Health & safety

Report: 12
Date: 25 July 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an update in respect of health and safety within the MPS and the response to the Improvement Notices issued by the Health and Safety Executive on the Commissioner on 1 June 2001.

A. Recommendations

That Members note the content of this report.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. Paper HR/01/38 presented to the Human Resources (HR) Committee on 17 May 2001 provides background information relating to the death of PC Sidhu and the service of the Improvement Notices. A progress update was provided in paper HR/02/05 on 10 January 2002.

Prosecution update

2. The Commissioner Sir John Stevens and the former Commissioner the Lord Condon appeared at the City of London Magistrates Court on 19 June 2002 to answer summonses issued by the HSE. The Commissioner and Lord Condon both indicated not guilty pleas and the case was initially committed to Southwark Crown Court for trial. An initial date for the first plea and directions hearing was set as 24 July 2002, though this has been relisted for September 2002 at the Old Bailey.

Progress in respect of the Improvement Notices

3. Appendix 1 provides a summary of each of the notices, together with progress to date. In addition to those, the following actions have been taken.

4. Following a review of the senior officers course it was decided to reduce the 5 day course to 3 days. Arising from that decision the 2 days booked accommodation has been used to provide training for finance and personnel managers. A training package has been developed between AMT, the training provider and Health and Safety Branch. This training is additional to the improvement notice requirement.

5. The Commissioner has directed that the one day "Policing Safely "Course for PCs to inspectors will be delivered by December 2002. In order to ensure that there is no slippage in meeting target dates, Commander Jo Kaye has been assigned to oversee the work of Health and Safety Branch. It should be noted that the training of detective officers and operational civil staff is also additional to the improvement notice requirement.

Progress in respect of Internal Audit recommendations

6. The key aspect, also linked to the improvement notice, is the implementation of a health and safety monitoring system. Using the system contained within "Successful Health and Safety Management", HSG65 this has been presented to all senior management teams on boroughs and nearly all Heads of Departments.

7. The next stage, which began in June, is the re-inspection of Boroughs as to their progress in implementing the system. Those areas that fall below legal requirements or acceptable standards will be subject of a new internal improvement notice served on the borough commander. This arises from a recommendation by Commander Shave resulting from his review of health and safety in a report to Management Board on 19 March 2001.

Other health and safety issues

8. Since the last report, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have gathered information relating to a fall from height involving an officer falling through a garage roof in Hammersmith in March 2001. Accordingly, we were able to demonstrate that risk assessments were carried out before and during the incident and a level of officer supervision. The officer himself could also demonstrate a level of training and awareness of working at height. At this stage no further action by the HSE is anticipated.

9. Health and Safety Branch continues to monitor road traffic accidents relating to police officers travelling home from work in order to identify whether long hours of duty could be a contributory effect. No trend has emerged.

10. Following a meeting with the HSE on 24 June 2002, it is their possible intention to inspect the MPS within this financial year as regards our health and safety progress. Health and Safety will also feature as part of the HMIC inspection of the MPS in September 2002.

Police Reform Bill

11. The implications of amendments to the Police Reform Bill to place the Health and Safety at work duty on the police authority, as the body corporate, rather than the chief officer will be dealt with in a separate paper.

C. Financial implications

The training costs associated with meeting the legal requirements of the improvement notices, as outlined above, have been included in the approved growth bid of £190,000 for 2002/03, as approved by the Full Authority on 10 December 2001.

D. Background papers

• Report HR/01/38 to HR Committee 17 May 2001
• Report HR/02/05 to HR Committee 10 January 2002

E. Contact details

Report author: Michael Shurety, Director of HR Services, MPS.

For information contact:

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

Appendix 1

1. 

Improvement Notice

Improvement Notice 2360 Training requirement

"Uniformed police officers (police constable to inspector) have not had sufficient training to ensure they can respond to hazards and risks they may encounter whilst on duty/at work so far as is reasonably practicable."

The Metropolitan Police should develop a training plan for uniformed police officers to enable them to assess risks to themselves and to others when on duty or at work. 

The plan should specify time scales for delivery and groups of people who will receive the training. Training should cover understanding foreseeable hazards, how to anticipate unknown hazards and risks, understanding risks in terms of benefits to themselves versus benefits to society arising from their actions, dynamic risk assessment and understanding relevant MPS policies and special notices.

Original Response

Key date
To complete training by end of 2002

MPS response to the HSE stated we would train all uniform police constables to Inspector by December 2002.

In addition, we would train operational civil staff and Special Constables.

That we would develop a one-day course "Policing Safely", the content of which met the requirements of the notice for PC - Inspector.

That we would develop a one day course " Supervising Safely" for PS to Inspector to meet in part the requirements of notice 002363

That we would train 100 trainers through an external trainer to ensure competency

Progress so far

Training commenced for trainers 10 December 2001. 4 courses to be completed by 9 August 2002. 130 trainers will then be available to deliver the training requirement for Policing Safely.

Training of trainers to deliver the Supervising Safely course commences 22 July. These courses run until December 2002. Borough training in progress to meet the completion of having trained all PC - Inspector in the one day course by December 2002.Includes CID officers, and civil staff.

Training course is part of the Recruit training at Hendon. SO Branch trainers have been included in above to deliver to SO, although outside improvement notice requirement.

2. 

Improvement Notice

Improvement Notice 2361 Training requirement.

"Senior officers (Chief Insp - Chief Supt) with operational line management need to be competent to ensure that they understand the consequences of their directions and decisions on officers whilst the officers are on duty."

The MPS should develop a plan outlining a means of training/advising officers with line management responsibilities to enable them to understand the consequences of their decisions. The plan should specify Timescales to deliver the training/advising The groups of people who will benefit from the training/advice

The plan should explain how the following elements will be explained to the officers with line management responsibility

Providing information to enable them to understand the potential consequences of their decisions on the health and safety of officers.

Helping them make better decisions so that the health and safety of officers are not compromised, so far as is reasonably practicable

Original Response

Key date To complete by end of 2002.

MPS response to the HSE stated we would deliver a 5 day course "Safety Leadership" developed in conjunction with an external provider contracted to deliver the package.

Course to be delivered to Chief Inspectors to Chief Superintendents as specified within the notice. Federation and Trade Union representatives. Finance and resource managers Line managers with operational civilian support.

Time scale for delivery November 2001 to December 2002.

Progress so far

The 3 day Safety Leadership course began January 2002. 7 courses held having trained 116 senior officers, 11 further courses with 266 senior officers currently booked to attend. 4 further courses with 120 places, to be delivered January-February 2003. It is projected that 404 senior officers will have had training by target date, thus meeting the target.

Finance and resource managers have a separate 2 day course.

Federation Reps and TUS are included in this training as required by recommendation within Commander Shave report.

3.

Improvement Notice

Improvement Notice 2362 Health and safety system.

"There is no, or there is insufficient record of the arrangements for effective planning, organisation and control of the preventive and protective measures."

The MPS should provide a record (e.g. written document) that explains the arrangements for the effective planning, organisation and control of the preventive and protective measures.

The record should Explain how the Commissioner's Health and Safety Policy will be implemented and integrated into the management system for operational policing by the MPS

The record should explain how information and decisions by the Assistant Commissioner's Personnel H&S Committee are incorporated into the decision making process.

The record should be specific to different sections of the MPS.

Original response

We said we would identify Borough Commanders and Heads of Department as per Commissioners policy.

Once identified we would deliver a training package to each one and their management team in respect of "Successful Health and Safety Management" HSG65. This reinforced in the training package.

Boroughs to be done by December 2001 and Departments by June 2002.

We would alter the Health and Safety Committee to be strategic with membership to reflect that aspect. That a clear communication link be developed between the committee and managers.

Local health and safety committees to be made strategic.

Risk assessments to be reviewed. Dynamic risk assessment part of training. Risk assessments to be live documents

10 most frequent hazards to be introduced into CAD for operators to remind officer of the hazards. To be implemented February 2002.

New building projects to be health and safety proofed. 

Progress so far

All identified. All Borough Senior Management Teams (SMTs) have been briefed to progress the development of HSG 65.

Heads of Departments presentations in respect of HSG65 nearing completion.

Risk assessment process being reviewed to identify portfolio owners.

CAD hazard prompts system to be given to officers in respect of high hazard calls went live on 31 May 2002.

MPS Health and Safety Committee structure altered and strategic with clear communication line to boroughs.

Local committee structures amended to be strategic.

Health and Safety branch an integral part of building projects and involved with Property Services Department and Technical Standards Committee.

4.

Improvement Notice

Improvement Notice 2363 Front line supervision requirement.

"There is no, or there is an insufficient plan of the arrangements for the effective control of officers attending incidents to which officers are called."

The MPS should provide a plan, which explains the arrangements for the effective control of officers at incidents to which they attend.

The plan should: Explain how officers (at possibly escalating incidents) are controlled, bearing in mind that initially the first officers on the scene may not have senior officers present, but that more senior officers may attend as the incident develops.

Explain how this is communicated to and implemented by officers attending an incident.

Original Response

The MPS response to the HSE stated we would

1. That we would amend the London Emergency Services Liaison Panel (LESLP) guidance for major incidents to ensure clarity of health and safety ownership during the incidents progression, reflecting the leading roles being taken by each service.
2. That we would generate of hierarchy of control from the initial receipt of a call by a control room sergeant through to the active supervision on the street by a supervisor.
3. That this would be part of the supervisor training in "Supervising Safely" package.

That induction process for mew members of staff, especially probationary constables will cover hazards within their new place of work.

Progress so far

LESLP manual amended to reflect this aspect.

A 1 day training package "Supervising Safely" for sergeants and inspectors developed with the contracted in trainer company AMT. Trainers to be trained between July and December 2002. Once trained delivery to front line supervisors can commence, providing they have attended " Policing Safely" course.

Induction process part of training package given to Management teams under HSG65 system for implementation.

5.

Improvement Notice

Improvement Notice 2364 Health and Safety monitoring

"There is no, or there is an insufficient record of the arrangements for effective monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures.

The MPS should provide a record (e.g. a written document) that explains the arrangements for the effective monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures. The record should:

Explain how the MPS will ensure that their health and safety arrangements are, or will be, monitored and reviewed to ensure that the preventive and protective measures are providing the highest standards of health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Original Response

The MPS response stated we would proactively and reactively monitor health and safety in line with HSG 65.

Proactive
Level 1 inspection locally
Level 2 inspection ensures that health and safety inspected in line with HSG 65. Safety reps to be encouraged to inspect locally Health and Safety branch to annually inspect locations in line with HSG65. Issues arising to prioritise future work dependent on hazard level.

Reactive
Generating management information from accident reporting system. Generate statistical information to identify trends. Issues arising taken to Strategic Health and Safety Committee. Immediate response to critical incidents by Health and Safety Branch Investigation process to be more robust.

Progress so far

Senior management briefing in respect of HSG65 covers monitoring systems for implementation.

Level 2 inspection process covers specific questions in terms of health and safety.

Health and Safety branch commenced the annual inspection process on 28 June 2002 to identify good performers for recognition by AC HR and poor performers for service of an improvement notice.

Health and Safety branch generating statistical packages for Strategic committee.

Health and Safety branch proactively investigating and debriefing officers following critical health and safety incidents.

6.

Improvement Notice

Improvement Notice 2365 Accident investigation and Data analysis requirement.

"There is no system, or the system is inadequate to ensure that accidents, ill health and dangerous occurrence data are analysed on a regular basis.

There is no system, or the system is inadequate, to ensure that accidents, ill health and dangerous occurrence incidents investigated so that action can be taken to help prevent a reoccurrence, so far as is reasonably practicable."

1. The MPS should provide a plan, which will specify how accident, ill health and dangerous occurrence data are to be periodically reviewed. The plan should state at what frequency the data will be reviewed and should indicate how the data will be analysed and interpreted
2. The MPS should provide a plan that explains which types of incidents should be investigated and who should investigate them (i.e. line management or the Directorate of Occupational Health). The plan should set out how lessons learned can be acted upon, if necessary, at force wide level.

Original Response

The MPS response stated we would

1. Review current system of accident reporting. Personnel Managers to ensure accuracy of data. Health and safety to be a feature of SMT meetings and data from accidents to feature at health and safety committee meetings. Training to be included in supervising safely.

Central data collection through an IT solution. Scanning process by health and safety advisors and analytical interpretation by Grade 10 Executive Officer in order to identify trends and correct action taken in respect of incidents. This being a daily function. 

6 weekly data package produced at Strategic Committee, reports to Management Board and Metropolitan Police Authority. 

Key dates Grade 10 Analysis by Sept 01 Personnel Managers trained Dec 01 IT Solution not before Nov 01 Data package by Oct 01 MPA reports by May 01

2. Accident investigation regime depends on severity of accident/incident. Line managers to investigate minor matters, more serious matters investigated with health and safety branch assistance.

Progress so far

1. Grade 10 Analyst in post August 01. 

Personnel Managers management of accident data is included as part of a 2 day training package which commenced in May and concludes December 2002.

Statistical package produced October 2001 as an item on the strategic committee agenda. Accident frequency rate data being produced.

This notice identifies the need for an IT system to gather accident and incident data. Package being developed in house to meet need.

Health and safety reports provided to Strategic Committee, Management Board and MPA.

2. Investigation of accidents forms part of the "Supervising Safely" package of training. Health and Safety branch proactive in debriefing officers from critical incidents.

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