Association of Colleges

Further Education Safety & Health Group
New Forum for Health & Safety in Further Education

In line with the Health and Safety Commission’s document, A Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety to 2010 and Beyond, it had been agreed that the long standing Higher and Further Education Advisory Committee, HiFEAC, would be set down in favour of new sector-led forums. AoC had been working with HSE to establish a new forum for the further education sector, the Further Education Safety and Health forum (FESH).

At a preliminary meeting at HSE headquarters it had been agreed that there was a need to revitalise health and safety in the further education sector. Clear and consistent leadership was necessary to improve health and safety practice in the workplace.

Stephen Green confirmed that AoC would take forward the FESH group following this introductory meeting. Stephen agreed to provide the secretariat and the Association of College Managers agreed to provide the Chair. There will be a core membership with representatives from: 
 

• Association of Colleges 
• Association of College Managers 
• Association of Scottish Colleges 
• Trade Unions – UCU, UNISON & EIS 
• Welsh Assembly 
• Fforwm 
• HSE

Terms of Reference

The following draft terms of reference were agreed:
To act as a forum for the Further Education Sector, developing a partnership between employers and employee representatives and providing strategic oversight and direction on matters of occupational health and safety including that of the safe learner. It is expected that the establishment of this forum will lead to the evolution of practical solutions to occupational health and safety issues. The regulators will be invited to attend and others may be co-opted.”

Workplan

The following core issues were considered for inclusion in the workplan, which will cover 3-5 years: 

• Communications
• Data collection and analysis– to include ill health, accident and sickness absence statistics, and levels of occupational health services
• Revitalising health and safety targets
• Promotion of sensible risk management
• Promotion of occupational health provision
• Promotion of good management practice in relation to stress (including bullying / harassment)
• Competence of health and safety advice – this is central to the application of good health and safety practice and includes appropriate training of managers
• Promotion of partnership working

It was agreed that the workplan will be based around the recommendations of the Ministerial Taskforce Report and its subsequent ‘One year on' report', the basis of which is making improvements to workplace health and subsequently better service delivery.

Notes of FESH meetings 

  Preliminary meeting June 2006
  Second meeting November 2006
  Third meeting March 2007
  Fourth meeting June 2007
  Fifth Meeting October 2007
  Sixth Meeting March 2008
  Seventh Meeting February 2009
  Eighth Meeting February 2009