Health & Safety
Table of Contents
Resources
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
Slips & Trips
DSE (Display Screen Equipment)
Manual Handling Regulations 1992
First Aid at Work
Health surveillance
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
Control of Noise at Work
Asbestos
FAQs & Information
Health and Safety
Health and safety refers to legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures, designed to prevent accidents, injuries and illnesses in the workplace and other environments.
Our mission is to proactively work in partnership with the Force, at all levels, to deliver a safe working environment for all.
We aim to achieve this by:
- Embracing all relevant legislation and approved codes of practise.
- Improving communication.
- Improving consultation.
- Training and development of workplace federation representatives
Who is responsible for health and safety?
Every member of the force has responsibilities for health and safety.
No one is exempt:
- The Chief Constable has overall responsibility for health and safety in the force.
- Area Commanders and Departmental Heads are responsible for health and safety in their areas or departments.
- On area, the Operational Superintendent is responsible for the management of health and safety in the operational environment.
- Business managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of health and safety in an area or department.
- GMP health and Safety unit have responsibility for the training of staff on health and safety issues, and the reporting of accidents etc.
- Line managers, such as Inspectors, Sergeants, office managers and team leaders, are responsible for issues under their immediate control.
- Individual members of staff have a responsibility for their own health and safety and the health and safety of others in the workplace who may be affect by their acts or omissions.
Is there a safety committee, which deals with Health and Safety and Welfare issues, in Greater Manchester Police?
There is a Force Health and Safety Committee, which has overall responsibility for dealing with health and safety issues across the Force.
All areas and departments have health and safety committees, which are responsible for dealing with local health and safety issues. GMP federation have representatives that are part of these committees.
How am I represented on health and safety matters?
On issues of health, safety and welfare within GMP, staff are represented by safety representatives appointed by The Police Federation.
How do I make a Personal Injury Claim?
Please contact your local Police Federation representative or contact the main GMP police federation office for further advice or to book on one of the free legal surgeries which are hosted at Progress House.
All these types of claims are run on a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA, No win, No fee). The difference between our scheme and those members can get on the high street is that when the claims are through PFEW, and members are successful in their claims they get to keep 100% of any compensation awarded.
Some of the common PI Claim types in which we provide legal assistance for members are (this list is not an exhaustive list):
- Slip/Trip
- Defective Equipment
- Chemical exposure
- Occupational Stress
- CICA (appeal/review only)
- Training injuries
- Assault
- Hearing loss
- Dog bite
- Lifting injury
- Needle stick injury
- Enforcer rapid entry
Time limits
There are different time limits within which you must begin legal action in a personal injury claim. You should get legal advice urgently if you want to claim compensation.
The most common claim in a personal injury case is negligence and the time limit for this is 3 years. This means that court proceedings must be issued within 3 years of you first being aware that you have suffered an injury.
In some cases, a court may decide to extend a time limit, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Other considerations
CICA - Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
If you have been assaulted in the course of your duty then you can pursue a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. All officers now have to do this themselves on line. Keep a note of the reference as you will need this to correspond with them and if you receive a decision that you are not happy with you may be entitled to legal representation to pursue an appeal. You should contact the Federation again at that stage. There is 2 years to lodge a claim. The following link should help you to their website here
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
you can apply through the DWP for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). This is a no fault scheme for victims of accidents at work and which can result in weekly payments being made to reflect the extent of any disability caused in the workplace. The threshold for payment is 14%. However if there were further injuries in the workplace the awards could be aggregated and result in a payment that otherwise would not have been received in isolation. There is also an opportunity, if the claim is accepted at any level, to review in the event of the worsening of a condition. Once you have completed the paperwork the DWP will make enquiries and if they are satisfied they are dealing with an accident in the workplace they will confirm the same. It would then be necessary to actually apply for an assessment of any disability. There is no time limit on claiming this benefit but it would not be assessed for 3 months after injury. You could therefore apply for any old injuries on duty that give rise to any disability now.
Serving police officers on duty at time injury sustained:
Injury Pension – this is a supplemental pension that can be paid either upon normal or ill health retirement. It involves consideration of any injury sustained on duty that causes an ongoing disability. There is a lump sum tax free amount that would be added to the normal pension entitlement and an annual tax free amount payable for life. The amount would depend upon the extent of disability. Please speak to your Federation at or around the time you intend to retire.