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Wendy Foers – Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development (Chair)

John Selby – Senior Safety & Risk Advisor

Peter McDermott – Safety & Risk Advisor

Kevin Aylward – Human Resources Corporate Manager

Colin Jolly – Fleet Manager

Steve Sale – Commander CAC

Michael Boyne – Head of Operational Support

John Hopson – Commander West

Mairead Doyle – PTS Business Manager

John Comerford – PTS Regional Operations Manager – West Division

Patrick Billups – Assistant Head of Training Bromley

Martin Nelhams – Estates Manager Barnehurst

Ian Scott – Sector Representative – Central

Barnie Daws – Fleet Health & Safety Representative Croydon

Pat Osliff – Sector Representative – North West

Ian Lee – Unison Health & Safety Officer

Dave Smith – Sector Representative – North East

John Winnister – Sector Representative – South West

Danny Gaze – Sector Representative (covering for J. Vass) – South East

Ruby Bhelay-Haynes – Safety & Risk Administrator (Minute Taker)

Richard Absalom – Staff Safety Officer

Gordon Ballard – Sector Representative – East Central

Clare Thomas – Occupational Health Dept (KCH)

Pat Driscoll – Support Services Manager - CAC

Martin Flaherty – Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer (Sector Services)

Phillip Selwood – Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer (Control Services)

Geoff Davidson – Support Services Officer Representative

Steve Parker – Sector Representative – North East

Fred Phillips – Senior Representative – CAC

John Vass – Sector Representative – South East

The minutes of the meeting held on the 12^th February 2003 were agreed.

SS informed the group that the existing format of the Incident statistics was acceptable to Commanders but that as a Commanders meeting had not been held since February he had yet to confirm that the statistics would be a standing agenda item at Sector meetings.

SS confirmed that he had discussed the under reporting with Commanders and that an improvement was expected. He would raise the matter formally at the next Commanders meeting.

SS advised that the issue of weekly fire alarm testing had been discussed with Commanders and reminded Safety Representatives that any concerns regarding the tests should be taken up with their Station Officer in the first instance.

KA presented a summary of the NHS "Back In Work" campaign to the Group. It was agreed that an action plan on how best to reinforce the message of the campaign would be produced and discussed at the next meeting. WF suggested that the plan should include the awareness posters provided in the toolkit, being suitably amended and displayed at all Stations.

WF also advised that the new Back-Care Advisor, once appointed, would be responsible for reinforcing the message. They would also implement the fundamentals of the campaign to reduce the existing high levels of manual handling injuries.

JH suggested that the "Back In Work" campaign information be put onto the new LAS Intranet site "The Pulse" for Service wide access.

MB reported that the shirt manufacturer did not use formaldehyde in their processes and therefore the reported reactions must relate to other issues.

PB advised that the CAC Infection Control book had been withdrawn following the introduction of the "Universal Precautions Infection Control Procedure".

Concern was expressed about patients being isolated at Hospitals with no formal follow up for the crews who transported the patient. PB advised that staff concerned about such exposure should refer themselves to Occupational Health in accordance with the guidance within the procedure.

MB informed the Group that the Service intends to purchase and issue mobile phones to all operational staff as an interim measure until suitable HPR’s had been provided. The aim was for the programme to commence from September 2003; however, this would depend on funding.

MB informed the group that staff who had not been measured after the intended stab vest cut off date, had since had measurements taken and garments had been ordered.

MB also informed that any damaged stab vests armour panels would to be fully replaced.

PM added that any damaged stab vests due to an assault should be retained as evidence for the investigation.

Copies of the draft documents were issued to the Group and JS asked for any comments to be forwarded to RA by the end of May 2003.

JS also informed that Personal Safety & Management Conflict Guides had been issued to all frontline A&E and PTS staff.

WF stated that the guide was a comprehensive summary of the existing training provided to staff, and that all managers need to encourage staff to read the booklet.

JS advised the Group of the National Audit Office report "A Safer Place to Work – improving the management of health and safety risks to staff in NHS trusts", published on 30^th April 2003. The LAS was identified as a case example of good practice. Copies of the case example were distributed. Further information on the full report can be found on: www.nao.gov.uk.

JS also updated the group on the progress on the following issues: -

JS summarized the 1^st quarter’s incident statistical report.

KA stated that the feedback from the Staff Safety Training had indicated that all incidents of swearing were recorded whether or not the crew felt threatened in any way. If this were the case, the figures produced would not assist in identifying the incidents that required follow up action and would distort the true picture. A proposal on how to correctly identify a verbal threat would be tabled at the next meeting for consideration.

KA advised that the Industrial Injury Statistics provided indicated that up to 1.5% of sickness absence was due to industrial injury.

WF requested that the Group has a detailed discussion at the next meeting about Industrial Injury Statistics, with a view to identifying how such injuries could be reduced.

JS informed the group that rather than review the report in detail, managers’ needed to address the under reporting complexes where inspection reports were not being forwarded to the Safety & Risk Department.

JH requested that JS email him the Premises Inspection report to assist him in identifying those Sectors/Stations that have failed to provide reports.

JS identified the Risks rated as high on the risk register and commented on the progress made to date. The Group noted the report.

JS informed the group that 3 corporate Health & Safety Induction Seminars, 1 Manual Handling Risk Assessor Course, seven 2-day Personal Safety/Post Incident Support Training Courses and the on going 1-day Personal Safety Training had been delivered since the last meeting.

JS also informed that a 2-day Safety & Awareness course was scheduled for the 22^nd and 23^rd May 2003.

JS expressed his concern at the low level of RIDDOR reported incidents to the HSE (copied to the Health &Safety Department) The number of cases reported should be significantly higher.

JH agreed to look into this matter and report back at the next meeting.

SS stated that the Metropolitan Police could not improve their links with CAC at present as they were in the process of centralising 32 Controls to three and were resolving numerous technical difficulties. They were fully aware of the LAS requirements and would make improvements as soon as practicable. SS will report any progress at the next meeting.

PB advised that this matter stemmed from the manufacturer providing different shaped containers that did not fit the LAS holders. He had arranged to meet with the supplier to resolve this issue and would report back at the next meeting.

JW expressed his concerns about a recent incident where the earpiece of a stethoscope had come off in a crewmember’s ear whilst in use.

PB advised that the Clinical Risk Group were aware, and are investigating this incident,

CJ expressed concerns about the occasional late releasing of vehicles for servicing.

WF requested that this item be referred to a Commanders meeting.

IL expressed concerns about pressurisation in system 2 cleaning agent containers.

JS stated that the situation should not occur if the correct procedure is followed. Section 8.6 of the Infection Control Policy sets out the correct mixing of the solutions that should prevent pressure building.

IL informed the group that speed humps located on roads outside ambulance stations were causing delays when on emergency calls.

JH agreed to take this up with Commanders to encourage Station Officers to make representations to their local borough councils about traffic calming measures.

WF thanked the group for their attendance and informed that he next meeting would take place at Waterloo HW on the 2^nd July 2003, at 14:00-16:00 hours.

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