Agenda item

The report was presented by the Director of People and Development. The Authority considered the Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report for Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service covering the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.

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 2019 to 31 March 2020.

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 2020 the auditors from British Assessment Bureau carried out audits against international standards for health and safety ISO 45001:2018 and environment ISO 14001:2015.  The scope for both standards was ‘The Provision of Fire, Rescue and Supporting Services across Lancashire’.  This included all operational activity with visits to five 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. 

Improvement Actions during 2019/20

The report included examples of improvements carried out during 2019/20:

·        Reviewed the organisational arrangements for health and safety and environment to meet the revised meeting structures within LFRS.

·        Continued to embed improvements in fitness and the mandatory fitness testing for operational staff.

·        Carried out Workplace Wellbeing Toolbox Talks and wellbeing promotions at our fire stations, service headquarters and service training centre to continue to embed and support staff health and wellbeing.

·        Introduced our Leadership Framework into LFRS.

·        Continued to provide improved PPE for attending operational incidents.

·        Continued to implement National Operational Guidance into service.

·        In partnership with UCLAN and FBU developing best practice to mitigate the potential risks of contaminants on dirty fire PPE.

·        Made improvements and refurbished the fire house training building at Service Training Centre (STC) used to deliver breathing apparatus training to operational crews.

·        Extended our Employee Assistance Programme contract for a further two years.

·        Continued to develop and integrate the Wildfire Burn Team and their skills into Wildfire Operational Incidents.

·        Carried out a self-assessment against the Blue Light Wellbeing Framework promoted by the National Fire Chiefs Council.

·        Introduced the Operational Briefing Note to ensure learning from incidents is communicated effectively.

Health and Safety Performance

During 2019/20 there were 88 accidents (73 to LFRS staff and 15 non-LFRS staff), 113 near misses (91 near misses and 22 near miss attacks on staff) and 9 RIDDOR events (1 major injury of a broken bone and 8 resulting from absence over 7 days).  The report provided details of the total accident and ill-health statistics for 2019/20. 

Health and Wellbeing

The management of sickness absence for 2019/20 showed that musculoskeletal and mental health related conditions accounted for 28% of all sickness absence.  In total there were 1165 sickness absence cases resulting in 11,331 working days lost within the service, 327 musculoskeletal related absences gave rise to 3,136 working days lost and 61 mental health related absence resulted in 2081 working days lost and 15 cases relating to cancer relating to 1062 working days lost.  In order to improve performance from musculoskeletal and mental health related absence, 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 had been an increased focus on employee health and wellbeing 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 well.  The report also detailed the activities that had been achieved during 2019/20.

Environmental Performance

The Carbon Management Plan agreed by the Resources Committee in March 2009 and reviewed in April 2013 included a visionary target of 40% carbon emission reduction by March 2020.  The Service had achieved an overall reduction of 23% by March 2020 which equated to 1005 tonnes of CO₂; this delivered savings in the region to date of £679k. the original plan included the closure of Service Headquarters and a move to new premises which had not happened.  Work would continue to improve environmental performance.

A look ahead to 2020/21

The report also detailed key safety, health and environmental priorities for 2020/21:

·        Rationalise and refresh the existing risk assessments, standard operating procedures/service orders and training requirements following the introduction and publication of National Guidance for Fire and Rescue Services together with legislative changes.

·        Reduce the number of accidents and related sickness absence whilst increasing the number of near miss events reported.

·        Maintain LFRS certification to ISO 45001:2018 and ISO14001:2015 standards and continually improve the Health and Safety Management Systems and Environmental Management Systems.

·        Embed Safety, Health and Environment through continued training and interaction with staff to enable proportionate and informed workplace safety, health and environmental decisions to be made.

·        Continue to engage our Environmental Champions to assist in reducing carbon emissions from energy and fuel use through a refreshed Carbon Management Plan and reduce waste collected and increase the percentage of waste being recycled.

·        Continue to deliver a program of health and wellbeing support to engage staff in maintaining fitness, reducing injury and absence, informing staff about the support available to maintain health and wellbeing whilst promoting ways to enhance personal resilience.

·        Develop a Management of Occupational Road Risk policy.

·        Embed our Leadership framework.

·        Review Climate Change impacts.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Hennessy the Director of People and Development confirmed that the Member with responsibility for the environment including climate change was the Health and Wellbeing Champion.  In addition, the Chairman confirmed that any Member could attend any Committee of the Authority as an observer.

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