Dynamic Risk Assessment

South Cumbria Occupational Health & Safety Group
Joint meeting with
South Cumbria IOSH District
(attended by 37 members)

Speaker: Martin Fishwick, Safety Adviser,
Lancashire Police
Date: 15th May 2008
Venue: The Netherwood Hotel,
Grange-over-Sands

Martin apologised for the absence of Helen Grice, our advertised speaker, who was due to talk on Corporate Governance & Manslaughter. He explained that she was stuck at Heathrow Airport and unable to reach Grange-over-Sands in time for the meeting and, unfortunately, we were unable to find a replacement speaker qualified to speak on Corporate Manslaughter at such short notice. However, we hope to arrange a meeting on this topic early in next year�s programme.

Martin then said that he would speak on Dynamic Risk Assessments in the Police Service instead. He explained that all probationary police officers undergo H & S training and as part of their training they watch a DVD called 'The Worst Enemy (red mist)'. The term 'Red Mist' was used throughout the DVD as a way of showing that sometimes we are our own 'worst enemy' because our natural instinct is to rush into a situation without pausing to think first! Martin explained that the human mind is very complex and powerful and that there are times when we need to control our natural instincts in order to save lives.

Four scenarios where shown in the DVD:
- PC Ash making chase into an area unknown over a wall, with no backup - he was attacked and stabbed.
- PC Williams jumping into the water to try and save someone who was drowning - she and the original victim ended up needing to be rescued.
- PC Croft entering a building which was on fire to ensure that the youths who started the fire had escaped - his colleague followed him into the building and died.
- The accidental killing of a child when a PC tried to disarm a man who was brandishing a handgun and was holding a child.

In all these scenarios the message was that it was important to assess the situation before taking action otherwise there might be unintended consequences � others, or the PC, could be injured or killed. It was important to stop and think, to contact base with information about the location of the incident and to ask for back-up support before rushing in to be a �hero�.

During officer training each of these scenarios is discussed and the trainees are asked what control measures could have been put into place. The officers themselves are then put into similar situations during training to help them learn to stop and think before rushing in. Martin then used other examples of situations that might be encountered by police officers - eg a police officer chasing a criminal over roof tops and then falling through a fragile roof.

It is much easier for the police to do more formal Risk Assessments and put control measures into place before planned raids, such as arresting drug dealers. These may include extra resources such as armed police officers, police dogs, and there is time to obtain details about the area, property and the people under surveillance. Key background information includes knowing whether there are likely to be knives, guns, drug users, or children in the premises and to gain as much practical information about the property as possible such as the layout of exits and entrances, number of rooms etc� In some cases it may be appropriate to obtain a helicopter view of the area to help assess possible escape routes etc... Once all this information has been assembled it is possible to plan the raid and assign officers to specific jobs. When a raid on a house is completed up to 20-30 officers may be present.

Martin explained that police training covers, physical fitness, dealing with people and a range of real life scenarios. For example, missiles being thrown at officers by rioters, officers are trained to be alert because they may be at risk from the criminals in unexpected places, they may encounter drug needles or other traps when searching properties.

If a police officer does not give chase or jump into the water to save someone who is drowning they may be criticised by the press. Their training covers this. They discuss various options and identify the action that is likely to result in the best outcome, but all policemen have an underlying belief that their duty is to save life and protect property. For example, when driving, officers need to make a split second decision about what will happen if they swerve to avoid an animal or debris in the road. Will it be more dangerous to hit the obstruction or swerve? Will there be a multi car accident, or the death of a pedestrian?

Martin then explained that sometimes police forces may need to action because of events in other police districts. For instance, a major football match in Manchester can affect other districts and extra resources may need to be drafted in to cover the travel routes and towns. He also said that the police radio control system can be used to identify the general area where a officer is working, but does not give an exact location.

Martin ended his talk by saying that the HSE can prosecute under corporate manslaughter legislation, but any prosecution must be referred to HSE by the police!

In his role as Chairman, Martin then closed the meeting after reminding everyone that the next meeting is a joint meeting at Barton Grange Hotel, Preston and the next meeting at The Netherwood Hotel will be on Thursday 17th July 2008.

The main meeting was followed by a Committee meeting.


NOTICES & NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FOR MEMBERS

Future events:

10th June 2008 - Joint Manchester & NW Districts' meeting at Barton Grange (booking required;
Tel: 01524 822 072).

21st August 2008 - Works visit: Heysham Harbour
(booking required:
Tel: 079 04 557 629).

Dermatitis Seminar October 2007 - the CD from this seminar will be issued to delegates shortly.

Future topics - please let Martin Fishwick know ASAP if there are any topics that you would like to see covered in our 2009 programme.

SCOHSG Membership Renewal Forms - to Heather Reed, Membership Secretary, ASAP please; membership open to firms and organisations (not individuals) and entitles firms to send employees to the joint meetings with South Cumbria IOSH District for H & S training and to meet H & S professionals for informal discussion.