Agenda item

The Authority considered the Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) covering the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

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 overall progress and performance in respect of accidents and near misses, environmental performance, health and wellbeing initiatives, together with a look forward to planned improvement areas for 2025/26.

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 2024 to 31 March 2025.

External Audit of Health Safety and Environment Management Systems 2025

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 February 2025, the auditor from British Assessment Bureau (BAB) carried out an audit against the International Standards for health and safety ISO 45001:2018 and environment ISO 14001:2015. The audit scope for both standards was ‘The Provision of Fire, Rescue and Supporting Services across Lancashire’. This broad scope encompasses all LFRS activities with audit visits to the Service Headquarters (SHQ) site, Leadership and Development Centre (LDC), four fire stations operating different duty systems together with several supporting departments. Continued certification was granted with 1 minor non-conformity and 2 opportunities for improvement identified.

Health and Safety Performance

During 2024/25 there were 84 accidents, 123 near misses and 8 RIDDOR events.  The report provided a summary of the total accident and ill-health statistics for 2024/25.

In response to a question from the Chair, the DCFO confirmed that a near miss was an event with potential to cause harm.

Vehicle Accidents

During 2024/25 there were 72 accidents involving fleet vehicles. Analysis of the type of accidents LFRS vehicles had been involved in had shown that most accidents occurred during vehicle manoeuvring at slow speeds.

The Road Risk Review Panel (RRRP) examined the trends and outcomes from fleet vehicle accidents and current working practices. The RRRP group members had been meeting during the year to identify learning from vehicle accidents, identify wider trends about the cause and what measures could be taken to improve performance. A key enhancement in the area was the continued roll-out of vehicle CCTV systems being fitted to fleet vehicles.

The Chair asked if on street parking and lack of access had been identified as an issue in any specific areas, the DCFO confirmed that no specific areas had been identified but when incidents did occur the Corporate Communications team were proactive in communicating this to members of the public.

Health and Wellbeing

The focus of mental health awareness training across the Service was personal resilience; building and maintaining. The aim of the Service’s programmes was to increase personal resilience of staff and includes elements of positive psychology, relaxation, coping strategies and suicide awareness.

‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ continued to be received well by colleagues. Staff from the SHE Department arranged to work from a different station/office on a regular basis to provide the opportunity for staff to ask questions about the wellbeing resources, receive wellbeing toolbox talks, have a visit from a Wellbeing Support Dog and have a general wellbeing chat.

All LFRS staff continued to have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) delivered by external specialist provider, Health Assured. The EAP was a confidential & independent support service for employees and immediate dependants to help deal with personal problems that might adversely impact on daily life, health and wellbeing.

Due to the traumatic nature of some operational incidents, LFRS operated a Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) team. TRiM was not a medical intervention, but a peer-led support process designed to help staff deal with traumatic events they may encounter during their everyday work.

Fitness

In December/January 2025 the Service rolled out new functional fitness kit (dumbbells, adjustable benches, resistance bands) to LFRS gyms and completed the first phase of a cardio fitness equipment replacement programme, for those pieces of fitness equipment that were over 10 years old/no longer financially viable to repair. 

Environmental Performance

The current Carbon Management Plan 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 20.4% by March 2025 which related to measured carbon emissions for gas, electric and fleet vehicle fuel. Separately water was currently seeing a 25% reduction from the baseline year.

The total waste created in 2024/25 was 103 tonnes, a decrease of approximately 2.55% compared to 2023/24. The overall recycling rate across the Service remained very good at 34.3%.

A look ahead to 2025/26

The report also detailed key safety, health and environmental priorities for 2025/26 which included: maintaining certified standards; continuing to implement the Health, Safety and Wellbeing 5-year Plan and progress aspirational development items; focus on safety, health and environmental issues to enhance internal checks; reducing accidents and related sickness absence; engage and support Environmental Champions to assist the continued reduction of carbon emissions from energy and fuel use, and reduce waste collected and increase waste recycled; delivering the programme of wellbeing promotional and awareness activities; refreshing fitness equipment issued to fire station gyms; and reviewing the Service’s position against further released guidance and best practice arrangements.

County Councillor M Clifford expressed his thanks for the partnership working recently undertaken at Cuerden Valley Park.

In response to a question from County Councillor L Hutchinson in relation to maintaining Firefighter fitness, the DCFO confirmed Area Manager (AM) Neil Taylor led the Service fitness arrangements which were based on a national standard. AM Taylor added that each firefighter was tested annually and a plan implemented for anyone who fell below accepted fitness levels.

In response to a question from County Councillor J Tetlow in relation to comparing accidents across other fire authorities in a league table, the DCFO confirmed that he was not aware of a league table relating to near misses but there was one relating to sickness absences. He stated that this could be looked at further, but if a series of near misses were identified in LFRS these would be addressed through the introduction of an electronic learning module.

Councillor J Hugo remarked that the Service should be proud of its achievements in relation to carbon reduction, although it was not at its target level the strides made were commendable. She then asked if the 40% target was achievable. The DCFO confirmed that it was a stretching target, especially given the age of some LFRS buildings, however it was a 5-year plan that would be reviewed with a view to achieving zero emissions by 2050.

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