• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Friday, June 13, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

    Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

    Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

    Special needs campsite set to open in Eden

    Special needs campsite set to open in Eden

  • Sport
    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

    Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

    Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

    Special needs campsite set to open in Eden

    Special needs campsite set to open in Eden

  • Sport
    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Over 7,000 working days lost at council thanks to coronavirus

by CWH
30 July 2022
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Cumbria County Council reached 1,183 and led to a total of 7,830 lost working days, a new report has revealed.

Across the council during 2021-22 there were also 138 suspected cases, the latter leading to 676 lost working days, according to its annual health, safety and wellbeing report.

There was a further 520 days lost from 32 members of staff reporting long COVID or “post-COVID syndrome” and 982 cases of other infections or viruses including flu, coughs and colds leading to 3,963 lost working days, the report said.

The council — whose staff can have public-facing roles from schools to care homes, child protection and social work — found it to be the equivalent of each full-time employee having a total of 15.4 sick days during the year— which the council said was “high” compared to similar-sized authorities.

Stress and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and a low mood also impacted on the workforce, at the authority, which is to be abolished next year under local government reorganisation.

The report found: “The council has a high rate of sickness absence with absence rates being a challenge for the council over a number of years despite all of the positive work that has sought to promote workforce health and wellbeing.

“COVID rates have certainly contributed to the further rise in sickness absences levels across the whole council, but the pandemic is not the sole reason for the high overall absences recorded in 2021-22.”

In terms of accidents, the council said “slips, trips and falls” remained the highest type of incident for employees and non-employees.

Incidents involving violence and aggression have also contributed to the figures over recent years, it said.

The Health and Safety Executive requires certain incidents to be reported under RIDDOR — the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

The county council reported a total of 37 RIDDOR incidents during 2021-22, with 28 relating to employees.

It represents a rise on the 19 involving employees in 2020-21, which was lower due to the pandemic and schools and services not operating as normal, the report found.

Incidents in schools accounted for a total of 11 RIDDOR incidents which included six injuries resulting in absences of over seven days to school staff, and four “non-employees” being taken directly to hospital.

There was also what was described as a “specified dangerous occurrence,” which the HSE describes as an incident with a “high potential to cause death or serious injury”.

Of schools, the report said: “The number of reported physical assaults and challenging behaviour fell this year accounting for 42 out of the 479 total incidents reported. One incident resulted in a member of staff being absent for over seven days and was therefore RIDDOR reportable.”

Nearly 3,000 “completions” of health and safety e-learning were undertaken in the year with hundreds also taking part in first aid, fire safety, manual handling and health and wellbeing training.

In any event, councillor Celia Tibble, cabinet member for environment (including health and safety), has given a huge thanks to the many employees who had helped others keep people safe across Cumbria.

Councillor Deborah Earl, cabinet member for public health and community services, said it remained committed to a first-class public health service and praised the dedication and professionalism of staff during the pandemic.

Related Posts

Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith
News

Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

13 June 2025
£37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads
Latest

£37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

13 June 2025
Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair
News

Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

13 June 2025
New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed
News

New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

13 June 2025
18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire
Food and Drink

18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

13 June 2025
Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit
News

Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

13 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

£900 raised for Zambia neonatal unit

£900 raised for Zambia neonatal unit

13 June 2025
Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

13 June 2025
Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

13 June 2025
How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Innocent drivers get caught up in police stinger operation

Innocent drivers get caught up in police stinger operation

13 June 2025
Special needs campsite set to open in Eden

Special needs campsite set to open in Eden

13 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald