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During the recent APHSA Conference in Glasgow (Association of Police Health & Safety Advisers) for which we were the Gold Sponsor, we took the opportunity to chat to Martin Fishwick CMIOSH, MIIRSM, Health & Safety Officer, 'H' Division - Operations, 'G' Division - Crime & HQ Departments, Lancashire Constabulary.
Martin, obviously your role within the Police Force must differ considerably from the role of what you might term a ‘standard’ health & safety officer. What are your main responsibilities?
My role covers a wide spectrum of duties. Broadly I am responsible for circa 2,000 staff within Crime & Operations and Headquarter Departments. These include the Major Crime Unit, Force Investigation Teams, Motorway, Mounted, Dogs, Air Support, Training and Firearms as well as our office-based staff at HQ.
What training have you undertaken to enable you to carry out your role?
I trained to become a Chartered member of IOSH and additional training has included dynamic risk assessments, COSHH and advanced ergonomics training. I am the Chair of my local IOSH District which also includes a Safety Group. This I feel enables me to continue my professional personal development and training.
How long have you been with the Police Force and what was your health & safety background prior to joining?
Prior to joining the Force I worked for a builders merchants for two years as a buyer and I was also responsible for their health and safety. I then went on to become the first Health & Safety Officer based in Division, within Lancashire Constabulary, where I have now completed ten years service.
How has your role evolved during the last ten years?
I feel that as a Force we have moved on from reactive involvement to pro-active work within the departments. This I feel is as a result of those in my role within divisions working to ensure that the departments take ownership of health and safety and work with us to make sure it is a common thread within everything we do. This has worked very well and soon we will make additional advances in achieving this by centralising our department to offer a more formal advisory service which will allow the managers to control their department and the needs within.
How do you get actively involved with all the different training which is required?
I have input into the planning and delivery of training sessions, I oversee risk assessments and method statements for each department which generates a thorough understanding of the health & safety requirements for each department in itself. I also carry out regular audits and inspections to ensure that all policies are being adhered to, and to ensure that we can maintain our position as the best Police Force.
What about health & safety within the Station?
We have a Duty of Care when bringing a person into custody so specific custody training is undertaken by the Custody Officers. One issue that is topical at the moment due to several recent cases is ensuring we keep on top of legionella disease which is contracted through water so we have to make sure we carry out rigorous testing to ensure it isn’t present in these areas.
With regards to office-based and Control Room staff suffering from back pain or musculoskeletal disorders, I spend around 10% of my time dealing with such issues. With the help of The Back Store we are able to provide staff with the necessary equipment and training to help reduce sickness and absenteeism by introducing posture seating, ergonomic input devices and desk accessories to help make their working day more comfortable. Obviously we need all our staff to be ready and able to complete the task in hand so the health & wellbeing of our desk-based staff is as important as that of the Officers (who are also DSE users) out and about.
What might a typical day entail?
I can’t really describe a ‘typical’ day, as each is so different and varied. I might deliver a training session, attend a
department conference or carry out a departmental inspection and/or audit. I also regularly work with a particular department, shadowing Officers while they are out and about carrying out their duties, as this ensures that we are up to date in all the legislation and that we are working to ensure that our standards are complied with.
How does the Force cater for staff with disabilities?
We take disability within the Force very seriously and are proactive in tackling issues which arise. We have a Disability Support Group in Lancashire (I am currently the Chair of this group) which currently has around 150 members. Each member could have a hidden disability such as dyslexia, physical disability or a diagnosed medical condition.
The Group meets on a monthly basis and members are encouraged to discuss any issues they are facing so we can look to find a solution to suit their particular needs. For instance, an Officer with diabetes will be exempt from certain shifts and might not be asked to work after midnight. In all cases, a role change would only be considered as a last resort if every other avenue had been exhausted.
