Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

Meeting to be held on Monday 15 June 2026

 

Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report 2025-26

Appendix 1 refers

 

Contact for further information – Steve Healey, Deputy Chief Fire Officer

Tel: 01772 866801

 

Executive Summary

Attached at Appendix 1 is the Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) covering the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

 

The report provides an overview of safety, health and environment activity over the past 12 months, including how LFRS control risks and manage performance in line with the 5 year Safety, Health and Environment Plan.

 

The Authority has overall responsibility for staff safety, health and environmental compliance, with day to day management discharged through the Chief Fire Officer (CFO). In line with those responsibilities, a signed declaration (statement of intent) from the Authority Chair and CFO is displayed across all LFRS workplaces.

 

Recommendation(s)

The Authority is asked to note the report and associated safety, health, environment and wellbeing performance outcomes.

 

The Authority is asked to endorse the joint signing of the Safety, Health and Environment Policy ‘statement of intent’ by the Chair and CFO.

 

 

Information

This report includes performance information for safety, health, environment and wellbeing within LFRS.

 

Business risk

From a legal, economic and moral standpoint, several health and safety and environmental compliance obligations are imposed on the Authority.

 

The Health and Safety Executive and Environment Agency will take enforcement action where significant or recurring failures are identified.

 

Sustainability or Environmental Impact

LFRS continues to manage the environmental risks and issues which impact directly on the Service through the externally accredited ISO14001 Environmental Management System which details our environmental aspects and impacts together with the measures taken to control and mitigate risks. 

 

The changing climate continues to impact on the Service response activities, particularly in relation to increasing attendance at flooding and wildfire incidents.  Carbon management within the LFRS estate and vehicle fleet is a growing issue, with the impact on utility and energy use which the Service is seeking to mitigate through the LFRS Environmental Sustainability Plan.

 

Equality and Diversity Implications

No specific implications from this report.

 

Data Protection (GDPR)

Will the proposal(s) involve the processing of personal data?  Y/N

If the answer is yes, please contact a member of the Democratic Services Team to assist with the appropriate exemption clause for confidential consideration under part 2 of the agenda.

 

HR implications

The Authority is committed to providing a safe and healthy workforce which is particularly important in the context of emergency service operations, and which requires ongoing and effective health and safety management arrangements.

 

Financial implications

None directly.

 

Legal implications

There is a range of legislative impacts imposed on LFRS relating to safety, health and environmental aspects. These are identified and tracked by the LFRS Safety, Health and Environment Department who maintain legal registers and assessments of compliance which is a key part of the ISO certification held by the Service.

 

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

List of background papers

Paper: Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report 2019-20

Date: 14 September 2020

Contact: DCFO Steve Healey

 

Paper: Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report 2020-21

Date: 28 June 2021

Contact: DCFO Steve Healey

 

Paper: Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report 2021-22

Date: 27 June 2022

Contact: DCFO Steve Healey

 

Paper: Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report 2022-23

Date: 26 June 2023

Contact: DCFO Steve Healey

 

Paper: Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report 2023-24

Date: 24 June 2024

Contact: DCFO Steve Healey

 

Paper: Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report 2024-25

Date: 23 June 2025

Contact: DCFO Steve Healey

 

Reason for inclusion in Part 2 if appropriate: Insert Exemption Clause