The Sub-Committee received a verbal report
from the Service Manager (Health and Safety) on the following
health and safety updates:
1)
Health and Safety Executive: The Department for Work and Pensions
appointed Sarah Newton as the new Chair of the Health and Safety
Executive Board. The appointment
commenced on 1 August 2020 for a five-year term. She replaced
Martin Temple at the conclusion of his term.
2)
Key statistics from the Health and Safety Executive and Labour
Force Survey in 2018-2019:
-
1.4m workers suffering from work-related ill health.
-
497,000 workers suffering from a new case of work-related ill
health.
-
23.5m working days lost due to work-related ill health.
-
13,000 deaths each year estimated to be linked to past exposure at
work, primarily to chemicals or dust.
-
12.8m working days lost due to work-related stress, depression, or
anxiety.
-
147 workers killed at work.
3)
Tower Hamlets Council: The Council had been charged with breaching
the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in that it had failed to
organise annual inspections of play equipment and the wood used was
unsuitable for 18 months, which contributed towards the death of a
child. The hearing was due to be held in October 2020 at
Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
4)
Wirral Borough Council: Expectant mother had been seriously injured
by a branch from a falling tree whilst driving. The Council had not inspected the tree, which was
located within the boundary of a park, adjacent to the highway for
at least 13 years. The Council admitted
to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act in
that it failed to protect the safety of members of the public and
was fined £100,000 and order to pay £49,363 in
costs.
The Sub-Committee considered the verbal report
and asked questions to which the Service Manager (Health and
Safety) provided responses. In
particular detailed discussions were held on accidents involving
trees/branches falling. Officers
explained that the Council’s arboricultural team inspected several thousand
trees each year. Tree inspections were
carried out via a rolling schedule and was in line with the
council’s policy. The team were
trained in the types of trees, their maintenance and also
replanting. Trees were also tracked on the GIS
database.
There being no decision required, the
Sub-Committee noted the verbal report.