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Health & Safety

Health and safety measures put in place by the police force:

  • All officers are to be issued and must carry a fully charged mobile phone.
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) is issued to all officers and must be worn on all operations, this includes stab vests and high visibility jackets.
  • Police officers must be 'dressed with awareness' of what could possibly harm them or others. This basically means carrying your baton, handcuffs and CS spray.
  • If any other personal protective equipment is issued for a certain operation it must be worn. 

Safety measures on a crime scene - Cordon, cones, diversions, road blocks, warning signs.

All services must consider public welfare when responding to emergency service incidents. Usually this is done by alerting the public through use of the media. Basically this means that if for example there is a road traffic collision on the M1 motorway it will affect a lot of peoples journeys so they must be told about it. Also warning signs would be put on warning people of congestion.

Another thing the services have to consider is making the area safe for the public. For example in a RTC situation there is more than likely going to be a lot of glass and possibly sharp shards of metal, the services must make sure that these hazards do not become a danger to the public.

Other potential dangers at the scene could includes hazardous chemical (HazChem warning system,) live electrical cables , blocks on railways and railway crossings, fires, trapped persons,
smoke inhalation, evacuation due to a bomb scare and explosive devices, b
omb warnings, targets, terrorist activity, searching, evacuation.

Legislation 


‘The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, requires the Chief Constable and Police 
Authority to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of their employees. This includes the safety of others affected by their undertakings.’




Health and Safety Act 1974: 



All workers have a right to work in places where risks  to their health and safety are properly controlled. Health  and safety is about stopping you getting hurt at work or ill through work. Your employer is responsible for health and safety, but you must help.


What employers must do for you:

  1. Decide what could harm you in your job and the precautions to stop it. This is part of risk     assessment. 
  2. In a way you can understand, explain how risks will be controlled and tell you 
  3. Consult and work with you and your health and safety representatives in published 04/09  protecting everyone from harm in the workplace. 
  4. Free of charge, give you the health and safety training you need to do your job. 
  5. Free of charge, provide you with any equipment and protective clothing you need, and ensure it is properly looked after. 
  6. Provide toilets, washing facilities and drinking water. 
  7. Provide adequate first-aid facilities. 
  8. Report injuries, diseases and dangerous incidents at work to Health and safety.
  9. Have insurance that covers you in case you get hurt at work or ill through work. Display a hard copy or electronic copy of the current insurance certificate where you can easily read it. 
  10. Work with any other employers or contractors sharing the workplace or providing employees (such as agency workers), so that everyone’s health and safety is protected. 





Other Health and Safety Implications







  • COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
You need to plan and practice to cope with foreseeable accidents, incidents or emergencies. This means:

  • The right equipment to deal with the emergency (eg a spill), including protective equipment and decontamination products;
  • The right procedures to deal with a casualty;
  • The right people trained to take action;
  • The right arrangements to deal with the waste created.