and include: do not hold an equivalent qualification or
who require refresher training.
 IOSH Managing Safely (3 days)
 IOSH Managing Safely Refresher (1 day)
 IOSH Safety, Health and Environment for
Construction Managers (4 days)
Ad hoc courses delivered by the health and
safety team are made available on request
covering Manual Handling, Ladder Safety etc.
Anti-social behaviour/Violence, threats, The Council’s anti-social
and intimidation at work behaviour/Violence, threats and intimidation
policy and arrangements are currently
under review. Following this work will be
progressed to put in place appropriate
training and support.
Review feedback from H&S risk Annual risk assessment needs checker Consider if / where additional support is
assessment needs and training distributed to all services with completion needed based on completed assessments.
assessments to identify training needs deadline of 14th March.