Review of Braunstone Town Council’s Health & Safety Policy Statement – Consultation
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Braunstone Town Council is responsible for the health and safety of its workforce and any other persons who use its facilities and services or who may be affected by our activities.
The current Health and Safety Policy Statement was adopted on 30th April 2018 and, therefore, is scheduled for review to ensure that it is fit for purpose for the nature and scale of the Town Council’s activities.
The main changes in Health & Safety obligations since 2018 are as follows:
1. Building Safety (Building Safety Act 2022) – this relates to multi-residential high rise buildings and the Town Council are not responsible for any.
2. Fire Safety (The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2023) – this also mainly relates to high rise buildings; there are requirements concerning quarterly inspections of fire doors, which the Town Council already undertakes
3. Mental Health - The Health & Safety Executive has put the reduction of work-related ill health, with a specific focus on mental health and stress, at the centre of its 2023 strategy and says that it intends to "deliver interventions that make a real difference". Employers have a duty to employees and other workers (which includes contractors) to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, their health, safety and welfare (under sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974). This includes mental as well as physical health. This duty is not new, but has not, until recently, been the principal area of activity for health and safety regulators, whose enforcement action has focused on risks to physical health and safety.
4. Homeworking – The Heath & Safety Executive has made it clear that organisations that continue with homeworking or hybrid-working following the Covid-19 pandemic should keep under review how they are meeting their duties to ensure a safe and healthy working environment, being mindful of the differences in the risks to employees of working from home and remotely and working in an office environment. The Town Council permits hybrid working and therefore it is to revisit systems for managing risks, including in the areas of mental health, lone working and ergonomics, to make sure they remain fit for purpose in supporting the Council to meet its health and safety duties.
5. Protect Duty (draft legislation) – new legislation is intended to tighten security at venues in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing. They require venues and local authorities to have preventative action plans against terror attacks. The protect duty applies to public venues (including Community Centres and Libraries) and public spaces (including parks and playgrounds).
Review of Policy & Procedure
The main areas of change proposed are incorporation of:
- Employee Induction Health & Safety Training;
- Job Roles and Responsibilities;
- Mental Health;
- Homeworking; and
- Prevention of Terrorism.
The proposed policy is now available for consultation and comments and suggestions are being invited to ensure that it would be practical and fit for purpose. Please find the Health and Saftey Policy here: Health and Safety Policy Statement
The deadline for consultation comments is 12noon on Monday 14th August 2023.
You may make comments in writing to the Chief Executive & Town Clerk, Braunstone Town Council, Braunstone Civic Centre, Kingsway, Braunstone Town, LEICESTER, LE3 2PP or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The post consultation version of the Health and Safety Policy Statement will be submitted to Policy & Resources Committee in September for consideration and adoption.
