Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Item

6 February 2002

Health and Safety Progress Report

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Contact:

John Bonney Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tel: 023 8064 4000 Ext 207

1

Introduction

1.1

This report provides the final update on actions taken following the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection/audit of HFRS during September 2000.

1.2

Previous reports detailing progress with the HSE recommendations were made to the Authority during February, September and December 2001.

1.3

Authority Members are reminded that HFRS was not subjected to any formal enforcement action and that much of the HSE report was complimentary of the health and safety arrangements within HFRS.

2

Progress with Action Plan

2.1

See the attached plan at Appendix 1.

2.2

The reference numbers on the plan correspond to the original reference numbers in the HSE report.

3

Outstanding Items

3.1

Of the original 15 recommendations 12 have been completed. Significant progress has been made with the remaining 3 as follows:

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Key Recommendation 4 Review of accident reporting and investigation system. Improvements have been made and a small database was purchased to assist with the analysis of accident statistics to enable a greater identification of trends. Following HFRS adoption of the targets set out in the HSC and Government publication `Revitalising Health and Safety' it was recognised that a great deal more work was essential in the area of managing incidents and accidents within HFRS. This is an extensive task which links to the HSE recommendation but is much bigger and cannot be resolved quickly. A small working group has been set up to address this and the work will feature as a key task and local best value performance indicator in the forthcoming year's Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Strategy for 2002/03.

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Key Recommendation 6 An annual report on health and safety performance should be produced.

This matter is in hand and a report will be submitted to the Authority in May 2002 detailing performance during the year ending 31 March 2002.

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Key Recommendation 7 There should be improved integration of documents for operational risk assessments.

A project to address this has been ongoing within Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare utilising the experience of two retired officers. Every operational incident that is reasonably foreseeable has now been risk assessed and where appropriate an incident ground Fire Fact (aide memoir) has been produced. This has also resulted in a review of operational policies and service orders. The work is now complete and we are entering the implementation stage. Confirmation of implementation will be made to the Authority in May.

4

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

4.1

The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Recommendations

That the Authority approve

1

That items 4, 6 and 7 from the HSE key recommendations are carried over into the new workplan for Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare.

2

That future health and safety updates will be made to the Authority twice yearly in the form of (a) an annual strategic plan and (b) annual performance report. (Clearly the Authority will also be informed of any significant safety related events as they may occur.)

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report.

None

NB The list excludes:

1 Published works

2 Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

File name - HFRA Committee 6 Feb 02 - H&S Progress Report

Current Progress

2000

2001

2002

Key Recommendations

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1.

A health and safety strategic plan should be produced which encompasses the points outlined in the report.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 April 2001 (H&S Manager)

2.

The policy and procedures for lone workers should be reviewed to ensure adequacy and consistency of control measures.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 September 2001 (H&S Manager)

3.

The proposed system of workplace audits should be reviewed to ensure it covers the points detailed in the report.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 September 2001 (SDO (QM))

4.

The current system of accident reporting and investigation should be reviewed to improve the quality of investigations and the interface with Service Investigations clarified.

Completion by: 1 September 2001 (H&S Manager)

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Progress: See Health & Safety Minutes of July 2001. Significant progress is being made with this item which has been identified as part of a larger project. It was agreed to defer achievement of this and strategic plan items 2.6.1, 2.6.2 and 2.6.3 until 1 April 2002.

Current Progress

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Key Recommendations

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5.

There should be greater analysis of accident, ill health and near miss data.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 September 2001 (H&S Manager)

6.

An annual report on health and safety performances should be produced.

Completion by: 1 April 2002 (H&S Manager)

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Progress: Annual Report to measure achievement of objectives of the strategic plan to be produced in March 2002.

7.

There should be improved integration of documents for operational risk assessments.

Completion by 1 March 2002 (SDO (Ops))

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Progress: MH completed for Workshops, Flooding risk assessments, Firefax entries for flooding & ice rescues, and recently MH RA's for handling of casualties. Currently reviewing expanding existing RA's to include ladders, generators, LPP's and turning over & removing debris and to look at RA for carrying kit over uneven ground in difficult environmental conditions.

8.

Information from Training Centre risk assessments should be shared to provide the basis for assessment of on station training.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 September 2001 (SDO (T))

Current Progress

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Key Recommendations

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9.

The fire behaviour training risk assessments should be reviewed against the advice in DCOL.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 April 2001 (SDO (T))

10.

Manual Handling assessments should be carried out for operational activities and consideration given to reducing manual handling wherever possible.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 June 2001 (SDO (Ops))

11.

The new programme for manual handling training should be evaluated to ensure it provides appropriate and effective training.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 September 2001 (SDO (T))

12.

The issue of safety shoes should be reviewed to ensure that they are freely available.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 April 2001 (SDO (Ops))

13.

The PPE log should be introduced as soon as possible.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 31 December 2000 (SDO (Ops))

Current Progress

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Key Recommendations

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14.

The equipment defect recording systems should be reviewed so as to allow better analysis of incident and failure trends.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 August 2001 (SDO (Ops))

15.

The systems for repair of PPE and provision of replacement PPE should be monitored so as to ensure that delays are not excessive and that any PPE provided is fit for purpose.

_ THIS ITEM HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Completion by: 1 September 2001 (SDO (Ops))