Agenda item

(i)            Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships.

(ii)          Presentation by Kevin Lough, Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Resources.

The Chairman introduced the Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Kevin Lough to give a presentation to update Members in respect of Open Water Safety (for copy see file of minutes).

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted reports and presentations had previously been given to the Committee in September 2015 by the then Corporate Director of Neighbourhood Services, now Chief Executive, Terry Collins and then in March 2016 by the then Interim Director of Neighbourhood Services, now Head of Direct Services, Oliver Sherratt.  It was explained there was the City Safety Group (CSG) and also the Countywide Open Water Safety Group (OWSG), with the Occupational Health and Safety Manager chairing the latter.

The Committee noted the success of the open water safety campaign, “Dying to be Cool”, with the team winning the Management Journal (MJ) Award for Excellence in Community Engagement 2017.

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager reminded Members of the challenge in County Durham with risks not being just in terms of Durham City centre and the night-time economy (NTE), but also countywide taking into account more rural areas.  It was noted the most at risk group was young males aged 10-25, with 51,600 of the county’s population of 520,000 in that age range.  It was added that geographically the County was large and diverse, with 300 settlements over 862 square miles.

Members were reminded of the tragedies in 2015 which prompted action in terms of how to improve safety in a proportional way.  It was noted that there were hard to reach groups in terms of understanding the risks of open water and the previous approaches had been disjointed.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager explained that a consistent approach was developed in partnership that included the World Heritage Site within Durham City.  Councillors noted that the CSG chaired by the Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services, Jane Robinson.

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager reminded Members of all the work undertaken by the CSG including: enhanced education involving licensed premises; driver recruitment to re-establish the Durham Students’ Union (DSU) night bus; a new arrangement between taxi operators and the University; looking to tackle cheap alcohol and links to where personal safety may be an issue; helping voluntary groups, including radio links from volunteers to CCTV operators; and a full audit of the riverside areas by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Members were informed that the audit by RoSPA had pointed out the excellent work in terms of the physical measures undertaken, but also highlighted the value of the softer works in terms of looking a peer-led activities and engagement, including looking at social norms in terms of alcohol.  It was also noted that solutions were swiftly implemented.

The Committee were asked to note the large amount of publicity and communications carried out in terms of the work of the CSG, and wider OWSG, with engagement events held at the Town Hall in Durham, along with media, social media, Area Action Partnership (AAP) events, as well as consultation with Local Members, MPs and the relevant Student Bodies and University and Cathedral.  It was reiterated that targeted campaigns had included primary school education and “Don’t Drink and Drown” in December 2016, as well as seasonal campaigns and targeting local colleges in terms of the potential dangers of open water.

Members were referred to the “Dying to be Cool” campaign, launched to coincide with the pre-summer heat and post exam celebrations.  It was added that there had been engagement with teens in terms of the design and messaging, with a parent of a young man who had died after cold water shock fronting the campaign and helping to explain the impact such tragedies can have.  It was reiterated the physical equipment could only protect so much and therefore it was vital to have messages targeted at young people to help educate people to the dangers.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager added that Darlington Borough Council were looking to mirror the work undertaken in Durham and other Local Authorities had expressed an interest in learning from the practice in Durham.  Councillors were reminded of the large number of partners engaged with and also as regards the outcomes, with reductions in the numbers of fatalities, injuries and near-misses from 2014 through to 2017.

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager was keen to point out that the process was not just of campaigns and installation of equipment, rather there was also an important monitoring role.  Members were reminded of over 400 safety assessments carried out, and the works carried out as a result, and also work with riparian landowners to educate and also help in terms of installing and maintaining public rescue equipment. 

Councillor J Brown entered the meeting at 9.50am

Councillors noted the work in terms of videos and visits to schools to give open water safety messages, as well as over 300 children attending an outdoor open water safety scheme.  It was added a junior football tournament had also helped to raise awareness and engagement with communities.  Members were reminded of the links to the wider work in such events as the Safety Carousels, hosted by the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) and the improved communications in terms of how to raise issues, such as anti-social behaviour, whether on public or private land.

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted a lot of peer-led activities in terms of students, with the DSU highlighting in particular the issue of alcohol as being a factor in some tragedies, and looking at social norms in terms of levels of alcohol consumption.  It was highlighted that this had led to: an increase of 10.8% in terms of Durham students that always made sure their friends got home safely; 82% of Durham students now planning how they would get home safely after a night out; and 72% of Durham students now alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  Members were referred to the statistics highlighting the reach and success of social media campaigns, with a reach of over 1 million on Facebook for “Dying to be Cool”.  Councillors noted that Durham was being held as an exemplar in terms of community engagement and a case study in the UK’s first national drowning prevention strategy.  It was added that wider regional and national promotion across communities was given by the Local Government Association’s recognition of Durham’s work on open water safety.  

The Committee learned in terms of next steps that there was more work to do in terms of: using audience insights and feedback to refresh or reposition campaigns; develop new campaigns to target education at primary school KS1 level, 5-10 year olds; identify additional community partners; target other “at risk” groups, for example runners, walkers, cyclists; maintain a focus on changing trends and behaviours across the demographic; working with private landowners at high risk locations; maintaining partnership focus and engagement; continuing all maintenance, monitoring and review programmes; and to grow County Durham’s reputation as an example of best practice in community engagement nationally.

The Chairman thanked the Occupational Health and Safety Manager for a great deal of information and asked Members of the Committee for their comments and questions.

Councillor B Avery congratulated the Council and Officers for their excellent work on this issue, he was impressed with the quality of the campaigns and the positive affect in helping to keep people safe.  Mr AJ Cooke reiterated Councillor B Avery’s comments and highlighted that the upper dales was an area that many people flocked to in the summer, with a tragic fatality 4 years ago, and asked if safety equipment was made available in the area.  The Chairman asked whether schools were keen in taking up the opportunity to have people come in and speak to the pupils as regards open water safety.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted they were very keen, based around their busy curriculum and use of their halls for events, exams and other activities.  In respect of the dales, the Occupational Health and Safety Manager he was looking into issues of land ownership and he would also check to see how many schools had engaged and liaise with the Overview and Scrutiny Officer in terms of letting Members know.

Mr J Welch noted he had recently been on a trip at Derwent Country Park and he had noted he had lost his mobile phone signal and asked what happens in terms of raising the alarm in our more rural areas, was there signage directing people to the nearest telephone.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager explained that acknowledging challenges this had been looked into for the highest risk locations and work was being progressed with partners and private landowners.

The Chairman asked if there were still the resources in terms of keeping up momentum of the successful campaigns.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted that the biggest challenge in manpower terms had been the initial 400 assessments carried out and now the issue was of monitoring. 

He added that in terms of the ongoing work of the CSG and OWSG there was sufficient resources, and if further work was added then assistance would be sought.

The Chairman thanked the Occupational Health and Safety Manager and asked if he would give a further update to the Committee in due course. 

Resolved:

(i)         That the contents of the report and presentation be noted.

(ii)        That an update report be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.