HEALTH AND SAFETY

Q4 HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT
Members considered the paper which provided a strategic overview in relation to health & safety within the SPA and Police Scotland. Dawn Maclean (DMaclean) highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper and clarified that the RIDDOR figure on Slide 7 within the appendix should actually indicate that the number of RIDDORS is 41 (132 is the five-year total). L Division have seen increase in a month – some operations such as football.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Referencing the 20% increase in assaults on officers and staff, Members asked if there were any underlying reasons and heard most take place during first contact, in custody facilities and getting in and out of vehicles. Further analysis is being undertaken on the data to provide more insight.
• Members were informed that a near miss is defined by a person having tried to assault but failed, and the organisation is trying to increase support and advise of reporting near misses.
• Referencing dangerous dogs being an area of concern, Members were advised that it did not just relate to XL Bully dogs, but all dangerous dogs covered by the legislation.
• Referencing another area of concern, sure-fire earpieces, Members sought assurance that people can get access and heard that every division has a SPOC and a record of who has the kit. ACCBond explained that while access is available, the main issue is availability of sizes as resupply is a challenge. Members were assured stock had been reordered and was expected in 3-4 weeks.
• Members sought more comment on concerns around nitrous oxide productions and heard Police Scotland is in consultation with the Procurator Fiscal service to determine what can or can’t be stored. One possibility is that a digital image would be accepted in court therefore long-term cylinder storage would not be required.
• In terms of operational safety compliance levels, Members were informed numbers have dropped due to the training pause but as many spaces as possible are now being offered to improve numbers. One challenge is not just the ability of spaces but for staff to be released. As such, training and development are working with the Resource Deployment Unit to try prioritise front facing staff. The Committee Chair requested further detail on compliance levels is reported to the next meeting.
• Members heard there continued to be a backlog in driver training, but the organisation was looking to provide fixed terms contracts for suitable trainers to help clear. The Committee Chair requested a progress updated is provided to the next meeting.
• CSHay commented that the increase in assaults to officers could be contributed to the pause in officer safety training. BJones added that when training was paused, concerns were raised on the potential impact.

The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.
• AGREE the following actions:
Further detail on operational safety compliance levels to be reported to the next meeting.
PC – 20240530- 003
Progress update on driver training to be provided to the next meeting.
PC – 20240530- 004