Health and safety - occupational health services

We will ensure that all of our employees operates in a safe and healthy environment, the organisations Health & Safety at Work Policy commits us toward achieving high standards.

We aim to ensure that our premises are safe for employees and visitors and that accidents are prevented wherever possible.

About this service

Key Challenges

• avoiding apathy among employees towards health & safety issues
• Senior Management on-going commitment.
• Successfully improving and maintaining the 'general health of the workforce'.
• Delivering the 'Revitalising H&S Strategy'.  This national strategy calls for all sections of government to demonstrate excellence in H&S management.
• Accurately attributing and assessing the 'costs' of accidents, linking into business efficiency.
• Achieving a reduction in the number of reportable (as defined by regulation) accidents.        

Key Policies and Procedures

• H&S Policy
• Stress at Work
• Violence at Work
• Drug & Alcohol Misuse

Occupational Health

Well Being - We will ensure that all employees are encouraged and supported in leading healthy lifestyles.

The good health of the workforce is fundamental to the success of the District of Easington. It is essential that work practices and supporting policies aim to contribute to establishing a healthy workforce.

An important aspect of Well Being is the occupational health service that we offer to employees, it covers pre-employment medicals, medical reviews, health surveillance, flu vaccinations, physiotherapy and the availability of referral to an independent Counsellor.

We:

• inspect our places of work to ensure compliance with health and safety law, in accordance with government priorities and best practice 
• use educational techniques as well as legal means to achieve compliance
• investigate accidents to our employees or others which occur in our workplaces
• investigate complaints about health, safety or welfare in our work premises
• give advice to elected Councillors, managers and employees 
• work with other health professionals locally and nationally
• promote occupational well being and advise the Council & its partners on H&S Policy to ensure compliance with legal requirements
• promote best practice      

What you must do

If you are a tenant in a East Durham Homes property and wish to make a complaint about health & safety issues we will require:

• details about the nature of the complaint
• the name and address of the premises concerned
• your contact information             

Some workplaces will be the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), rather than the Council and if required, we can provide details of the relevant enforcing authority.

What we must do

We have a legal duty to:

• provide a safe workplace for our employees
• provide a good working environment for our employees  
• report all relevant breaches of health and safety regulations to the HSE             

What happens next?

We will:

• carry out regular inspections of our workplaces
• investigate relevant Council/ EDH workplace accidents as appropriate 
• respond to complaints about health and safety in our workplaces within five working days when practicable
• respond to requests for advice or information about health and safety within five working days when practicable 
• respond to letters or emails about health and safety issues within five working days when practicable
• keep you informed of the progress made with your enquiry or complaint