HEALTH AND SAFETY: AT WHAT COST?

In 2015 at Blackfriars Crown Court, Lorraine Barwell, a 54-year-old grandmother, was kicked twice, once in the body and once in the head, during the restraint of a prisoner in custody. She died from brain injuries caused by the second blow.

The incident led to an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that found that Serco Ltd had failed to:

• Properly analyse risk intelligence on prisoners and communicate risks and safety precautions to staff
• Have sufficient procedures in place and follow them
• Provide readily accessible protective equipment and to ensure further training was provided where identified as required. In addition, there was a continued failure to:
• Adequately staff court activities
• Manage working hours
• Assess risks of violence and aggression
• Communicate safety critical information
• Have suitable procedures in place and to work in accordance with those procedures.

Time pressures, staffing levels and business priorities had led to routine violations of procedures by staff in order to get the job done, and which had gone unchallenged. This was despite such failings being brought to their attention by HM Prisons Inspectorate, the Ministry of Justice, HSE inspectors and Serco’s own staff.

On 25 April 2022, at Southwark Crown Court, Serco Ltd pleaded guilty to charges under section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 contrary to Section 33(1) (a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. On 26 May 2023, at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), it was fined £2.25m and ordered to pay almost £434,000 in costs.

This was a tragic incident that highlighted serious health and safety breaches and which led to the murder of a colleague.

However, I am sure we are all aware of breaches of health and safety in our own workplaces. No matter where you work, health and safety regulations are designed to protect people at work.

It is incumbent on us all to ensure that management and our colleagues are challenged when failing to adhere to risk assessments and regime management plans.

We are all responsible for health and safety.

MICK PIMBLETT
ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY
POA HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE