Date of Request
21/07/2024
Request
Good evening,
Can you please answer the following questions?
1. How many vehicle accidents have occurred in the past 3 years involving reversing manoeuvres?
2. How many of these accidents had no banksperson in place?
3. What sanctions were given for each of those accidents?
4. How many drivers of blue light vehicles have been taken off driving duties at their request, for reasonable adjustments or any other reason? Please give a number for each category/reason.
5. How many operational staff, who are competent in role are not qualified to drive blue light vehicles?
Many thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
Response
Hi
We thank you for your request for information, which has been received by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Service) and considered under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 and once again can only apologise for the delay in gathering this information to answer your request.
The Service can confirm that the information that you have requested is partially held and is detailed below:
1. How many vehicle accidents have occurred in the past 3 years involving reversing manoeuvres?
2021/22 = 6
2022/23 = 5 (2 during emergency response)
2023/24 = 6
2. How many of these accidents had no banksperson in place?
2021/22 = 0
2022/23 = 4 (2 during emergency response)
2023/24 = 2
3. What sanctions were given for each of those accidents?
2021/22 = 0 – Service Policy was followed.
2022/23 = 1 – Service Policy was followed, 2 – during emergency response, 2 – verbal instruction
2023/24 = 4 – Service Policy was followed, 1 – verbal instruction, 1 – written warning
4. How many drivers of blue light vehicles have been taken off driving duties at their request, for reasonable adjustments or any other reason? Please give a number for each category/reason.
In the period 2021/22 to 2023/24, three On-Call operational staff failed their ERDT refreshers, and were taken off driving until re-training was arranged. One Wholetime FF requested to temporarily stop driving due to a disciplinary case not related to driving, but agreed to commence driving duties once that matter concluded, which they did. Any other detail concerning local arrangements agreed with Watch Commanders and/or Station Commanders cannot be provided as this is not recorded centrally.
5. How many operational staff, who are competent in role are not qualified to drive blue light vehicles?
Consideration should be given to the Station Skills Matrix (SSM) before reviewing the data requested. Each SSM is intended to guide Station Commanders and Watch Commanders in the training needs of personnel under their control and hence the nominations for courses. It also states that “Deviations from the requirements should be amended as quickly as possible, by either attaining training for individuals, or by means of Watch transfers in the case of an imbalance on a Station”.
As an example, the requirement for LGV/ERDT per Watch for a one pump Wholetime station is 4, and 6 per On-call Unit (However this can vary dependant on the On-call contract types at the unit, i.e. 40, 60, 120 hours etc., and has been recently averaged between 6 to 10 depending on size and unit cover).
Furthermore, the detail below does not include operational staff who are not on a watch or unit, for example Training Centre Watch Commanders, or On-call Support Watch Commanders. The detail below also does not include those staff in other departments that maintain their driving competencies, but also provide operational cover on stations. It should also be noted that where operational staff are temporarily promoted, or are working on a project, this would affect the data requested, as those staff are operationally competent, but wouldn’t be counted in the specific SSM.
Therefore, referencing the above information of the 24 On-call units as at 1 July 2024, there was a total skills requirement for LGV / ERDT drivers of 164, with a current total of 138 (this includes 5 staff on career breaks) as at 31 July 2024.
Concerning wholetime stations, the SSM calculates a requirement of 120 LGV/ERDT drivers (i.e. 4 per watch x 30 watches). As at 31 July 2024, the current total LGV/ERDT drivers on watches is currently recorded as 98. This number does not include those staff in development, on career breaks, currently booked sick, or temporarily promoted. As stated above, this figure also does not include operational staff that are competent LGV/ERDT drivers.
*Please note the data requested takes no account of retirement and recruitment cycles.
If you have any questions regarding your request, please contact Information Governance and Committee Services on tel: 0345 122 4454 or by e-mail informationrequests@hwfire.org.uk. In any such communication please include the reference number assigned (see Subject).
Should you have any queries regarding the management of your request and wish to make either a complaint or request a review of the information disclosed to you, please do so by using Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s complaints system: Comments and Complaints. This must be done within 40 working days of our response to your request. After this date and in line with ICO guidance the Service is not obliged to provide an internal review of your request.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you may appeal the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF, Tel: 0303 123 1113 (alternatively 01625 545745) or E-mail: casework@ico.org.uk.
Further information on Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service may be viewed at the Service’s website: www.hwfire.org.uk
Thank you for your request for information.
Kind regards
Information Governance Team