Conwy council offers staff yoga classes to reduce 'lost' days

Yoga classes are being offered to council employees during working hours to help reduce back problems.

Conwy Council lost 859 working days due to accidents between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 - almost double the number in 2014-15.

Staff are being given access to yoga-based exercises focusing on "breathing, relaxation, affirmation and visualization" methods to help reduce this figure, according to a report.

Conwy Council was asked to comment.

The council's annual health and safety report states lost working days cost the authority about £85,900 between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016.

While accidents from manual handling have fallen over the last five years, sickness from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and back pain are on the increase, the report said.

The council is working with Bangor University to deliver a healthy back programme pilot, with staff able to attend the classes during working hours as authorised absence.

'Flying objects'

A total of 1,291 accidents, incidents or near misses were reported to the health and safety team in the last financial year - a drop of 17.5% from 2014-15.

But the number of days lost after accidents increased by 393 in the same period.

One environment and road department worker was hit by a vehicle, another was injured by an animal, and one worker was exposed to a harmful substance,

Three members of staff working in council run schools needed time off work after being assaulted, while two were hit by "moving, flying or falling objects".

In 2015-16 the council also paid out £32,000 in two civil claims "due to inadequate risk assessments", the report states.

The report was considered by councillors during a meeting on Monday.