Newsbeat Daily
A BRAND new health and safety policy has been launched across the force. The policy clearly defines the force’s commitment to effectively managing the safety of all employees and members of the community we serve.
The policy comes about following a comprehensive 12 month review that included a period of extensive consultation with staff across the force
The policy comes about following a comprehensive 12 month review that included a period of extensive consultation with staff across the force.
The policy sets out in plain language the responsibilities that line managers and individuals have for their own safety and the safety of people we work with.
One of the key drivers behind the new policy was the 2011 staff survey. The results from the survey showed that many staff across the force felt that the organisation could do more to demonstrate visible leadership on safety.
As a result ACC Rowe, who recently took up the role of force lead in this area, has developed a clear strategy to help drive improved performance. The success of this will be closely monitored at force, and local, health and safety committee meetings. The new policy defines the purpose of those meetings and sets out a clear agenda to ensure safety is managed consistently across the force.
Andy Warren, Insurance and Risk Manager for the force, said: “With new ways of working emanating from Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) and the Continuous Improvement Programme, it is vital we review and adapt our safety management system to fit the modern force.
“With this in mind the safety team are working on a range of initiatives to simplify and improve our guidance and processes around safety. One of these initiatives – the iCASS online accident / incident reporting system – is already in place. This system delivers real time, quality data that allows the force to identify and solve problems more quickly.
“Over the coming months we will be making staff aware of several other health and safety projects to be rolled across the force. This will include a new approach to safety training that will demystify and explain the range of training that is delivered, and a new and improved Health and Safety intranet site with clear, simple guidance across all areas of safety.”
To find out more, or to read the policy please visit the Health and Safety intranet site. A range of posters promoting the new policy will also be displayed across the force, as staff are encouraged to read the policy to ensure that they are aware of the responsibilities they have.
Andy added: “It is important to remember that health and safety is not about preventing us from doing our job, it is about ensuring we have the tools and the knowledge to perform our duties safely.”
