Posted By Jeff Watt Colleagues I am applying for a safety role in my local council, I have currently been in the private sector for 7 years now. Basically folks not being up to date with public sector operations I don't want to go to interview and make an obvious gaff. I would appreciate recommendations on any general publications/guides out there that would be useful in familiarising me with the issues faced by councils , especially in rural areas e.g. leisure facilities, outdoor event management etc Also any other advice of a general nature would be greatly appreciated e.g. does crown immunity exist for any council /local authority buildings. Kind regards Jeff

Posted By Jeff Watt Cheers Descarte thanks for the prompt response.

Posted By Jeff Watt Daz It would be an advisorary role for the whole business but in my part of the world that covers leisure centres, waste collection services, tourism centres but not housing or schools or health.

Posted By Jeff Watt Daz excellent help thanks. Thanks to everyone else who replied directly by email. I was a trade union seconded officer ( union gave me my orders but was based at and paid by the employer) before getting into full time safety. I am always scared that PS employers see you as a troublemaker rather than a troubleshooter when you have a TU background. I will have to be subtle (no hope then). Anyone got advice on the differences between Public Liability injury claims as opposed to employers liability claims? This seems to be highlited on the job spec. Jeff

Posted By Dazmo Hi Jeff, Sorry about previous posting, accidentally posted only half the message! Public liability designed to cover costs of potential claim by member of the public for injury or damage to property caused by your organisation. Two main issues with respect to members of the public injuring themselves... 1. Maintenance and infrastructure, i.e not maintaining public highway and someone trips over - not a lot H+S can do about that! 2. Injury or damage caused by negligence of your employee/management - definitely H+S issue. For example member of public has their vehicle struck by reversing waste collection truck because there was no banksman and driver chatting on mobile. Or individual slips over and injures themselves in leisure centre because floor slippery through poor housekeeping Both could potentially result in claim from member of public against your organisation, the financial cost or which would be covered by your insurance policy. It may help to look at occupiers liability act. Good luck!

Posted By Eric Burt Jeff Good luck with the new job! Some of the issues which I am currently dealing with are: Asbestos Legionella ( are you up to speed with the Barrow-in-Furness case) Stress management (have a chat with EMAS about their audits of local authorities) Slips trips and falls - check out the HSE slips assessment tool on the HSE website Smoking, especially with the current consultation on the smoke-free elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill Minibus driver licensing after the changes brought in on 1st January 1997. VOSA, the Vehicle Operator Services Agency has a good guide "Passenger Transport provided by voluntary groups under the Section 19 or 22 permit system" (available on the VOSA web-site). Work at Height especially issues of lone working / rescue in the vent of an emergency Manual handling especially with respect to people / children and more recently - kerbs Mobile phone masts (see the up-date on the original Stewart report - available from the Health Protection Agency web-site) .......... and contact Steve Sumner at the Employers Organisation. Steve is the Health and Safety Officer and is an excellent source of help and information for H&S Practitioners in local authorities. If you e-mail me directly at eric.burt@cheshire.gov.uk I'll send you the link to the mailing list for their h&s information. Ask Diane Ravenscroft to put you on the mailing list. I think that's about it but if you need any further help just let me know. Regards, Eric

Posted By MichaelM Jeff There is also a lot of PPP in buidling e.g. new schools. CDM etc will therefore come into play. Everything else is pretty much covered. I moved from the private sector to local authority H&S just over five months ago and there is a big drive with the HSE on Backs (i.e. manual handling, stress, systems to help employees back to work,lone working, accident reporting (and near miss) and also violence reporting systems and procedures. Hope this is of use. Michael