To consider the Annual Health, Safety and Welfare Report (CFO/043/23).

Group Manager, Craig Whitfield presented the Health, Safety & Welfare Annual Report 2022/23 providing an overview of workplace accidents, sickness and road traffic collisions.

Members were advised that the Authority had been working on enforcing a positive reporting culture, which had resulted in an increase in incidents reported. This enabled the Authority to ensure its equipment and PPE were working correctly and any faults could be quickly identified.

With regards to injuries during routine operational activities, it was noted that 14 of the 17 recorded were for staff over the age of 30. Councillor Moloney asked if there was a trend in injuries for staff over 30 and he was advised that nothing stood out in the data to suggest that.

It was reported that in previous years, there had been a decline in near miss reporting and as such, the Authority had made this a focus as there was a direct correlation between near miss reporting, culture and accidents. There had been a steady increase of 61% since the previous year and it was agreed that this was a positive step forward.

The Chair asked for more information about the reporting process and Members were informed that it was very robust. For example if someone were to slip outside, they would report that to their Line Manager or another Senior Officer and that would be logged and registered with Fire Control.  The line manger would consider if a cordon of the area or cleaning was needed and then this would be relayed to the Health and Safety Team. The person’s welfare would be the focus and if they needed to attend hospital then a Station Manager or supervisor would escort them.  The OSHENS Health and Safety Management System would be utilised to record the incident and the level of investigation would be determined. Witness statements would be collected if necessary  and the incident would be reviewed by the Work Place Review Group to identify remedial action to mitigate against repeat incidents.

Members enquired as to how well understood this process was across the organisation and it was explained that the Health and Safety Team frequently published safety flashes to educate staff. The system was designed so that an incident could be reported in just two clicks to make it easy for people to report and so it could be monitored more accurately. 

(Councillor Doreen Knight entered the meeting at 13.16)

The report also focused on road traffic collisions, property fires and injuries during routine activities. Members were provided with a review of incidents pre and post Covid.

Councillor Moloney asked if there had been any injuries or accidents resulting from failing PPE or equipment. Group Manager Whitfield confirmed there had not been any to his knowledge and there were robust procedures in place for PPE and equipment to ensure any concerns were investigated thoroughly.

The Members welcomed the report, noting how easy it was to read and Councillor Maloney asked how many light vehicles the service had in operation. It was explained that there were around 40 and they were used for Senior Managers to response to incidents.

With regards to Covid, Members asked if the Fire Service had found it difficult to undertake preventative work during lockdown and if that had impacted the figures in this report. Members were advised that the Service had played a significant role in safeguarding the community during the pandemic and had been able to undertake prevention activities from the end of people’s driveways in some instances. The Authority had remained very active during the pandemic and so it was not perceived that a change to the figures being reported resulting from how preventative work had been delivered. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Mottram assured Members that post covid, the number of house fires had declined and that the rise in response to incidents was a result of working collaboratively with other emergency services to gain entry to premises.

Councillor Murphy enquired as to how many officers had sought medical attention as a result of the injuries detailed in the report and it was explained that some individuals had been to the walk-in and some had visited occupational health on site.

Group Manager Whitfield was asked if there were any boundaries to people reporting incidents that needed to be overcome and what the timescales were for reporting an injury during response.  Members were assured that the Health and Safety Team had worked extensively to create a positive reporting culture through simplifying the OSHENS system and providing training to staff. Anecdotally, it was felt that as low level injuries were being reported, this message was making its way out to the staff across the organisation and this information could be used to monitor for trends.

With regards to reporting injuries at an incident, it was explained that at a big incident there would be a Safety Officer to deal with any welfare issues and any injuries could be reported through Fire Control in the first instance.

The Members were advised that the Authority fared well compared to the rest of the country in relation to accidents and injuries.

Councillor Rennie enquired as to the process for personnel overseas and it was explained that the International Search and Rescue Team had robust procedures in place for reporting any incidents as well as dedicated medical staff on site. When staff return to the UK, it was explained that  the Occupational Health team also undertook a health review of the team.

With regards to light duties, it was noted that Occupational health managed that information and they could provide an update through the Health and Safety Committee.

Councillor Maloney asked if a leaflet drop in busy streets would help to raise awareness of parking issues when crews are responding to incidents and in turn help to reduce the number of collisions. Councillor Maloney raised the motion to add this to the recommendations and this was seconded by Councillor Murphy and agreed by the Members.

Councillor Lamb noted that Wirral Council were working on a parking strategy to get more controlled parking and limit the amount of vehicles stored on the street and he agreed to feed into that consultation some of the points raised by the Authority.

RESOLVEDthat:

a)     the performance outcomes of the Authority against its H&S Performance targets for the period 1^st April 2022 to 31^st March 2023 be scrutinised; and

b)    leaflets on parking to be shared with the Authority Members and a leaflet drop on busy streets to be considered.