Update on MPS health and safety performance

Report: 5
Date: 22 September 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report updates the Metropolitan Police Authority with respect to the MPS’s Health and Safety performance. The number of major accidents and the number of more than 3-day injuries shows a downward trend when compared to the annual rolling average. The MPS has been advised that it is to be prosecuted in respect of alleged breaches of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 relating to the Hendon pool incident and Stockwell shooting on 22 July 2005.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Incidents reported on MetAIR

1. A summary of the injuries reported on MetAIR between July 2005 and June 2006 is shown as a table in Appendix 1. In summary:

• The number of major accidents and the number of more than 3-day injuries shows a continued downward trend when compared to the rolling 12 month average (figure 1).

Table 1: Incidents reportable to the HSE per 1000 employees (see supporting material)

• Of the 10 major accidents in June 06, 9 were minor fractures (5 assaults, and 4 slip/trip/falls), and 1 was a dislocation (during OST).
• Of the 72 over three day accidents:
  • 1 officer shot during surveillance operation in E11 (non-critical injuries)
  • 27 were from incidents where staff were injured by a moving vehicle. Of these:
    • 14 involved police officers travelling to/from work (It should be noted that this type of incident is not reportable to the Health and Safety Executive)
    • 11 were in a police vehicle (7 incidents)
    • 2 were officers on foot when hit by vehicles
  • 15 assaults.
  • 3 were due to slip/trip/falls.
  • 4 occurred during training events.
  • The remainder had a wide variety of causation.
• The total number of accidents per 1000 employees has remained fairly constant over the past four months and slightly below the annual rolling average (figure 2).

Table 2: Total number of incidents per 1000 employees (see supporting material)

• Total number of assaults has remained fairly constant over the past five months (figure 3). The MPA is advised to expect an increase in assault reports over the next three months. Based on assault injury data collected on MetAir since 2003 there is generally an increase in assault injuries over the June-Sep period. The reasons for these increases cannot be identified from MetAir data but are most likely due to increased social activity during these periods. The summer of 2005 was the exception to this trend; this was possibly due to reduced public social activity and increased police uniform
• presence in the aftermath of the 7 July bombing incidents.

Table 3: Assaults per 1000 employees (see supporting material)

• Total number of assaults on PCSOs per month has remained fairly constant over the last 12 months (figure 4).

Table 4: PCSO assaults per 1000 employees (see supporting material)

• The incidence of injuries from moving vehicles recorded on Metair shows a downward trend against the annual rolling average (figure 5). This trend is supported by information from the POLCOL database that indicates a downward trend of 5.9% (A paper covering the Safe Driver Two Paper campaign was presented to Corporate Governance Committee on 19 June 2006 by Commander Hussain)

Table 5: Injuries caused by moving vehicles (see supporting material)

• Slips/trips and falls show a downward trend over the past five months (figure 6). It is too early to verify whether this is a steeper than normal annual fall after the seasonal winter peak in this accident category or whether this is a direct result of the Safety and Health Risk Management Team slip/trips/falls awareness campaign.

Table 6: 6 slips, trips and falls per 1000 employees (see supporting material)

• The injury rate by business group per 1000 employees over the previous 12 months is shown at figure 7. This will be subject to further analysis in future reports.

Table 7: Accident rate per 1000 employees per Business Group (see supporting material)

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

MetAir system review

2. The Team commissioned an independent review of the operation of the MPS accident and incident reporting system (MetAir) by Det Norske Veritas. In summary:

• MetAir is regarded as a positive improvement in Health and Safety related incident reporting in the Metropolitan Police Service. However, as the use of the system has become widespread across the organisation, the expectations of the performance of the system have grown beyond its service delivery capability.
• MetAir does not communicate or share data with other essential accident related recording systems e.g. MetHR (personnel records) and Omega (accident claims).
• The current system infrastructure does not reflect or allow reporting and analysis against the current MPS business structure (MetAir is configured to retain data against a January 2003 MPS business structure).
• Many technical enhancements have been suggested to improve/upgrade the system (a number of suggested enhancements also go beyond the technical application of MetAir and are concerned with the process of incident investigation).
• In house costed improvement options via ATOS, now CapGemini, are considered excessive (£300k plus for minimal quick fixes, minimum of £400k plus for an extended range of operational improvements).
• The SHRMT are liaising with DOI to explore development including development/synergistic opportunities with other essential software systems e.g. Met HR and Omega. The implications of this work have been raised with the Transforming HR Project Team.

MetAir data review

3. The team has commissioned an independent review of the first three years of MetAir major and over three-day accident data by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistical advisor.

Health and Safety induction

4. The SHRMT recently finalised a health and safety induction DVD and booklet. These were launched at the police staff induction day with positive feedback from attendees. The product is designed to support both corporate and local OCU induction briefings. Both the DVD and booklet will be distributed to all OCUs. A number of other forces have expressed an interest in viewing and potentially purchasing these items.

Audits

5. The SHRMT has completed the first eight formal safety and health risk management audits in accordance with Volume one Chapter 7 of the Health and Safety Manual (this chapter defines the audit protocol and scoring matrix). As an emerging snap shot the average scores so far on analysed data is 57.6% (it is important to note that these scores reflect the OCUs at the close of the audit). The SHRMT will be conducting its first analytical review of the audit results. This will be reported to a future Corporate Governance Committee.

ACPO Noise Working Group

6. The SHRMT will be represented on the newly formed ACPO Noise Working Group, which will look into the implications of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations (2005) on the policing function. It is envisaged the MPS will be able to share its good working practices nationally. This work includes:

• Otoacoustic emission testing (hearing test) which gives a unique insight into the function of the inner ear. The response is automatic, and the size of the response reflects on the number of healthy and functioning outer hair cells within the cochlea. The health and viability of these cells deteriorates significantly with noise exposure, hence the Health and Safety Executive’s interest in introducing it into health surveillance. The MPS has now performed over 3,500 otoacoustic emission tests within the MPS, and have almost completed initial studies on all authorised firearms officers (AFOs).
• The results from the SHRMT extensive noise monitoring work currently.
• Experience of otoacoustic work carried out in conjunction with the Notting Hill Carnival.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Contacts

7. The MPS has had no Improvement or Prohibition Notices served.

8. The MPS has been advised that it is to be prosecuted in respect of alleged breaches of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 relating to the Hendon pool incident and Stockwell shooting on 22 July 2005.

9. The HSE have approached the SHRMT regarding:

• A complaint that a number of chest infections were the result of the air conditioning system at 10 Dean Farrar Street. This is under review by the Property Services H&S team.
• A report made by a member of the public that communal bin/waste room, on what appears to be an MPS premises has defective door, which could cause injury. This is under review by the Property Services H&S team.
• The HSE plan to visit the MPS to discuss the corporate approach to stress management.

MPS/MPA Health and Safety Policy

10. A small working group under the auspices of the strategic Health and Safety Committee is reviewing the Health and Safety policy.

Blood borne diseases

11. The SHRMT and Occupational Health are currently reviewing the management of the hazards associated with blood borne diseases such as hepatitis B. This will be shared with ACPO and the Home Office Health and Safety Committee.

C. Race and equality impact

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

D. Financial implications

There may be unquantified legal costs arising from the prosecutions referred to in paragraph 8. The Committee will be informed of these when more financial information is available.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Nick Kettle, Acting Head of Safety and Health Risk Management, MPS.

For information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback