24.01.13
Fire & Rescue Service cuts staff injury by 37%
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service has reduced staff injuries by 37%, following a safety improvement programme.
In 201/12 the number of injuries to staff was 136, a fall of 80 casualties from 2009/10. The service has won a RoSPA Diamond award – the highest level in their Quality Safety Audit (QSA) scheme and is only one of two fire and rescue services to attain this level.
Devon & Somerset launched a Zero Harm scheme last year, increasing their health and safety department by almost 50%, creating a new organisational safety assurance department and raising awareness of occupational health issues, reducing staff injuries.
Lee Howell, chief fire officer of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We were delighted to receive the RoSPA QSA Diamond award. We have found the auditing process thorough and helpful in identifying areas for improvement.
“We are particularly proud of the 37% reduction in injuries achieved since the programme began. The Service is committed to a Zero Harm initiative and receiving the highest score level on RoSPA’s Quality Safety Audit is an excellent milestone on this path.
“The service is a much safer workplace for staff and the people we serve. It means employees have confidence in our health and safety systems, and in turn, they are more confident in what they do.”
Frances Richardson, director of operations at RoSPA, said: “Efforts made by managers saw the Service move up in the annual audit from level two to the highest, level five, in less than three years, which is unusual and highly commendable. They have a very impressive facility in Exeter.”
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