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The eefects of climate change and the implications on Council Staff
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Posted By Steven Fanning
Taking into account the recent adverse weather, we are about to establish a policy for staff who must continue to provide essential services in such conditions. For example: Social Work services in the community or Gritter drivers who may find themselves isolated.
The policy will apply to range of weather conditions( High winds, floods, snow, ice,long periods of sunshine)
Does anyone have any procedure/information they could share?
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Posted By Eric Burt
Steve
We have produced a Work-related Road Safety policy which includes a risk assessment checklist.
Let me know if you would like a copy.
Regards,
Eric
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Posted By Rob T
What climate change? The UK has always suffered from different kinds of inclement weather and it's our national pasttime to talk/moan about it. Don't be influenced by "the end is nigh aren't I trendy, some of my best friends are rainforests" brigade.
That said, it's certainly worth making an assessment for severe (although the Scandinavians laugh at what we call severe) weather when our people, by the very nature of their jobs, have to deal with circumstances. All terrain driving type courses would certainly be useful for gritters and snowplough drivers. Clothing should be considered and for the more remote areas, some forms of distress beacons (you can buy hand-held strobes for less than £20) as you can never guarantee mobiles or radios working. Consider also expected times of return and procedures if staff are particularly after this time. Assess the routes to be taken and consider the history of those particular areas.
Just a few ideas that I hope may be helpful.
Cheers
Rob
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Posted By Steven Fanning
Thanks Rob,
unfortunately for me, the "trendy brigade" have influenced our CE, so I must provide such info !!! i do take your point about the definition of extreme weather. We have procedures within departments for inclement weather and the type of clothing is taken care of as part of the risk assessment for the task, but as with everything one has to continually improve the standards!
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
I must protest at the potential for long term desertification of the nation being taken so lightly!
Did you not see Horizon the other night?
;-)
So what you're actually looking for is a driving policy/ procedures which includes some recommendations for inclement weather conditions that are likely in Scotland rather than the Ray Mears list of equipment for driving in the bush.
Take a look at the HSE document INDG 382, (downloadable from their site I think) at the least it will give you some other links you can chase up.
Other ideas I've heared are take an outdoor coat, pack a blanket, a shovel, scraper/ de-icer kit, torch,warm drink in a flask & means to raise the alarm (a mobile phone will do - but not while driving!)
If prolonged bad weather is expected, then snow chains or winter tyres could be considered, but how you would enforce that in a policy is beyond me.
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Posted By Steven Fanning
Thanks for the response, but no its not just about driving( i am already working on that one !!) I am looking at potential situations that council staff may be placed in to provide essential sevices and it relates to all types of extreme weather ( wind, rain, snow , sunshine etc.)
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
Steven, please permit me to say - that's a bit broad isn't it?
What next, a procedure on what to do if an asteroid impacts or the Atlantic thermohaline current breaks down?
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Posted By Lewis T Roberts
Consideration for such a policy should include weather forecasts and the inclusion of different organisations that carry out forecasting to ensure reasonable accuracy and then deciding who in the organisation has responsibility for interpreting this information for your locations.
Lew
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Posted By Steven Fanning
Thanks lewis,
we already have a weather watch system in place with emergency planning and also with the managers of the gritting squads.
I think it is a good point and i will make reference to it in my policy.
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Posted By Neil Pearson
If you don't think climate change is a problem, don't tell us, tell the people who are planning the next phase of the Thames Barrier, ready for higher water levels. This ain't just a game for hippies.
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Posted By Jim Walker
Steve,
I don't mean to jeer, but those of us living in the real world find this touchy feely stuff all LAs are into, a bit doubious. As a tax payer I would like my money spending wisely without recourse to trendy psuedo-science.
Protecting workers from severe weather conditions I have no problem with and it is something you should quite rightly address.
Climatic change is an unproven media invention. Within my memory (and I'm not that old) - there was deep Snow for about 3 months over much of the country.
By the way we had a bit of a breeze up this way last week (90 mph) and a few inches of snow today.
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Posted By Steven Fanning
Thanks for the responses, as a taxpayer you have the right to be concerned, but we must provide the services, as safely as we can, taking care of our greatest resource.. our staff. If we didnt provide the service we would have to answer to you the taxpayer !
I think there may be some misunderstandings as to my stance when it comes to climate change. I (personally, not as Renfrewshire Council's voice) believe that there is a shift in the global weather patterns due to the effects of global warming and we all have a responsibility to do somehting about it.
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
To echo what Steven has said, I think his use of the phase "climate change" in the title is a misnomer.
What I understand is actually being talked about here is the protection of council employees from inclement weather (hot or cold, rain or shine, windy or calm) while they are delivering services.
How do you do it and what advice do you give to them & their managers.
That's how I now understand the question at least (but no doubt Steven will correct me), though if you want to talk about global climate change and how will affect the future provision of council services in Renfrewshire - well I suggest you see Steven, it's his thread.
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Posted By Fiona Cowan
Steven
You mentioned Emergency planning, are there not responses already in place for the situations you are considering. Eg evacuation of care homes suffering damage in severe weather like we had in here the Western Isles last week. Home care supervisors would surely be points of contact for groups of home care workers in the community and reporting policies in place to check service provision and/or safety of workers. Even if power off if staff have battery powered radios, local radio announcements will advise staff eg. "If unable to attend a vulnerable client for whatever reason in sever conditions to telephone the HCW supervisor so alternative arrangements can be made"...
What are arrangements for transport of emergency staffing if conditions dictate it is unsafe to travel muast have been taken on board by emergency planning and might provide a framework for consideration alongside existing policies and procedures which would still ensure maximisation of service delivery, especially to vulnerable clients.
Fiona
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Posted By J Knight
Some of you are obviously taking your lead from Terry Wogan and the man in the pub; the climate is changing, whether it's anthropogenic or not is a question which is still (just) in the balance, but it is changing and it's no more pseudo-science than quantum mechanics is.
But as for emergency planning; we actually have to prepare plans for bomb threats. You may think that nobody would want to blow up a care home, but CSCI think somebody might, so as well as the usual 'what do we do when staff can't get in because of the snow', we have to consider how we tell over the phone whether a bomb threat is genuine etc etc.
I don't understand it, myself,
John
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Posted By Gavin
Forget climate change, simply include the issue of foul weather in the risk assessments of each job, thus removing the political issues and allowing the hazards to be resolved.
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Posted By David Thomas
Like one or two other posters to this subject, I am in the camp against the touchy feely brigade.
Whilst I am more than willing to embrace the employer's responsibility to employees I feel that at times we are taking that responsibility too far. If someone is employed in a position where there is an increased risk due to weather conditions this should already by covered by PPE, i.e. for estates or refuse workers.
As to some others who may have to go out from time to time we shouldnt be taking away from them the personal responsibility of dressing up (or down) to suit the environment in which they travel to/from work.
Otherwise, rant over, at least some employers are looking at protecting staff. Too many dont provide lorry drivers with a warm jacket and I understand one or two major high street supermarkets dont do anything for till operators adjacent to the main doors.
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