Health and safety incidents (media).
Please see our responses in blue below.
Request
I’m reaching out to request further information regarding health and safety incidents across the district. I note there were three reported incidents involving abusive or threatening behaviour in March alone, in addition to another incident earlier this year.
Could you please provide clarification on the following:
1. How many incidents involving abuse, aggression, intimidation, or threatening behaviour have been recorded this year?
Six incidents have been recorded within Council’s online health and safety reporting system this year.
2. Could you please provide details of these incidents, including how they were resolved or responded to?
The information below reflects the classifications recorded within Council’s online health and safety system:
- One incident was classified as “general aggressive or threatening behaviour” (without threat of violence or harm);
- Two incidents were classified as “threatening and/or challenging behaviour with intent of violence or harm”; and
- Three incidents were classified as “verbal abuse with threat of violence or harm”.
Council staff receive de-escalation training to assist them in responding to aggressive, abusive, or threatening behaviour. Protective perspex screening is installed for Customer Services Officers in both the Fairlie and Twizel offices, and swipe-card access restrictions are in place for staff-only areas. Members of the public are not able to access general office areas within Council buildings.
Council also provides staff access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) services through TELUS Health.
3. What is the Council’s policy or approach when responding to incidents involving violence, threats, or aggressive behaviour?
Council has zero tolerance for abusive, threatening, or aggressive behaviour toward staff. Responses and any follow-up actions are considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances involved.
4. Has the Council identified a similar pattern or trend of these types of incidents in previous years?
Council has observed an increase in reported incidents involving abusive, threatening, or aggressive behaviour over the past 18–24 months.