Update on MPS health and safety performance

Report: 5
Date: 05 December 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report updates the Metropolitan Police Authority with respect to the MPS’s Health and Safety performance.

A. Recommendation

That the update on MPS health and safety performance be received.

B. Supporting information

Incidents Reported on MetAIR

1. A summary of the injuries reported on MetAir between October 2004 and September 2005 is attached at Appendix 1. In summary:

• The number of major accidents and more than 3-day injury shows a slight increase when compared to last month and the annual rolling average. This rise reflects an increased level of injuries from PolCols (police collisions) (a higher return than that of assaults which is normally highest) and continuing elevated levels of operational activity, in particular in Special Operations. It is hoped that the Safe Driver Two campaign, which was launched on the 3 October 2005, will reduce the number of PolCol incidents in the future.
• Of the 10 major accidents:
  • 9 were fractures (5 slip/trip/falls, 3 assault and 1 during equestrian training).
  • 1 serious laceration during the off road element of motorcycle response training. This element has been suspended pending the procurement of suitable protective clothing. It is anticipated that this will be resolved before the end of November.
• Of the 111 over three day accidents:
  • 32 were from 15 police collision incidents (including 8 officers in one TSG van).
  • 8 were during training courses.
  • 19 were travelling to or from work. It should be noted that this type of incident is not reportable to the Health and Safety Executive and that other organisations do not record such incidents.
  • The remainder had a wide variety of causation.

Where appropriate learning from these incidents is captured and will be incorporated into advice to (B)OCUs.

Audit programme

2. Auditing of a cross section of (B)OCUs, across all business groups, to verify the implementation of the local health and safety policies commenced in September. In addition to making the local recommendations, the Branch will be reviewing the process after six months and will be seeking input from all staff associations and trade unions.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Contacts

3. The MPS has had no Improvement or Prohibition Notices served and no notification of notices or litigation yet to be served in the period since the last Corporate Governance Committee meeting. There have been no contacts with the HSE in connection with any reportable incidents in the last month.

4. The Director of HR, supported by the Head of Health and Safety Branch, met Brian Etheridge, HSE Regional Director Field Operations Division London (responsible for all HSE field inspectors in London), on 10 November 2005 as part of the ongoing senior level contact between the two organisations. In summary the HSE:

• Acknowledged the corporate health and safety improvements that have been made since 2003.
• Agreed that the existing HSE/MPS work action plan is to be signed off as complete, including the thematic inspections (although there are a number of outstanding thematic inspections it would appear that the HSE are content at this stage not to inspect these work areas).
• Is keen to learn from the MPS experience in a number of successful proactive work areas such as operational dynamic risk assessment and the management of sickness absence with a view to sharing good practice.
• Has stated that it now intends to focus its work on policing activity at a national level.

5. It was agreed that Mr Etheridge would attend and brief the MPS Management Board on 18 November 2005.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no direct implications on equalities and diversity arising from this report.

D. Financial implications

There are no immediate financial implications arising from this report.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Louis Backwell, Head of Health and Safety.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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