Update on MPS health and safety performance

Report: 12
Date: 12 June 2008
By: the Director of Human Resources on behalf of The Commissioner

Summary

A summary analysis of MetAIR (Metropolitan Police Accident and Incident Reporting System) accident data comparing two reference periods April 2006 - March 2007 and April 2007 - March 2008 (as at 14 May 2008), and comments on other aspects of Health and Safety.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Summary of Injuries Reported on MetAIR (Metropolitan Police Accident and Incident Reporting System)

1. A summary of the injuries reported on MetAIR between April 2006 - March 2007 and April 2007 - March 2008 (as at 14th May 2008), is shown at Appendix 1. In summary comparing the annual rolling averages of these two reference periods indicates:

• Total accident rate fell by 6.3%;
• Major accident rate increased by 3.7%;
• Over three day accident rate fell by 17.8%;
• Slip, trip and fall accident rate increased by 5%;
• Moving vehicle accident rate fell by 2.5%;
• Injuries to police officers following assault rate fell by 6.6%;
• Injuries to Police Community Support Officers’ (PCSOs) following assault rate increased by 48%.

2. March 2008 saw a reduction in the numbers of reports on the MetAIR system (553) compared to January 2008 (628) (correct at time of publication). This shows a continued, sustained reduction in accident reports in the last four months. When compared to the same period in 2006/07 the figures show a significant drop in the number of reported injuries (698). The annual rolling average for 2007/08 is in decline, and is at a lower rate than for the year 2006/07.

Table 1: MetAIR reports Jan 08 - Mar 08

Major and over three day injuries

3. A summary of the major injuries reported on MetAIR between April 2006 - March 2007 and April 2007 - March 2008 (as at 14th May 2008),) is shown at Appendix 2.

4. There was a significant increase in the number of major accidents recorded on MetAIR from eight in January 2008 to 16 in March 2008, as demonstrated in the table below. Despite this increase, the annual rolling average is still in decline.

Table 2: Major accidents recorded on MetAIR  January 2008 - March 2008

5. Of the 36 Major accidents recorded on MetAIR between Jan 2008 and Mar 2008:

• 32% slipped tripped or fell (inc from height);
• 27% were physically assaulted;
• 17% were classified as ‘another kind of accident’;
• 12% were as a result of hitting something fixed/stationary;
• 3% were as a result of contact with an electrical discharge;
• 3% were as a result of being exposed to an explosion;
• 3% were as a result of being exposed to, or in contact with, a harmful substance;
• 3% were injured while handling, lifting or carrying;
• of the 36 major accidents two were associated with training activities;
• 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 – 48%
  • fractured ankle or feet – 22%
  • fractured chest (ribs) – 11%
  • others accounted for a variety of injuries

6. A summary of the over three day injuries reported on MetAIR between April 2006 - March 2007 and April 2007 - March 2008 (as at 14th May 2008), is shown at Appendix 3.

7. There was a decrease in the number of reported over three day injuries from 102 in January 2008 to 67 in March 2008, as demonstrated in the table below, and the annual rolling average for the year is also still decreasing.

 Table 3: Reported over three day injuries  January 2008 - March 2008

• Of the 244 over 3 day injuries recorded:
  • 29% were as a result of what is classed as “another kind of accident”
  • 19% were from being physically assaulted
  • 19% were as a result of being hit by a moving vehicle
  • 16% were as a result of slips, trips and falls
  • 14% had a wide range of causations with no obvious trends

Physical Assaults on police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs)

8. A summary of the injuries following assault reported on MetAIR between April 2006 - March 2007 and April 2007 - March 2008 (as at 14th May 2008) is shown at Appendices 4 and 5.

9. There were 588 injury following assaults were recorded on MetAIR between January 2008 and March 2008, of which:

• 548 were to police officers;
• 40 were to PCSOs.

A monthly breakdown is shown in the tables below:

Table 4: Police officer assaults January 2008 - March 2008

Table 5: PCSO assaults January 2008 - March 2008

10. Overall, injury following assaults against police officers has increased slightly following last month’s low, from 169 reported injuries in February 2008 to 187 in March 2008. The annual rolling average for police officer assaults in still in decline.

11. The number of PCSOs who reported injuries as a result of being assaulted had increased significantly in February but fallen back slightly in March up from 8 (Jan 08) to 18 in February and back to 14. This figure is higher than the figure for the same period in 2006/07. The upward trend in assaults on PCSOs continues to cause concern. The Senior Safety Advisor for TP liaises with PCSO Programme Board to monitor this trend. In addition Safety & Health Risk Management (SHRMT) are sponsoring a research project looking at the reasons why police officers and PCSOs are assaulted with a view to finding out if there are any methods whereby the incidences of assault can be reduced.

12. The MetAir data is supplied to the Officer Safety Training (OST) Unit, within Central Operations, who are informed of officer injury assault rates on a quarterly basis. Following recent work with the OST Unit:

• it has been agreed that this data will now be supplied on a monthly basis;
• SHRMT are working with the OST unit to further improve:
  • how the format of the MetAir statistics provided to them can be enhanced to facilitate their trend analysis
  • OST Unit analysis of MetAir and other assault data
  • OST review of any trends in the type, location and nature of assault

This OST Unit work informs which areas of the OST syllabus are emphasised in subsequent rounds of training delivery, and whether their syllabus requires amending or updating.

Slips, trips and falls (including falls from height)

13. A summary of the injuries following slip, trip and falls reported on MetAIR between April 2006 - March 2007 and April 2007 - March 2008 (as at 14th May 2008), is shown at Appendix 6.

14. There were 252 injuries as a result of slips, trips and falls between January 2008 and March 2008. This number is significantly lower (305) than the same period in 2006/07, as shown in the table below, and as a result the annual rolling average is decreasing slightly. It will be noted from the summary graph that the trends for the two years show striking similarities.

Table 6: Slips, trips and falls Jan 08 – Mar 08

Hit by a moving vehicle (including injury from road traffic accidents (RTAs)

15. A summary of the injuries following staff being hit by moving vehicles (including RTAs) reported on MetAIR between April 2006 - March 2007 and April 2007 - March 2008 (as at 14th May 2008), is shown at Appendix 7.

6. There was an increase of 3 incidences of injury following being hit by a moving vehicle from 47 in January 2008 to 50 in March 2008 compared to a fall (72 to 63) in injuries in the same period in 2006/07, as shown in the table below. However there was a peak in February 2008 to 60 incidents.

 Table 7: Hit by moving vehicle  Jan 08 – Mar 08

17. The figures show a decreasing trend over the year 2007/08 and, in comparison with last years figures of the same period, demonstrate a significant reduction in the number of moving vehicle injuries to below the annual rolling average.

18. Asbestos contamination at Whipps Cross Hospital
The SHRMT was notified of an incident at Whipps Cross Hospital where five officers and a suspect were potentially contaminated with asbestos fibres after the suspect absconded through ceiling tiles into a roof void. Both SHRMT and Whipps Cross Hospital have been conducting an investigation into the incident. A sample of debris taken from the ceiling void has been confirmed as amosite (brown asbestos). Air sampling in the area reports measured fibre levels as significantly below the 0.1 fibre per cubic cm control limit, however, this was undertaken following an environmental clean of the area. Following consultation with the Health Protection Agency it has been assessed that the risk to staff following this incident is extremely low and reassurance has been provided.

Contact with Health and Safety Executive

19. An issue was raised by the Principal Health and Safety Executive Inspector about a cluster of incidences of ill-health at Newlands Park. Further investigation has shown that this related to four cases of pleurisy affecting staff that have worked in the video laboratory at Newlands Park. Property Services have been carrying out an investigation into the ventilation system in the video laboratory. Laboratory and monitoring results indicate that there are no obvious concerns with the ventilation system, however, as a precautionary measure the system will be subject to a biocide clean. All officers have been referred to OH for further action investigation.

MPA assurance process

20. At the March 2008 Corporate Governance Committee the MPA accepted a proposal for a staged implementation of the assurance process, starting with one operational and one non-operational business group this financial year. Results following consultation with the Strategic Health and Safety Committee are currently being collated. Early draft implementation timelines are as follows:

• May 2008 - collate results of consultation with MPS Strategic H&S committee;
• June - July 2008 - Finalise the assurance documents and brief the MPS Strategic Health and Safety Committee and Management Board on the output/finalised plan;
• July-December – SHRMT support nominated business groups (including their (B)OCUs and departments) to prepare for the assurance process. This will include embedding in the assurance framework into the existing safety management process;
• January – April 2009 - SHRMT dip sample audit various (B)OCUs and departments to verify assurance;
• June 2009 - The Commissioner produce an assurance letter to the chair of the MPS Corporate Governance Committee for June 2009 meeting.

21. It is stressed that this assurance process will be resource intensive for the SHRMT and normal annual safety auditing has now been suspended to support the rollout. Urgent operational work will continue to take primacy and in the event of a protracted major incident the implementation of this process may be delayed.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

22. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which came into force on 6 April 2008, introduces a new statutory offence of corporate manslaughter (corporate homicide in Scotland) where serious failures in the management of health and safety by the senior managers of an organisation result in a fatality. The Act will apply to companies, Crown bodies such as Government departments and some non-corporate entities including police forces.

23. Throughout 2007 work has been undertaken by the Serious Crime Directorate (SCD), SHRMT, Property Services, Directorate of Legal Services (DLS) Central Operations 15 (Traffic), The Crime Academy, The Leadership Academy, Territorial Policing and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) with the support of the Superintendents’ Association, Police Federation and trades unions to prepare for the implementation of the Act.

24. Their work, as a Corporate Manslaughter Working Group chaired by Commander Osborne (Department of Professional Standards) enabled the implications of the Act for the MPS to be identified and a joint approach taken, to put in place protocols and training to prepare the service for the Act’s introduction.

25. The Act does not introduce new regulatory standards in respect of health and safety. It is designed to secure in a wider range of cases and conviction for a specific, serious criminal offence, which properly reflects the gravity, and consequences of the conduct involved. Whilst the Act applies to the police, it contains broad exemptions in respect of policing activities and (until the duty owed to those in custody comes into effect) operates to exclude circumstances where the pursuit of such activities has resulted in a fatality to a member of the public.

26. DLS has advised as to the impact of the Act upon the police service; training has been provided for TP Crime Managers as to the implications of the Act for police in their role as investigators and there has been DLS and SHRMT input into the Detective Awareness Seminars for Detective Constables and Sergeants. A DLS representative has also attended training delivered by the CPS to its own lawyers who will be responsible for advising in relation to this legislation.

27. The implications of the Act have been discussed and agreed nationally within written protocols with the CPS, Health and Safety Executive, British Transport Police (BTP) Office of Rail Regulators and Rail Accident Investigations Branch. SCD in conjunction with CO15 and Territorial Policing have revised the relevant investigation protocol in the London Homicide manual on work related death to cover the action and primacy of each department.

28. The Crime Academy has been updated throughout the passage of the bill and has prepared an input to all future CID courses. The current rolling program of Detective Constable's awareness seminars contains a lecture on Corporate Manslaughter, with awareness of health and safety, in addition to investigation responsibilities. The SIO's quarterly lecture will contain a short presentation on the Act and protocols to capture any remaining officers.

29. It is expected that SCD, with support from CO15 where a fatal traffic collision occurs, will conduct the majority of the MPS corporate manslaughter investigations.

30. Property Services (PS) have reviewed their safety management system and confirm that adequate and suitable arrangements are in place to comply with this legislation. They undertake to ensure that the condition of buildings, premises and other worksites occupied by MPS/MPA comply with statutory requirements. This duty will also be applicable to products or services supplied to property services customers. Robust monitoring and audit procedures have been developed to ensure ongoing compliance.

31. The Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA) has advised on the strategy for communicating the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act to the MPS and assisted SHRMT with the production of a Question & Answer (Q&A) leaflet. This leaflet is now distributed via relevant safety, crime and leadership courses. In April, an article was posted on the intranet highlighting how the Act would affect the MPS both in terms of health and safety at work and our investigation of deaths in the work place.

32 A number of the members of the MPS working group within their professional discipline (safety, legal and investigative) have contributed to the national police debate and development of protocols/advice on the many facets of this Act and its application. The Q&A leaflet was released to other police forces via the National Association of Police Health and Safety Advisors (APHSA).

Biggin Hill Air Crash

33. SHRMT deployed, with the support of a risk assessor from CO18, to the recent light aircraft crash in Farnborough, Kent. The deployed team supported scene hazard profiling, in conjunction with the Air Accident Investigation Branch, and production of activity risk assessment.

34. Occupational Health (OH) Stress Awareness Package

OH has developed a new stress awareness package (‘Shrinking Clouds’) that is scheduled for rollout in early July 2008.

Other SHRMT Activity

35. Other key activities during this reporting period include:

• supporting CO11 and Notting Hill Carnival (NHC) Gold in preparation for NHC 2008;
• supporting the MPS July Review Group (JRG) operational safety assurance review;
• contributing as expert advisors, with Occupational Health, at the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)/emergency planning exercise on 29 Apr 08 at the Home Office Emergency Planning College;
• contributing as expert advisors and observers at a recent multiple agency exercise;
• supporting the ASPHA and ACPO sponsored Health and Safety Training Working Group;
• APHSA Risk Assessment Training and Audit Groups;
• provision of two one day dynamic risk assessment workshops for other UK police forces and law enforcement agencies on the training delivery of the MPS dynamic risk assessment training package;
• in addition the First Aid Training Team have:
  • recently completed a number of workshops to support the roll out of the custody training package to be delivered on (B)OCUs;
  • issued new guidance on the use of custody ligature knifes.

Abbreviations and acronyms:

ACPO

Association of Chief Police officers

APHSA

National Association of Police Health and Safety Advisors

DLS

Department of Legal Services

DPA

Directorate of Public Affairs

DVI

Disaster Victim Identification

JRG

MPS July Review Group

MetAIR

Metropolitan Police Accident and Incident Reporting System (The MetAIR system provides a means for reporting and collecting MPS accident data including that required to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.)

OST

Officer Safety Training Unit

PS

Property Services

RTA

Road Traffic Accident

SCD

Serious Crimes Directorate

SIO

Senior investigating officer

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.

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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