Health and Safety Operation Bracknell

Report: 8
Date: 11 July 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report details the work conducted by the Health and Safety Branch in relation to Operation Bracknell.

A. Recommendation

That members note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The Branch supported this operation by deploying L Backwell, Head of Health and Safety, and J Kettle Team Leader over the period 14 – 21 January 2005. The visit Terms of Reference were as follows:

• Provide practical and pragmatic advice to the senior operational commander to help support mission critical hazardous activities to ensure tasks are conducted as safely as possible in this difficult environment.
• Advise on all living/working environmental health hazards including chemical, physical, biological and ergonomic hazards.
• Provide assurance to Gold on all health, safety and environmental health matters.

2. A copy of the visit report is attached in Appendix 1.

3. The Branch also produced hazard assessments for Sri Lanka and Thailand, generic deployment risk assessments, task specific risk assessments and aide memoirs. These have been distributed both within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and to other forces via Association of Chief Police Officers, Police National Information Co-ordination Centre (ACPO-PNICC). A briefing was provided to Gold on the 24 January 2005.

4. The Branch has remained on standby for possible further deployment.

List of abbreviations

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers

PNICC

Police National Information Co-Ordination Center

OH

Occupational Health

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, MPS.

For information contact:

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

Appendix 1

Health and Safety Branch Operation Bracknell visit report

Silver Commander Operation Bracknell

Copy to: Director of People Development
Director of Corporate Risk Management
Senior Occupational Health Physician

Operation Bracknell

Health and safety

1. The MPS and other UK Police Forces currently have personnel deployed on a wide range of duties in support of Operation BRACKNELL. The current situation in a number of countries in South East Asia which have been affected by the tsunami on 26 December 2004 is presenting a number of health related hazards which may impact on the UK Police mission and present health and specific task related hazards to deployed staff.

2. MPS Health and Safety Branch offered support to this operation and deployed L Backwell, Head of Health and Safety, and J Kettle Team Leader over the period 14 – 21 January 2005. The visit Terms Of Reference was to:

1. Provide practical and pragmatic advice to the senior operational commander to help support mission critical hazardous activities to ensure tasks are conducted as safely as possible in this difficult environment.
2. Advise on all living/working environmental health hazards including chemical, physical, biological and ergonomic hazards.
3. Provide assurance to Gold on all health, safety and environmental health matters.

3. Prior to deployment the Branch produced country hazard assessments for Sri Lanka and Thailand. Generic deployment risk assessments were also produced and distributed both within the MPS and to other forces via PNICC.

Sri Lanka 15-17 January 2005

4. The operation in Sri Lanka was at an early stage of development. Whilst a number of cadavers, approximately 30, had been processed through the Mortuary in Colombo the emphasis of the developing operation was moving towards identification/marking of burial locations of non Sri Lankan bodies by a mixture of detective work and intelligence gathering, application for court orders, exhumation and body recovery to the Colombo mortuary for processing.

5. A safety analysis of current and proposed tasks was undertaken. Generic, task specific risk assessments and a guide for staying healthy during the deployment were produced and distributed.

6. Analysis of these assessments indicates that the principle immediate hazards that may impact operational delivery include:

• Road Traffic Accidents. Driving conditions in Sri Lanka are extremely hazardous both in terms of driving environment and poor driving behaviours.
• Enteric diseases.
• Heat illness.
• Accident to staff whilst deployed on grave search operations moving across potentially hazardous ground.
• A lack of available/suitable Casualty Evacuation(CASEVAC) in the event of injury or accident when deployed outside of Colombo.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may become an increased risk once exhumations start.

7. Where practical advice on appropriate control measures have been given, however, the potential lack of available/suitable CASEVAC to the investigation teams remains a concern. This risk can be reduced if enhanced contingency plans for CASEVAC are put in place as soon as possible.

8. A country hazard assessment briefing was presented to newly deployed staff during the visit.

Thailand 18-21 January 2005

9. The operation in Thailand is larger and more advanced than that of Sri Lanka. Cadaver processing at the temporary mortuary site is nearing completion and there is a proposal to open a second site at Phuket airport.

10. A safety analysis of current and proposed tasks was undertaken. Generic (including mortuary activity) risk assessments and a guide for staying healthy during the deployment were produced and distributed.

11. Analysis of these assessments indicates that the principle immediate hazards that may impact on the operational delivery:

• An accident during travel (road or helicopter).
• Enteric diseases.
• Heat illness.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

12. During the visit to the mortuary site it was clear that UK and Australian contingents were leading infection control standards. In view of the continuing risk from hepatitis B from contact with cadavers and contaminated body bags the UK staff should be complimented on their stringent infection control site practices. The Thai lead health and safety official consulted and sought advice during the visit on site health and safety practice.

13. Helicopter. In the event of continued use of the helicopter, Gold PNICC should approach the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to seek assurance that the helicopter maintenance regime satisfies Civil Aircraft Aviation Standards.

14. Medical Issues. The mortuary site support by Occupational Health (OH) staff has been well received and provided assurance to deployed staff working in a difficult environment. The provision of suitable lightweight medical boxes, enhancement to the medical equipment stock and a portable refrigerator would further support this service. The current OH practitioner has drawn up a list of supplementary items. This equipment could be retained and reutilised on any future deployments.

Other deployment issues

15. The following additional issues should be raised with PNICC in relation to standardisation at the pre-deployment stage.

• Personnel from different forces arrived in Sri Lanka having received different advice from their respective General Practitioner or travel clinics in respect to both type of vaccinations administered and anti-malarial prophylaxis.
• Personnel arrived with different Personal Protective Equipment for specific tasks. A guide on the level and specification of Personal Protective Equipment would be beneficial to prevent possible confusion and reduce managerial effort in country.

Conclusions

16. This deployment gave an opportunity for the Branch to provide practical and pragmatic advice to the senior operational commanders to help support mission critical hazardous activities to ensure tasks are conducted as safely as possible in this difficult environment.

17. The Branch will continue to support this operation and welcome the opportunity to engage in any future operational review.

L BACKWELL
Head of Health and Safety

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