Health and Safety Performance Report

Report: 13
Date: 2 December 2010
By: Director of Human Resources and Director of Resources on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an overview of Health and Safety performance.

A. Recommendation

That members note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

General health and safety performance update

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

1. A comparison of injuries reported on the Metropolitan Police Accident and Incident Reporting System (MetAIR) between October 2008 - September 2009 and October 2009 - September 2010 is shown at Appendix 1. In summary comparing these two reference periods indicates that the:

• total accident rate fell by 13.4%;
• major accident rate rose by 12%;
• over three day accident rate fell by 20.7%;
• injuries to police officers following assault rate fell by 9%;
• injuries to PCSOs following assault rate fell by 0.4%;
• slip, trip and fall accident rate rose by 0.6%;
• moving vehicle accident rate fell by 18.9%.

2. Further analysis of the rise in major accidents over this two year reference period indicates:

• the spread of accident causation is similar over the two reporting periods;
• the trend line for October 2009-September 2010 shows a fairly consistent rate when compared to the reference period October 2008-September 2009 which had greater fluctuations in monthly rate;
• this category of accidents will be closely monitored and subject to further analysis.

3. The total number of injuries reported on MetAIR shows a falling trend. The last two months have seen the following total number of injuries recorded on MetAIR - August 582 and September 568. These figures are slightly lower than for the corresponding two months of 2009 (August 565 and September 603). No accidents to members of the public were reported in this two month period.

Major and over three day injuries

4. A summary of major injuries reported on MetAIR between October 2008 - September 2009 and October 2009 - September 2010 is shown at Appendix 2.

5. The period August to September 2010 shows a rise when compared to the corresponding period August to September 2009 (18 major accidents in 2009 compared to 32 major accidents in 2010). There is no obvious causal trend for this increase.

• Major accident total Aug 2010 – Sept 2010: 32
• August 2010: 17
• September 2010: 15

6. Of the 32 major accidents recorded on MetAIR between August and September 2010:

• 40% slipped tripped or fell (inc from height);
• 34% were physically assaulted;
• 13% were classified as ‘another kind of accident’;
• 13% hit something fixed or stationary;

7. Training accidents accounted for 12.5% of the major injuries during this two month period. In summary a breakdown of these accidents against training activity is as follows:

• 50% Officer Safety Training (OST) - see paragraph 27;
• 25% motorcycle training;
• 25% firearms training.

8. A summary of the over three day injuries reported on MetAIR between October 2008 - September 2009 and October 2009 - September 2010 is shown at Appendix 3.

9. There was an increase in the number of reported over three day injuries from 64 in August 2010 to 76 in September 2010, as demonstrated in the table below. The annual rolling average for the year is still in steady decline and the figures represent a decrease on the same period last year (August 2009 – 79 injuries; September 2009 - 80 injuries).

• Over 3 day accident total Aug 2010 – Sept 2010: 140
• August 2010: 64
• September 2010: 76
• Of the 140 over three day injuries recorded:
  • 33% were as a result of being hit by a moving vehicle;
  • 29% were as a result of what is classed as ‘another kind of accident’;
  • 16% from being physically assaulted.
  • 10% were as a result of slips, trips and falls.
• The remaining of 12% had a wide range of causations with no obvious trends.

Injury Following Physical Assaults on Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

10. A summary of the injuries following assault reported on MetAIR between October 2008 - September 2009 and October 2009 - September 2010 is shown at Appendices 4 and 5.

11. There were 344 injuries following assaults recorded on MetAIR between August 2010 and September 2010, of which:

• 308 were to police officers;
• 36 were to PCSOs.

A monthly breakdown for August to September 2010 is shown in the tables below:

• Injury to Police officers following assault total Aug 2010 to Sept 2010: 308
• August 2010: 161
• September 2010: 147
• Injury to PCSOs following assaults total Aug 2010 to Sept 2010: 36
• August 2010: 18
• September 2010: 18

12. The total number of injuries following assault on police officers for August to September 2010 (308) shows a fall of 51 injuries when compared to the same two-month period last year (359). The breakdown of the assaults on police officers for the reporting period August to September 2010 is as follows:

• 2.9% major injuries;
• 6.8% over 3 day injuries;
• 90.3% minor injuries.

13. The number of PCSOs who reported injuries as a result of being assaulted (36) is slightly more than the same period in 2009 (32). The breakdown of the assaults on PCSOs for the reporting period August to September 2010 is as follows:

• 5.6% major injuries;
• 5.6% over 3 days injuries;
• 88.8% minor injuries.

Slips, trips and falls (including falls from height)

14. A summary of the injuries following slip, trip and falls reported on MetAIR between October 2008 - September 2009 and October 2009 - September 2010, is shown at Appendix 6.

15. There were 148 injuries as a result of slips, trips and falls between August and September 2010. This number is lower than the same period in 2009 (158).

• Slips, trips and falls total Aug 2010 – Sept 2010: 148
• August 2010: 65
• September 2010: 83

16. Of the 148 slips, trips and falls:

• 8.7% were major injuries;
• 10.1% were over 3 day injuries;
• 81.2% were minor injuries.

Hit by a Moving Vehicle (including injury from Road Traffic Accidents)

17. A summary of the injuries following staff being hit by moving vehicles (including RTAs) reported on MetAIR between October 2008 - September 2009 and October 2009 - September 2010, is shown at Appendix 7.

18. There was a rise in the number of injuries following being hit by a moving vehicle from 47 in August 2010 to 51 in September 2010. In the same period in 2009 there was also an increase (44 to 46). The annual rolling average for this type of accident is in decline.

• Hit by moving vehicle total Aug 2010 - Sept 2010: 98
• August 2010: 47
• September 2010: 51

19. Of 98 injuries:

• 22 were as a result of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) whilst traveling to and from work;
• the remaining 76 injuries were as a result of RTAs during working hours.

Replacement of the MetAIR System under Transforming HR

20. The replacement MetAIR system under the THR project is integral to the THR IT solution. At the time of producing this report the THR launch date was scheduled for 09 November 2010. It is anticipated that the new MetAIR system will go live on this date.

Contact with the HSE

21. The Safety and Health Risk Management Team (SHRMT) are continuing to liaise with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the security arrangements at the Palace of Westminster.

Notting Hill Carnival

22. SHRMT has received the draft report that was prepared following a noise monitoring exercise at Notting Hill Carnival 2010. The report concludes that the overall average noise exposure has remained similar to that experienced at previous carnivals, and is being reviewed by the MPS Hearing Conservation Group.

Lord Young Review

23. The Prime Minister commissioned a report by Lord Young of Graffham to complete a Whitehall wide review of the operation of health and safety laws and the growth of the compensation culture. The review included police health and safety.

24. The Lord Young Review was published on 15 October 2010. The relevant section relating to the police service is attached at Appendix 8. In relation to the police and fire service the report recommends ‘Police officers and firefighters should not be at risk of investigation or prosecution under health and safety legislation when engaged in the course of their duties if they have put themselves at risk as a result of committing a heroic act. The HSE, Association of Chief Police Officers and Crown Prosecution Service should consider further guidance to put this into effect’.

25. It is the view of the ACPO lead on Health, Safety and Welfare, supported by the MPS, that this recommendation clearly impacts not only on decisions and actions taken by frontline police officers and staff but also those decisions taken by chief officers and senior managers, often in very challenging circumstances.

26. ACPO with MPS support will be working with relevant stakeholders to implement this recommendation.

Update Training Accident Study

27. The MPS Training Accident Study was commissioned in March 2009, and the report was presented to the MPA Corporate Governance Committee (CGC) in December 2009. The following is a summary update of activity undertaken:

• All training risk assessments are reviewed at least annually;
• Realism of officer safety training for all operational police officers and operational police staff has been linked into learning from the assault study;
• All OST and public order trainers have been briefed on the findings of the report during trainer development programmes;
• All OST trainers have received additional briefings/instruction on the use of strike pads and protection suits to minimize the risk of injury;
• Scenario based training has been included into all OST trainer updates;
• Courses have their own bespoke training package, which contains the structure of the course including the specific risk assessment, and any specific safety briefings for students and instructors;
• Instructors are regularly assessed in the workplace to ensure competence in training standards and compliance with safe systems of work;
• OST courses are designed to encompass all learning styles and abilities. In doing so the individual student will not feel pressured to attempt a new skill or be exposed to a potentially more hazardous environment until they are ready;
• Assessment of OST training equipment.
• Any safety related issues are discussed, evaluated and managed at formal debriefs following OST and public order training.

28. The following additional work is now ongoing. This work complements and supports the future training delivery under the developing training and professional development programme:

• It is anticipated that the proposed future arrangements to concentrate training delivery on five regional learning centres as opposed to the current 86 training units will have a significant impact on ensuring consistent training delivery against core delivery standards. It is anticipated that this will have a positive impact in relation to OST with a dedicated pool of specialist trainers;
• The training accident report and its recommendations have been endorsed by the Directorate of Leadership and Learning. Health and safety will be a core consideration in the implementation of all strands in the future programme.
• MPS is reviewing fitness standards to explore the potential for enhancing the general fitness levels of officers, given that fit people are generally less likely to sustain injuries;
• An externally facilitated workshop will take place during December 2010. At this workshop a group of relevant trainers and practitioners will review accident causations and validate the human factors accident matrix;
• It is planned that all the deficiencies and anomalies within the current accident reporting system raised in the report will be addressed when the new MetAir system is introduced as part of the THR project.

Update MPS Assault Study

29. A study on police officer and PCSO assaults was carried out by the MPS Strategic Research Unit. The draft report was submitted to the MPA in March 2009. The following is a summary update on activity undertaken:

• Realism of officer safety training for all operational police officers and operational police staff has been linked into learning from the training accident study; including the future procurement of protection suits;
• A review of PCSO OST training;
• A review of the role requirements, risk assessment and operational Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) by the PCSO project team. Including the development of:
  • Revised PCSO Deployment Policy and SOP;
  • A supervisors’ guide which is placed on the MPS intranet site as a reference document.
• In addition, the PCSO project team have also:
  • Developed a presentation for frontline Supervisors about the role of the PCSO to ensure appropriate deployment. This has already been delivered to 75% of MPS (Borough) Operational Command Units ((B)OCUs);
  • Developed a presentation about the role of the PCSO for public information which has been presented to the Chairs of all MPS Police Consultative Groups;
  • Developed a PCSO tutoring scheme where new PCSOs are assigned to a more experienced PCSO for 6 weeks as an introduction to the role;
  • Introduced a consultative forum with the trade union to address issues;
  • Acted as a single point of contact by phone or email to all members of the MPS to answer any PCSO related queries.
• Review of OST Spontaneous attack drills including re-emphasising ‘flinch’ response during training;
• Occupational Health (OH) and the OST unit have reviewed post-incident procedure (PIP) for assaults. This includes the use of OST single points of contact (SPOC) at (B)OCU level;
• Where appropriate assault cases are referred to OH for one-to-one counselling;
• Where appropriate assault cases are referred to OST SPOC to assess any relevant OST learning;
• Assault accident data is shared with the OST unit and used to validate and improve officer safety scenarios.

SHRMT Health and Safety Audit - Bromley OCU.

30. The Safety & Health Risk Management Team (SHRMT) audited Bromley Borough OCU, as part of the Complete Health & Safety Evaluation (CHASE) Audit programme in September 2010. The audit measures performance against 101 performance standard questions arranged to mirror the 5 elements of HSG (65): policy; organisation; arrangements; monitoring; audit and review. The audit team conducted extensive dip sampling of the local Health & Safety Management systems to ensure compliance with the Commissioner’s Health & Safety Policy. A wide range of line managers, supervisors and non supervisory staff (including both Federation and Staff Association safety representatives) were also interviewed to gauge the effectiveness of the safety management systems implemented by the Bromley SMT.

31. Bromley achieved nearly full compliance against the corporate health & safety standards with an overall audit score of 98%, the highest achieved within the MPS since SHRMT started the audits in 2005. Prior to the Bromley audit average scores were as follows:

• FY 2006/07 - 55%;
• FY 2007/08 - 59%;
• FY 2009/10 - 81%.

Suicide Awareness and Prevention

32. In September OH launched a ‘one-click system’ to equip managers and staff with basic skills to recognise the symptoms that may indicate potential suicide and assist in the development of intervention strategies.

Occupational Health Screening Programme - ‘A Healthier Met’

33. To date approximately 4500 staff has been screened by OH as part of the healthier Met initiative. Feedback from participants indicate that 95% agreed that their screening experience was worthwhile. As part of the programme, ‘Fit Club’ members have lost almost one tonne in weight between them, which puts the programme on track to reach the 3600kg MPS weight loss target. The campaign will continue to run across the whole of the MPS until June 2011.

PROPERTY SERVICES HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE UPDATE

Summary Of Building Related Accidents And Incidents Reported To Property Services

34. Between June 2010 and August 2010 there were 2 reportable accidents (major and over three day accidents) and 44 minor property related accidents involving MPA/MPS staff reported on MetAir.

35. Between June 2010 and August 2010 there were 11 reportable accidents and 11 minor reported accidents involving employees of Property Services contractors. In the same period Property Services contractors reported 49 near miss incidents. The increase in the number of Near Miss / Hazardous Situations reported is due to the contractors Changing Attitudes Towards Safety (CATS) reporting system which encourages employees to report any unsafe acts which could have resulted in accidents if the situation had been left uncontrolled. The data is analysed for trends and to determine where further health and safety training / procedures are required.

36. No property accidents or incidents involving members of the public have been reported during this period.

Pan Met Procurement Procedures - Health & Safety Compliance

37. The Property Services Head of Compliance is chairing a working group which is reviewing health and safety compliance in respect of the MPS procurement processes and procedures. It has been recommended that the current business case template and form 1049 procurement document be amended to include input by the Property Services Compliance Team and SHRMT.

Pan Met –Working At Heights (Non Operational)

38. The Property Services Head of Compliance is chairing a Working at Heights Working Group (for non operational activity). The working group is reviewing a range of issues to minimize the risk of working at height.

Compliance Audits - MPA/ MPS Estate

39. The Property Services Head of Compliance continues to develop an audit process to enable the confirmation of statutory compliance within each of the MPA/MPS buildings. This item is an action highlighted by the Directorate of Resources (DoR) Health & Safety Statement of Assurance. A series of meetings have been arranged to further discuss and conclude this item with SHRMT and Facilities Management (FM).

Senior Designated Officer (SDO) and Nominated Officer (NO) Training Process

40. The Property Services Compliance team (PSCT) arranged a pilot SDO workshop training course on the 22nd July 2010, attended by the Federation, trades unions, current SDO’s and health and safety professionals. A considerable amount of feedback was received and the SDO procedures and course content have been amended and will be submitted for final approval to the MPS Strategic Health and Safety Committee in December 2010.

Guidance for those in charge of MPS buildings when a normal Fire Service is not available due to strike action

41. The PSCT has prepared and issued a Pan Met fire safety information guidance document to raise the awareness for Fire Responsible Persons, SDOs, NOs, Building Managers, (B)OCU Commanders and others with the responsibility for people in MPS buildings.

Notifications to HSE and Enforcing Authorities

42. No notifications have been made with HSE or enforcing authorities during the previous three months.

C. Other organisational and community implications

Equality and Diversity Impact

1. 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.

Consideration of MET Forward

2. Although this report has no direct implications for the delivery of Met Forward, ensuring the health and safety of all our staff will impact on our ability to deliver an effective policing service to Londoners. The report outlines the MPS’s health and safety performance and outlines steps to continue to reduce accidents. The process of review will drive service improvement saving resources.

Financial Implications

3. There will be a cost implication for the provision of the approved mandatory training for SDOs and NOs. The exact costs are currently being confirmed by the PSCT.

4. The costs associated with the activities in this report are covered by existing budgets within PSD and across the MPS.

Legal Implications

5. The information in this report assists the MPA in the performance of its duties under Health and Safety legislation and of its strategic oversight role as set out in the joint MPA/MPS Corporate Health and Safety Policy.

Environmental Implications

6. There are no immediate environmental implications from this report.

Risk Implications

7. At the time of reporting there are no immediate significant health and safety implications arising from this update report.

D. Background papers

• Appendix 1-7 - MetAIR accident data
• Appendix 8 - Abstract of the Lord Young Review Pages 35 and 36

E. Contact details

Report author: Nick Kettle, Head of Safety and Health Risk Management Team and Peter Brown, Assistant Director – Head of Compliance, Property Services

For information contact:

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

Abbreviations, acronyms and definitions:

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)

HSE

Health and Safety Executive

SHRMT

Safety and Health Risk Management Team

RTA

Road Traffic Accident

HSE

Health and Safety Executive

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers

PCSO

Police Community Support Officers

OST

Officer Safety Training

OH

Occupational Health

CGC

Corporate Governance Committee

SOP

Standard Operational Procedures

(B)OCU

(Borough) Operational Command Units

OCU

Operational Command Units

PSCT

Property Services Compliance Team

FY

Financial Year

DoR

Directorate of Resources

CATS

Changing Attitudes Towards Safety

RIDDOR

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995

SDO

Senior Designated Officer

NO

Nominated Officer

Appendix 8: Abstract - Lord Young Review Pages 35 and 36

Police and fire services

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Police (Health and Safety) Act 1997 apply to all duties undertaken by the Police Service and Fire and Rescue Service. The Acts protect employees and ensure that activities carried out do not adversely affect the health and safety of other people. Employees are expected to take reasonable care of themselves and others. However, it is the nature of the job that individuals may occasionally put themselves at risk to save the life of someone else. Where this happens the last thing that should be contemplated is a prosecution for non-compliance with health and safety legislation.

The HSE has engaged in joint work with the Association of Chief Police Officers, Police Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities to identify how a balance can be struck between high risk operational duties and the health and safety of themselves and others. As a result of this work, statements and guidance were drawn up for both the Police Service and the Fire and Rescue Authorities: Striking the balance between operational and health and safety duties in the Police Service and Striking the balance between operational and health and safety duties in the Fire and Rescue Service. I support this approach.

Where an unfortunate incident occurs and an officer puts him or herself at risk in the line of their duty to protect the public, I take the view that it would not be in the public interest to take action and investigate under health and safety laws.

However, at present, there is some ambiguity in such cases, and there is a clear need for certainty in this important area.

I recommend that a common sense approach is applied to give police officers (including Police Community Support Officers) and firefighters reassurance that they will not be investigated or prosecuted for undertaking an act of heroism. This policy should be reinforced through the HSE, Association of Chief Police Officers and Crown Prosecution Service issuing further guidance that should put this into effect.

It is important to recognise that individuals have personal choices to make and they may choose not to put themselves at unreasonable risk. However, those officers who go the extra mile and put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public should continue to be recognised and rewarded for their bravery.

Police and fire services recommendation

Police officers and firefighters should not be at risk of investigation or prosecution under health and safety legislation when engaged in the course of their duties if they have put themselves at risk as a result of committing a heroic act. The HSE, Association of Chief Police Officers and Crown Prosecution Service should consider further guidance to put this into effect.

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