News Release

Strategy to improve employee health, safety and wellbeing at Aberdeenshire Council approved

8th March 2010

A health, safety and wellbeing strategy for Aberdeenshire Council was approved by councillors.

Members of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee approved the document, which gives a clear way forward for continuous improvement in key areas.

Many policies, procedures and guidance are already in place to manage the risks associated with health and safety at the council, but there is still a need to raise awareness and to continually improve standards.

The Government recently published “Health Works”, a document reviewing the strategy for Healthy Working Lives, ensuring health is not a barrier to work and asking the public sector to play a key role as an exemplar employer and recruiter.

A wellbeing team is now in place within the council to work in this area and will be holding a series of roadshows in April and May to let employees see what the council’s commitment is to health, safety and wellbeing.

As well as the work being undertaken internally, the council continues to work with the Health and Safety Executive through the Public Service Programme to achieve targets set for the reduction of work related injury and ill health.

It is also taking a lead role regionally with community planning partners in relation to health and wellbeing, working with colleagues in the NHS, Police, Fire, Aberdeen City and Moray Councils.

Committee members were presented with details of the challenges being faced by the authority and the desired outcomes of the new strategy.

The strategy’s impact will be monitored and fed back to councillors, who supported and endorsed the document and agreed an implementation plan at a meeting in the council’s Aberdeen headquarters.

“The aim is to have a safe and healthy environment for employees to work in, where they enjoy a good life-work balance, look after their general health and fitness, allied to a culture where everyone feels involved in making changes for the better by taking a sensible approach to risk,” said Policy and Resources Committee chair, Anne Robertson.

“A healthy, motivated and fit workforce is essential, and looking after our employees’ health and wellbeing is a key element to reducing sickness absence and ensuring the organisation can deliver its services.

“Improvements to the health of Aberdeenshire’s nearly 15,000 employees will not only have a beneficial impact on their wellbeing and quality of life, but also that of their families and the community as a whole.”

Improving attendance by managing sickness absence will increase productivity, improve service delivery, give rise to fewer instances of work-related ill health, injuries and accidents, in turn leading to less requirement for cover, fewer claims and prosecutions.

This means a reduction in costs for the council in the short and long term and an enhanced reputation as a good employer, resulting in higher retention and lower turnover of staff.

Contact Us

For more information on any press-related matter please email news@aberdeenshire.gov.uk