Healthand and Safety Executive Fire and Rescue Service

Healthand and. Safety Executive Fire and Rescue Service Inspections by HSE

AIM • To provide FRS H&S practitioners with an outline of the proposed inspections of the FRS by HSE in 2009/10.

Overview 1. Drivers for inspection 2. Outline plan 3. Outcomes 4. Questions

Key drivers • • • No recent HSE inspections • Operational assessment of service delivery (AC) • Fatal accidents Police Services inspected last year High level discussions Timely to do so – work on HSWA & Ops Perceived background noise – ‘something not right’

Outline Plan - Inspection arrangements • • • National inspection team* • • • 8 FRS (within GB) Lead manager (liaise with sector) Inspectors - experience of fire and rescue services Management inspection (HSG 65) Time – preparation - 2008/09 inspections – After April ‘ 09 follow up - 2010

Outline plan – Selection of FRS by the Sector • Different governance arrangements (Met / County etc) • • Variety of duty systems (full time/retained) Riddor accident data Inspector / Sector knowledge Liaison with FRS stakeholders (CFRA / AC etc)

Outline plan – Inspection topics (general) • Will look at some firefighter operational issues but from a HSG 65 health & safety view • We are liaising with stakeholders about the topics. • Approach is largely to check compliance with individual FRS policies & procedures

Outline plan – Possible inspection topics • An overview of health & safety arrangements (HSG 65) • Incident commander training (H&S) Breathing apparatus training (H&S) • • Hot fire/compartment fire training (H&S) • Maintenance of general F/F competence (H&S) • Provision of safety critical risk information

Outline plan. Pre planning • Collate relevant national guidance • • Secondee from fire service • Ongoing communication with FRS Determine benchmarks Finalise inspection protocol* Explanatory letter to all Chief Fire Officers

Outline plan – If you are to be inspected • Initial contact by lead inspector • Provision of requested paperwork / procedures • Inspection arrangements firmed up • • Inspection phase Debrief / report back phase

Outline plan – General inspection outcomes • • ‘Hot’ debrief to FRS (FOD) • Collation & analysis of all bespoke reports (Sector) • National summary report (Sector) • Presentation of national report (Sector) • Follow on work – tbc Bespoke written summary report to FRS (FOD)

General • • We are not a panacea. • • • Other local issues via local HSE. Focused inspection – H&S processes (HSG 65). We do not aim to be burdensome. H&S should be part of normal mgt.

Conclusion • Any Questions?