Agenda item

The Authority considered the Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service covering the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

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 2021 to 31 March 2022.

External Audit

Since initial certification in November 2011 surveillance visits had been conducted annually with re?certification every 3 years to maintain external certification of the Health and Safety and Environment Management Systems.  In March 2022 the auditor from British Assessment Bureau carried out a surveillance audit against health and safety standard 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 broad scope encompassed all Service activities with audit visits to 5 fire stations that operated different duty systems and to a number of supporting departments.  Continued certification was granted without any non-conformance and 1 opportunity for improvement was identified.  The report included examples of improvements carried out during 2021/22.

Health and Safety Performance

During 2021/22 there were 85 accidents, 94 near misses and 14 RIDDOR events.  The report provided a summary of the total accident and ill-health statistics for 2021/22.  Comparison against the previous 7 year’s performance data showed an overall downward trend from absence following work related injury/illness however the figures reported in 2018/19, 2020/21 and 2021/22 had seen a smaller number of staff away from work for long term absence which related to safety events which had impacted the overall performance. 

Health and Wellbeing

During 2021/22 the focus for health and wellbeing had continued to be supporting staff, colleagues, families, and friends in response to the Covid?19 pandemic.  A range of material, as outlined in the report had continued to be developed and a new support resource, Wellbeing Support Dogs was introduced.

Firefighter PPE Contamination

The Fire Brigades Union commissioned the University of Central Lancashire to undertake UK specific research on the risk to firefighters of carcinogens and other contaminants.  Following publication of the ‘Minimising firefighters’ exposure to toxic fire effluents – interim best practice report’ during 2021 a full gap analysis had been undertaken which looked at the report recommendations to identify any areas for improvement.  An action plan had been established which would be monitored by the Service’s Health, Safety and Environment Advisory Group.

Environmental Performance

The Service continued to support the Firefighters Charity with 18 fire stations currently having recycling banks on site.  In 2020/21 the banks collected over 82 tonnes of textiles.

The total waste created in 2021/22 was 102.2 tonnes a decrease from 113.4 tonnes in 2020/21.  General waste reduced by 16.5% and dry mixed recyclable waste by 8.3%.  26 sites saw a decrease in general waste.  Only 2 stations had a recycling rate below 20%.

The updated Carbon Management Plan agreed by the Resources Committee in September 2020 included a target of 40% carbon emission reduction by March 2030 from a baseline of 4352 tonnes of CO² in 2007/08.  The Service had achieved an overall reduction of 24.9% by March 2021.

A look ahead to 2022/23

The report also detailed key safety, health and environmental priorities for 2022/23 which included: reducing accidents and related sickness absence; improving risk assessments and operating procedures following publication of national guidance and legislative change; maintaining certified standards; embedding safety, health and environment through continued training and interaction with staff; engaging champions to assist in reducing carbon emissions, reduce waste collected and increase recycling; continue to deliver programmes of support to engage staff in maintaining fitness, reducing injury and absence; review impacts of climate change; evaluation management of PPE contaminants against further guidance and best practice to manage the developing risk; develop next generation fire appliances to incorporate design features to minimise risks from fire contaminants and carry out a compliance assessment against ISO 45003:2021 occupational health and safety management – psychological health and safety at work.

In response to a question from Councillor Smith regarding vehicle accidents (as detailed on page 38 of the agenda pack) the Director of People and Development confirmed that the Road Risk Review Panel had met under the leadership of Area Manager Tony Crook who was also the road safety lead officer for the National Fire Chiefs Council.

In response to a question from County Councillor Clarke regarding the 6.9% increase in fuel costs (as detailed on page 43 of the agenda pack) the Director of People and Development confirmed that this was mainly due to greater activity following covid.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer added that the Service had also invested in a number of electric vehicles as a pilot which would be monitored and assessed.  He advised that nationally there was now an electric fire appliance but this required a lot of development before it would be considered a replacement vehicle.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Hennessy regarding how health and wellbeing outcomes were measured, the Director of People and Development confirmed that anonymised information was received bi-annually on the support provided by the Employee Assistance Programme and Lancashire’s use of this service could be compared against other Services.  The Service welcomed feedback from staff through a wellbeing talk.  The wellbeing dogs had been introduced recently which anecdotally was being well received and this would be reviewed after 6 months.  Feedback was also received from the occupational health unit.  Ongoing training was provided to staff such as Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) practitioners to ensure they remained effective. 

County Councillor Singleton queried whether there had been any CCTV evidence which had resulted in a prosecution.  In response, the Director of People and Development confirmed that any time there was a physical assault on a member of staff it was reported to the constabulary.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer added that the Authority had approved investment in CCTV for fire appliances primarily in stations suffering lots of minor bumps to evidence procedures were being followed however, it could be used if it captured evidence of physical assaults on staff.

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