Health & Safety

I’m putting my feet up as I drift towards retirement but happily there are people around who will continue to contribute to this column. In a recent joint launch with ACPO (supported by PFEW) the head of the HSE said the following:-

“The Health and Safety Executive and senior police officers want to stamp out the myth that health and safety duties prevent the police from doing their duty.
“Police work is unique in that it involves decision-making and risk taking in fast moving situations. This statement will assist senior police officers in balancing the risks involved in their duties to fight crime and protect the public, with meeting their health and safety obligations to their own employees and the public.
“Officers are not expected to take an unreasonable risk where there is little chance of saving life or protecting property.”

Some senior officers may have missed that point in their pursuit of the presence on the street; previously we have associated huddles of staff with our PCSO colleagues going about their business but more recently it seems that this huddle could actually consist of police officers.

If you feel the need to supervise such a group please bear in mind that they may be huddled around the solitary radio that they now have to share in some parts of London. Apparently you don’t need personal communication in the 21st century although sharing is good for your carbon footprint.

In other parts of London you may see the much vaunted single patrol officer strutting John Wayne style with an Airwave radio on each hip because they have two channels to listen to……….two radios for one and none for the others…..it’s a funny old game!

The good news is that the senior police officers are doing their level best to stamp out the myth that health and safety gets in the way by confirming that it is their own lack of knowledge of the subject coupled with poor management that is the obstacle rather than the legislation itself.

Mike Roulston MSc Dip NEBOSH MIIRSM CMIOSH

Met IBB H&S lead