Agenda item

The Authority considered the Annual Safety, Health and Environment Report for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) covering the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

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 2026-27.

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 2025 to 31 March 2026.

External Audit of Health Safety and Environment Management Systems 2026

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 2026, 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), seven fire stations operating different duty systems together with several supporting departments. Continued certification was granted noting no major non-conformities and one minor non-conformity.

Health and Safety Performance

During 2025-26 there were 75 accidents, 111 near misses and 12 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) events.  The report provided a summary of the total accident and ill-health statistics for 2025-26.

Vehicle Accidents

During 2025-26 there were 86 vehicle related accidents. The majority of incidents occurred during low-speed manoeuvring activities.

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.

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 or 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 and 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

During 2025-26, a further investment was made to replace cardiovascular fitness equipment nearing the end of its operational life, ensuring firefighters have access to modern equipment that supports the maintenance of operational fitness.

Work had also commenced to digitise fitness assessment forms, helping to streamline the annual recording process, reduce paperwork and maintain the quality and integrity of records.

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 23.2% by March 2026 which related to measured carbon emissions for gas, electric and fleet vehicle fuel. Separately water was currently seeing a 31% reduction from the baseline year.

The total waste created in 2025-26 was 139.8 tonnes. The overall recycling rate across the Service remained very good at 48.7%.

A look ahead to 2026-27

The report also detailed key safety, health and environmental priorities for 2026-27 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.

In response to a question from County Councillor L Parker in relation to when the next ISO 45001:2018 assessment was expected, the DCFO confirmed that this was expected in February 2027.

The report was proposed by County Councillor I Duxbury and seconded by County Councillor J Ash with all members voting in favour of the recommendation.

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