Agenda item

The Authority considered the Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report for Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service covering the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

As the body with ultimate responsibility for staff health, safety and environmental compliance it was important that all CFA Members were aware of performance in this respect. The report therefore provided a summary of key actions, overall progress and outturn performance in respect of accidents and near misses and carbon emissions, together with a look forward.

The report summarised the arrangements in place to deliver the Service's Safety, Health and Environment Policy and provided a summary of safety, health and environment performance data.  It included the reporting on occupational safety, health and environmental issues that had arisen during the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

The Director of People and Development was pleased to report that the Service had again seen a very positive year in terms of overall safety, health and environment performance. 

External Audit

Since initial certification in November 2011 annual surveillance visits had been conducted with re?certification every 3 years to maintain external certification of the Health and Safety and Environment Management Systems.  In February 2019 the auditor from British Assessment Bureau carried out a surveillance audit for ISO 14001:2015 and they also carried out an audit against a new health and safety standard ISO 45001:2018 (formerly OHSAS 18001:2007).  The scope for both standards was ‘The Provision of Fire, Rescue and Supporting Services across Lancashire’.  This included all operational activity with visits to fire stations that operated different duty systems and to a number of supporting departments.  Continued certification was granted without any non-conformance or opportunities for improvement identified. 

During the audit process, complimentary comments had been received from the auditor which included:

·        The systems were fantastic;

·        The health and safety and environmental management systems were consistent across all sites;

·        Health and Safety Consultation arrangements with the Fire Brigades Union were good;

·        The Recruitment Process was well managed;

·        LFRS was committed to continual improvement; and

·        Staff showed commitment and were friendly and enthusiastic.

Improvement

Areas for improvement identified by staff had been developed into an Improvement Action Plan which would be taken forward through the Service’s Health, Safety and Environment Advisory Group.  The report included examples of improvements carried out during 2018/19.

Health and Safety Performance

During 2018/19 there were 73 accidents, 109 near misses and 10 RIDDOR events.  The report provided a summary of the total accident and ill-health statistics for 2018/19.  A comparison against previous performance showed the continued reduction of accidents and positive increase in near miss reporting. 

Health and Wellbeing

The management of sickness absence for 2018/19 showed that musculoskeletal and mental health related conditions accounted for 53% of all sickness absence.  In total there were 732 sickness absence cases resulting in 8,737 working days lost within the service, 219 musculoskeletal related absences gave rise to 3,595 working days lost and 31 mental health related absence resulted in 997 working days lost.  In order to improve performance, health and safety toolbox talks were to be delivered to all staff during the coming year.  The toolbox talks would engage staff to increase understanding of the links between maintaining physical fitness for role, reducing the risks of musculoskeletal injuries and encouraging good mental health.

During 2019/20 there would be an increased focus on employee health and wellbeing at work through the development of a more holistic approach.  The Health and Wellbeing Framework aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of the workforce ensuring all who worked for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were engaged, motivated, healthy and resilient and returned to work quickly following any absence.  The report also detailed the activities that had been achieved during 2018/19.

Environmental Performance

A Carbon Management Plan agreed by the Resources Committee in March 2009 included a visionary target of 40% carbon emission reduction by March 2020.  The Service had achieved an overall reduction of 23% by March 2019 which equated to 989 tonnes of CO₂; this delivered savings in the region to date of £672k.  Work would continue to improve this area.

A look ahead to 2019/20

The report also detailed key safety, health and environmental priorities for 2019/20 which included: the implementation of revised National Guidance, the maintenance of certification standards, reducing energy and waste and the continued review of Health and Wellbeing arrangements.

In response from a question by County Councillor Holgate regarding whether there was a policy on single-use plastic, the Director of People and Development confirmed that all staff had received water flasks to enable hydration rather than a single use bottle but this issue would need to be considered further.

RESOLVED: - That the Authority noted and endorsed the report and associated safety, health and environment performance outcomes.