Agenda item

(i)        Report of 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, who was in attendance to speak to Members in relation to Open Water Safety (for copy see file of minutes).

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted he would explain the progress that had been made so far and highlight the outcomes from the work in respect of Open Water Safety.  He noted that there was an ongoing challenge in respect of the geography of the county and the demographics, there being 520,000 young males, of which 52,600 were aged 10-25 years old.  It was added there was a lot of additional student accommodation being built and this would mean a lot more students within the City, and also there was a regeneration of the night time economy incorporated within many of the ongoing developments in the City.  It was noted that these changes meant there would be new and changing risks to consider. 

The Committee were reminded of the work of the Durham City Safety Group, the Occupational Health and Safety Manager being the Chairman and the number of partners, including riparian landowners, such as Durham Constabulary, Durham University, Durham Students’ Union, Durham Cathedral and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Members were referred to city centre statistics for the period 2009 to March 2018, noting 90 reported incidents with 6 fatal open water incidents.  It was explained that approximately 80% of those incidents involved alcohol and 80% of fatal incidents involved those aged 18-24 and therefore this age group would be targeted in terms of safety campaigns.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager referred Members to further statistics and a map highlighting the main hotspots along the river in the city centre.  Councillors noted the work of Emergency Services partners in delivering talks to University colleges during “Freshers’ Week”, providing safety information via leaflets, e-mails and social media. 

It was added that there had been work in terms of vulnerability training for door staff at nightclubs and pubs, and also restorative work had been carried out with those safely rescued from the river.  Members noted the Drowning Prevention Week campaign, exercises and public engagement.

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager reminded Members of the Best Bar None Scheme, and highlighted that engagement in terms of open water safety and learning from best practise.  In respect of working with the Durham Students’ Union it was noted a £50,000 Public Health grant had been utilised to develop a student peer-led awareness campaign focusing on social norms and personal safety.  It was added that a 3 year social marketing campaign would include a number of initiatives to raise awareness and promote personal responsibility and wellbeing, launching campaigns at key dates in the student calendar.  It was explained a University Student Alcohol Awareness and Use policy had been developed and implemented.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager added that an agreement between a number of taxi operators and the University had been reached in terms of getting vulnerable student that were unable to fund their journey home and the Student Union Nigh Bus had been re-established.

The Committee noted a number of social norm campaign outcomes, including: and increase in students choosing not to walk home alone after a night out; and increase in the number of students who looked out for friends and ensured they got home safely; an increase in the number of students choosing to eat before drinking alcohol; and a decrease in the number of students choosing not to “pre-load” some of the time, both males and females.  It was explained that these elements of students being together was important as those fatalities that had occurred when individuals had become separated from their social group.  Members were referred to the statistics highlighting the reduction in fatal and non-fatal incidents within the city centre.

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted the media and communications activities that had taken place, the awareness of cold water shock, highlighted by the Dying to be Cool campaign, re-launched in May 2018, and the hard work of Fiona Gosling in highlighting the issue through her son Cameron’s story.  Members noted engagement work in terms of Stanhope open air pool and in respect of National Drowning Prevention Week, working with the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).  It was explained there had been good media coverage of activities, including via the BBC, Tyne-Tees as well as local press and radio.  It was added that an estimate 10,000 secondary school children had been reached via Dying to be cool assemblies. 

Members noted the statistics from 2013/14 to 2017/18 noting that there had been a focus in 2015/16 and 2017 being the first year with no fatalities, very positive, though it was noted that work with schools would continue to reinforce the safety message.

In terms of what would be looked at next, the Occupational Health and Safety Manager explained that there would be continued leadership via the City Safety Group, monitoring progress and there would also be improved incidents analysis and targeted interventions.  He added that there would be further assessments and review of incident hotspots, as well as the assessment and control of new risks, with RoSPA initial assessment of riverside development works to be followed up once site become live.  Members noted that best practise would be shared with other similar geographical locations and that voluntary sector involvement and inland water safety guidance would be considered. 

The Occupational Health and Safety Manager explained that there would be the continued maintenance, monitoring and review of physical safety control measures and that there would be work to increase the number of awareness and one-to-one support sessions provided to the University by the local Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager concluded that maintaining the profile and awareness of the issues was important and new campaigns, for example targeting 5-10 year olds, would be developed alongside peer-led campaigns and initiatives.

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

Mr AJ Cooke asked as regards any work in the Barnard Castle area.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted there was work with local riparian landowners, for example near High Force and Low Force, and other areas of high footfall.  It was added areas were being assessed and interventions would be put in place where appropriate.

Councillor J Charlton thanked the Officer for their very good presentation and asked what would happen in terms of the large Students’ Union campaign once the 3 year Public Health grant ended.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted the University was committed to carry forward some of the work, the University having its own Alcohol policies for example.  It was added there was a drive from the Students’ Union, with the City Safety Group to monitor in order to help in terms of continuity.

Councillor J Maitland asked in terms of the number of incidents, how many involved students.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted that in terms of the city centre there was not just students and the work was in terms of more general safety.

Councillor B Avery noted the installation of quality fencing along sections of the river in the city and felt that it would make a big difference.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted there was a balance, in terms of not fencing off all of the riverbanks, however, areas were assessed using a RoSPA tool.  He added that fencing was only one type of intervention within a suite of measures, and also education was a very important element.  Members noted that public right of way monitoring in terms of footfall, fencing and rescue equipment was important, ensuring if any fencing or equipment was damaged or vandalised this would be rectified as soon as possible.

The Chairman noted the work in schools was excellent and asked if there was any issues in terms of capacity within the programme.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted that the programme was in line with volunteer’s availability, however, there were alternative approaches where schools could deliver content themselves, utilising videos, internet links and social media.  He added that there was also work in terms of an increased offer via the One-Point service.

Councillor A Patterson thanked the Occupational Health and Safety Manager and all those involved for the excellent campaigns and hard work, and asked whether in the future the work would be national and whether elements would be brought into the national curriculum.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager noted delivery of programmes via the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service in Darlington, and added that he promoted the work undertaken via local networks.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager explained he was a member of the National Water Safety Forum, which included representatives from other similar cities, for example York, Bath, and Manchester. 

It was noted that best practise was shared, with the Chief Fire Officers’ Association and RNLI also promoted the work.  The Occupational Health and Safety Manager explained that Durham was being used as a case study by the Local Government Association and there was also promotion via Overview and Scrutiny and the SDP.

Resolved:    

That the report and presentation be noted.