NHS GRAMPIAN
CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY STRATEGY
Introduction
It was recognised that NHS Grampian had not had a Health and Safety Strategy for many years. In order to address this strategic gap, a significant consultation and drafting exercise was undertaken, in close partnership with staff-side colleagues and topic specialists from a number of key health and safety related subject areas across the Board.
The attached 3 Year Corporate Health and Safety Strategy is the culmination of the extensive partnership and consultation work, which will build a solid health and safety culture within NHS Grampian.
Aim
The overarching aim of this initial 3 year Strategy is to provide a level of strategic direction that will encourage all departments across the Board to get “back to basics” in terms of integrating health and safety into their operational norms.
This Strategy is intended to ensure that health and safety is not seen as a bolt-on or optional extra, but rather as an integral, regular, activity that positively safeguards staff, patients and any persons that could potentially be adversely affected by NHS Grampian’s undertakings.
Discussion
The final version of the document has now been approved, in readiness for ratification by the Board, by both the NHSG Occupational Health and Safety Committee and by the Staff Governance Committee.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have recently announced their inspection priorities for the year. Top of their agenda is “Effective Leadership”, where they would be expecting evidence relating to top-down leadership, effective training, management who are aware of their obligations, and an effective strategic approach by the organisation to health and safety. Adoption of this Strategy is very timely with these points in mind.
Key Risks
The risks associated with not passing this Strategy for approval, concern NHS Grampian not having a Strategic Directional document for Health and Safety over the forthcoming years.
Conclusion(s)
Providing members of the Board are content with the approach being directed for Health and Safety, and the related health and safety services, over the next three years, ratification and final approval is now sought.
Recommendation(s)
The Board is requested to approve the Corporate Health and Safety Strategy 2010-2013.
Mark Sinclair
Director of Health & Safety
24 May 2010
NHS GRAMPIAN
STAFF GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Corporate Health and Safety Strategy
Introduction
It was recognised that NHS Grampian had not had an active Health and Safety Strategy for many years. There had been some previous documents produced over the years, but these had certainly not been actively promoted or followed. In order to address this strategic gap, a significant consultation and drafting exercise was undertaken, in close partnership with staff-side colleagues and topic specialists from a number of key health and safety related subject areas across the Board.
The attached 3 Year Corporate Health and Safety Strategy is the culmination of the extensive partnership work, which will provide NHS Grampian with a rejuvenated foundation on which to build a solid health and safety culture.
Aim
The overarching aim of this initial 3 year Strategy is to provide a level of strategic direction that will encourage all departments across the Board to get “back to basics” in terms of integrating health and safety into their operational norms.
It is recognised that many departments already address health and safety quite well, and have included discussion, training, assessment and inspection for health and safety as part of their day-to-day activities. This strategy is intended to direct all departments along this route and to ensure that health and safety is not seen as a bolt-on or optional extra, but rather as an integral, regular, activity that positively safeguards staff, patients and any persons that could potentially be adversely affected by NHS Grampian’s undertakings.
Discussion
Extensive development and consultation was undertaken in order to realise this Strategy, this included excellent partnership support from both staff-side colleagues from the NHSG Safety Representatives, as well as topics specialists from Fire Safety, Infection Control, Radiation Safety, and from risk management for Violence and Aggression and Manual Handling.
The final version of the document has now been approved, in principle, by the NHSG Occupational Health and Safety Committee. The next stage in the approval process is for ratification by the Staff Governance Committee, before final approval at the Board meeting in June.
The Strategy has previously been circulated to Staff Governance Committee for consultation, with updates as to the progress of the consultation exercise being briefly presented at the last SGC.
Key Risks
The risks associated with not passing this Strategy for approval, concern NHS Grampian not having a Strategic Directional document for Health and Safety over the forthcoming years.
Conclusion(s)
Providing members of the Staff Governance Committee are content with the approach being directed for Health and Safety, and the related health and safety services, over the next three years, the Strategy will commence the final stage of its approval journey through the Board meeting in June 2010.
Recommendation(s)
1)To ratify the Corporate Health and Safety Strategy 2010-2013, and recommend it for approval by the Board in June 2010.
JOHN BRETT
Head of Health and Safety
18th May 2010.