Update on MPS health and safety performance

Report: 13
Date: 7 December 2007
By: the Director of Human Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

A summary analysis of MetAir accident data comparing two reference periods November 2005 – October 2006 against November 2006 – October 2007 is as follows:· Total accident rate fell by 5%;· Major accident rate increased by 40%;· Over three day accident rate fell by 11%;· Slip, trip and fall accident rate increased by under 1%;· Moving vehicle accident rate fell by 4%;· Injuries to police officers following assault rate fell by 9%.

A. Recommendation

That the contents of this report be noted.

B. Supporting information

Summary Analysis of Injuries Reported on MetAIR

1. Summary analysis of the injuries reported on MetAIR between November 2005 and October 2007 has been made, comparing two reference periods, namely November 2005 – October 2006 and November 2006 – October 2007.

Total Accidents reported

2. The total accident rate per thousand staff fell by 5% over the two-year period - figure 1. This can be accounted for by a decrease in the number of police officer assaults and injuries caused by moving vehicles. Although it will be noted that the major injury rate has increased significantly, the number of people reporting being injured has fallen, and the number of Over Three Day injuries has shown a similar decrease. The overall downward trend is a positive indication of accident reduction measures and increased awareness of the H&S management system becoming more effective. However further analysis has shown that a large proportion of the increase in major injuries is accounted for by increased severity of injuries resulting from police officer assaults, although the number of actual assaults has decreased. This will be of particular concern to the Officer Safety Training unit, and SHRMT will be liaising closely with them to ensure that the relevant information is available to inform any future training development they may wish to look at as a result.

Figure 1: Total accidents per 1000 employees (see Appendix 2)

Major Accidents (as defined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995)

3. The rate of major accidents per thousand staff rose by 40% over the two-year reporting period – figure 2. This represents an increase of 55 major accidents from 131 to 186. Although this number of major accidents is small relative to total staff numbers and a total reported number of just under 9000 reported accidents per year, it is still a trend that causes concern. The increase in this category of accident was also noted in analysis of assault and slip/trip/fall data. The graph below shows that although the rate has decreased sharply from September’s peak, the linear trend remains higher in 06/07 than it was in 05/06, although it is showing a downward trend generally. It will be noted that, with a small degree of variation, the monthly rates are very similar in the pattern of peaks and troughs. Without an analysis tool that allows injury causation to be analysed it isn’t possible to be definitive about the circumstances surrounding the injuries, but, with reference to the other graphs, it coincides with peaks in the winter months of slips, trips and falls and being injured by moving vehicles, and peaks in the summer months relating to increased outdoor drinking activity, with an adjustment for the shift in seasonal weather experienced this year.

Figure 2: Major accidents per 1000 employees (see Appendix 2)

Analysis of Major Accident period August-October 2007

4. Further analysis of the 44 major accidents over the period August – October 2007 indicates:

• Unusually high incident of major accidents in August and September. Analysis indicates no single causal factor led to this increase. It can be seen from the graphs that the rates of slips, trips and falls, being hit by a vehicle, and assaults all generally decreased during this period, so it can be assumed that although fewer accidents were reported, the severity of the resulting injury was worse. The rate of majors fell significantly in October (table 1). This coincides with a rise in the number of slips, trips and falls, a small rise in the rate of assaults and also the number of injuries relating to being hit by a vehicle. Therefore it must be assumed that in each of these categories for October, the increase must have been in the rate of minor and Over Three Day injuries

Table 1: Major Accidents Aug-Oct 2007

• The main causal factors of injury for major accidents over this three month period are as follows:
  • Slip/Trip/fell or fall from height - 27%
  • Physical Assault – 22%
  • Injury during training – 20% (analysis is not possible on the type of training which is the causal factor here)
• The main types of injury sustained as a result of a major injury over this three month period are as follows:
  • Fracture wrist or hand – 31%
  • Fractured arm – 18%
  • Fractured ankle – 18%
  • These are consistent with injuries relating to defence from assault (hand, wrist, arm – also could apply to officer safety training) and from slips, trips and falls (wrist, ankle)

Over three day injuries

5. The rate of over-three day accidents per thousand staff has decreased by over 11% over the reporting period, representing a decrease of 127 injuries – figure 3. It will be noted that there is now a significant divergence between the rates for 05/06 and 06/07. The decrease in the rate of Over Three Day injuries has been countered by the increase in the rate of Major Injuries, as detailed above, but the ongoing downward trend of Over Three Days injuries, when seen from a time-loss accident perspective, is positive.

Figure 3: Over 3 day accidents per 1000 employees (see Appendix 2)

Slips Trips and Falls

6. Slip, trips and falls have now seen a slight rise of just under 1% per thousand staff over the two year reporting period – figure 4. This is a reflection of an uncharacteristic rise in the number of slip, trip or fall injuries over the summer period with no obvious causal factor except for the unusual seasonal weather seen over the summer months. The Safety and Health Risk Management Team (SHRMT) have just completed an 18 month high profile slips, trips and falls education campaign (this may also have influenced reporting).

Figure 4: Slipped, tripped or fell on the same level or from height per 1000 employees (see Appendix 2)

7. A further breakdown of these injuries by accident classification (figure 5) indicates the following:

• Major slip/trip/falls accidents increased by 15%
• Over 3 day slip/trip/falls accidents fell by 1%
• Non-reportable slip/trip/falls accidents increased by 1%.

Figure 5: Totals for slips, trips and falls by severity (see Appendix 2)

Hit by a moving vehicle

8. The rate per thousand accidents from moving vehicles fell by 4% over the two-year period - figure 6.

Figure 6: Hit by moving vehicle per 100 employees (see Appendix 2)

Physical assaults on police officers resulting in injury

9. The rate of physical assaults per thousand officers resulting in injury has decreased over the two-year reporting period by 9% - figure 7. This is a continuing downward trend. A further breakdown of these injuries by accident classification (figure 8) indicates the following:

• Major accidents increased by 36%
• Over 3 day accidents fell by 3%
• Non-reportable accidents fell by 6%.
• Actual number of assaults fell by 216;
• There appears to be little change in the number of assaults by gender over the two year period (note this is a total figure and is not expressed as a rate) – figure 9;
• It would appear that fewer officers are suffering injury following assault over the two year period, however, where injury occurs there appears an increase in severity of injury sustained;
• As detailed previously, these results and assault injury data are communicated to the Officer Safety Training (OST) Unit at Hendon so they are able to review and improve their training as appropriate. The disproportionate increase in major injuries will be highlighted to the OST unit for further analysis as required.

Figure 7: Physical assaults on police officers per 1000 employees resulting in injury (see Appendix 2)

Figure 8: Police Officer assaults per 1000 employees by accident category resulting in injury (see Appendix 2)

Figure 9: Assaults on Police Officers resulting in injury by gender (see Appendix 2)

Physical assaults on PCSOs

10. The assault rate against PCSOs is currently the subject of further statistical analysis and will be reported separately.

ACPO and Home Office Police Health & Safety Benchmarking Standards

11. A summary report of MPS progress towards the implementation of the ACPO and Home Office Police Health & Safety Benchmarking Standards is attached at Appendix 1. This report is made against the benchmarking standards checks list.

Contact with the HSE

12. The following are the current ongoing contacts with the HSE

• A CO6 officer was injured on 1 September when the weapon he was carrying discharged accidentally, causing a bullet to penetrate his leg. He was taken to hospital where he was treated. The accident was reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE Inspector, Dr Steve Kirton, has made contact with SHRMT requesting details of the internal investigation. The SHRMT are liaising with DPS and CO6; and will co-ordinate a visit by the HSE. The investigation continues.
• The HSE contacted the SHRMT regarding dangerous work practices by a glazing contractor at an MPS premises. The Property Services H&S Team has been leading this investigation. Disciplinary procedures are being taken by the glazing company against two employees and they have been suspended from working. The MPS operates formal control of contractor procedures that include detailed safety rules for contractors/sub-contractors and a disciplinary process. A report has been forwarded to the HSE.
• The HSE are liaising with the specialist firearms unit CO19 regarding an incident at another police force.

Stockwell Prosecution

13. This has been reported separately elsewhere.

MPA/MPS Revised Corporate Health and Safety Policy

14. The new MPA/MPS Corporate H&S policy has completed its consultation process. This new MPA/MPS policy has been approved by the MPS Strategic Health & Safety Committee, MPA Corporate Governance Committee and the MPS Management Board. It is endorsed by the Policy Unit and has an endorsed equality impact assessment. This new policy will shortly be published. The new revised policy now provides:

• A more user friendly policy with an improved layout;
• The roles and specific tasks of those responsible have been specified in clearer language;
• Inclusion of new responsibilities e.g. MPA, MPA Corporate Governance Committee, Training Management Board and their relationships with other stakeholders.

MPA Assurance Process

15. Work is ongoing to develop. Following a meeting with Transport for London (TfL) a draft proposal for the implementation of the MPA H&S assurance oversight process has been developed. Work is ongoing, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive of the MPA, to refine the TfL model against the MPS structure, develop implementation options and examine the resources implications.

Abbreviations and acronyms:

SHRMT
     -Safety and Health Risk Management Team

C. Race and equality impact

There are no immediate implications on equality and diversity arising from this report. The team will monitor all health and safety matters, including MetAir statistics, to determine whether there is any disproportionate impact on any particular group, and, where there is, take appropriate action.

D. Financial implications

There are no immediate financial implications from this report. Although there are no direct financial implications the increasing burden of extracting and analysing data to answer specific accident data questions is placing a heavy workload on the MetAir system and analyst. This reinforces the need for greater investment in the MetAir system. There is currently a proposal to replace the existing accident reporting system with a redesigned replacement system linked to MetHR through the Transforming HR project.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

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

For information contact:

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

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