To consider the Annual Health, Safety and Welfare Report 2024/25 (CFO/04/2526).

Councillor Sam Gorst returned at 13:30.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Ged Sheridan, introduced the report and advised Members that this item was a standard item that was discussed on an annual basis. He welcomed Health and Safety Station Manager, Kevin Hollis to present the Health, Safety and Welfare Report 2024/25.

Kevin Hollis advised Members that there were four workplace Local Performance Indicators (LPI) performances and these were based on operational staff injuries, including injuries on duty, at incidents, at risk critical training and whilst conducting other routine activities. Members were advised that there were two LPI Monitoring’s which did not have a service plan target or performance rating, however, every injury was monitored. This included non-operational staff injuries on duty and the reporting of near misses. Near misses were reviewed at the Workplace Review Group for quality assurance. Members acknowledged that this was also scrutinised in the Performance Management Group and measured against targets on a monthly basis. 

Members’ attention was drawn to staff accident and injuries. It was noted that the number of operational staff injuries on-duty (LPI WR13) had a reduction for the second year running which was encouraging. Of those 38 staff members who were injured on duty, 24 remained on duty, meaning that the injuries were minor and the reporting culture was positive. It was explained that duty days lost was 234 which was a reduction by 93 on the previous year. Kevin Hollis also noted that operational staff attended nearly 18,000 incidents in the last year.

Kevin Hollis noted that the number of operational staff injuries at risk critical training (LPI WR34) had a slight increase from last year, however, this was still below the predicted annual performance. It was explained that the predicted annual performance was not a static figure and could increase or decrease as workstreams and targets changed. Members also acknowledged that year on year, there had been an increase in training, including more realistic training which was always risk assessed by the Health and Safety Department to ensure safety.

Members were advised that the number of operational staff injuries on duty (LPI WR32) saw a reduction from the previous year and out of the seven injuries, six members of staff remained on duty.

Looking at the reporting of near misses (LPI WR31), Kevin Hollis noted that there was a reduction in comparison to the previous year, however, it was the second highest in four years which showed a trend in the right direction. He explained that the reason why near misses fell under the ‘monitoring’ category was because it was hard to predict how many near misses had taken place. This is why the Service greatly encouraged reporting near misses. Members were made aware that feedback may be given out after a near miss and an investigation may be completed due to the nature of the near miss.

Kevin Hollis advised Members that the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) was categorised into major and minor. Since the last reporting period, there had been one RIDDOR Major (a fracture) and eight RIDDOR Minors. It was explained that dangerous occurrences had been brought into RIDDOR with the regulations which related to the use of Breathing Apparatus at an operational incident.

Members acknowledged that Road Risk was monitored through the Performance Management Group and the LPIs were regarding Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) involving Fire Service Vehicles. These were broken into further categories such as the number of RTCs where a Fire Appliance or light vehicle hit another vehicle or object whilst responding to an operational incident and whilst engaging in routine activity.

It was noted that overall RTCs involving Fire Service Vehicles (RR23) was at 60, which was 12 less than predicted and 6 less than the previous year, which was the second year that the Authority had seen a reduction in RTCs. Kevin Hollis explained that the appliance collisions across routine activity saw the largest group being slow speed moving forward movements which were less than 10mph. Out of the 56 appliance collisions, 36 of those were at slow speed.

The number of RTCs where a light vehicle hit another vehicle or object whilst responding to an operational incident (RR33) was at 0 and whilst engaged in routine activity (RR34) was at four which was a reduction of three from the previous year. Kevin Hollis reassured Members that every collision was reviewed at the Road Risk Review Group. The group looked at every collision and discussed any investigations to ensure quality assurance. Members noted that drivers were given support if they had been involved in a collision and advice and support to prevent further recurrence.

Members were made aware that every Authority premises received an annual general health and safety audit to ensure compliance with regulations. It was explained that reduction in audits on the previous year was due to changes in sites, for example, the reopening of the TDA and relocation of ISAR and National Resilience into the TDA, meaning that small units were lost. However, it was confirmed that all sites were visited as required. There was also an 100% completion of monthly Station Manager health and safety inspections.

It was confirmed that every station had zoning (red, amber and green stickers on doors) to reduce residual risk of exposure to contaminants and to make staff aware of the correct direction of travel. This was also detailed in Service Instruction 0998: Reducing Exposure to Fire Contaminants. Members were assured that there had been an introduction of monthly ‘reducing exposure’ station inspections to quality assure that contaminants guidance was being followed. 

With regards to welfare, Kevin Hollis advised that there were 1,787 total medical appointments which included health screenings, other duties reviews and general medical appointments. The total amount of Occupational Health referrals was 1,131 which included referrals to physiotherapy, the nutritionist and fitness tests. Members noted that Critical Incident Stress Management activity saw 323 appointments which was an increase on the previous year. There were also 692 total therapy appointments which was over 100 more than the previous year.

Looking forward to 2025-26, Kevin Hollis explain that the team would manage performance for further reductions, increase near miss reporting, use data effectively, review technology such as parking sensors, introduce bespoke Low Speed Manoeuvre training videos, continued engagement with Representative Bodies, support NFCC regionally and nationally, monitor fire contaminant compliance and deliver against the Functional Delivery Plan.

Councillor Sam Gorst praised the Authority for highlighting the difference between physical and mental health appointments in detail in the report this year. He drew Members’ attention to the section called ‘other’ with regards to medical appointments and wondered if examples could be broken down for further effective scrutiny. He explained that this section saw the largest amount of appointments and therefore, thought this was important to have further information. Monitoring Officer, Ria Groves, noted that this would be picked up with Health and Wellbeing Manager, Kelly Patterson and Members would be provided with a further update.

Councillor Mike Sullivan queried how long a member of staff could go off sick for through work and stay on full pay. Monitoring Officer, Ria Groves, stated that if the sickness related to an injury on duty, staff would receive 12 months full pay and if this was not an injury on duty, they would receive six months full pay, followed by six months half pay.

It was asked by Councillor Kieran Murphy who undertook the health and safety inspections, and it was confirmed that this would be a member of the Health and Safety Team who was fully qualified to undertake these inspections. Councillor Kieran Murphy queried whether there was any external auditing of the process. Kevin Hollis confirmed that there was no external audit completed, however, the inspections were completed in compliance with relevant regulations. He added that when sites were audited, Fire Risk Assessments were also undertaken which were completed by an external company.

Councillor Sam Gorst asked if there was any health and safety Union Representatives involved in the inspections. Kevin Hollis noted that there was a range of separate health and safety inspections that were in conjunction with Representative Bodies. He explained that the Trade Union Representatives contributed to items discussed at the Health, Safety and Welfare Committee. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer added that Trade Unions also attended the location of planned exercises to assure themselves that sufficient arrangements were in place, including health and safety.

Councillor Jeanette Banks noted that on Item 4 relating to staff injuries (WR34), it was good to see that the Authority had 28 Apprentice Firefighters. She queried whether there was a breakdown around how many accidents or injuries Apprentice Firefighters had as they would not have as much experience as longer standing Firefighters. It was explained by Kevin Hollis that this was not broken down by experience, rather by age and where the incident took place. He acknowledged that if the incident was at the TDA and during risk critical training, the team would look into subcategories and decipher whether it was during recruit training. If this was the case, the Health and Safety Team would speak to the Recruit Department, look at recommendations and take action. This review of the breakdown of the data can assist in identifying any trends

to enable the team to address them.

It was questioned by Councillor Jeanette Banks whether technology within vehicles was helping collision reductions and whether future technology would help further. Members were advised that the next phase of appliances coming through would comply with regulations and have warning systems built into them to advise of cyclists or pedestrians in the danger zone. Kevin Hollis explained that there was currently a parking sensor trial to further reduce collisions, specifically slow speed manoeuvres, however, the data wasn’t available at the present time.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer added that as technology had emerged over recent years, such as lane movement, the Service had seen the benefit of this with reduced collisions and the dangers of road and vehicle use.  He thanked Kevin Hollis for the detailed report and reassured Members as to the level of scrutiny by the Service on Health, Safety and Welfare. This could be seen through the reporting to committees, inspections, and Performance Management Groups. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer also remarked on the extremely positive results the Service had achieved. This was particularly stark when benchmarking later in the year across the Sector when considering the vast amount of prevention activity undertaken by the Service. The Service’s prevention activity consisted of going into the community and not all services carry this out as part of their prevention engagement. Members were made aware that doing this would increase vehicle movements, therefore, the results achieved when benchmarking across the Sector were particularly noteworthy.

RESOLVED that the performance related contents of the report which highlights the positive progress and safety culture within MFRS be noted.