Message from Marcus Bailey, Chief Operating Officer

As some of you may be aware, on 1^st October Chelmsford ambulance station and Broomfield control room were subject to an inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reviewing Covid-19 compliance in both areas.

The role of the HSE is to ensure that, as an organisation we are taking appropriate precautions in order to minimise the risk of Covid-19 to all our staff and volunteers.

I, along with Gary Morgan and colleagues from our Operations and Health and Safety teams, met with the two HSE inspectors who visited both buildings.

Since the visit, Gary and myself have been in regular contact with the HSE and, in conjunction with staff based at both sites, have been working through their recommendations in order to ensure we are meeting all the necessary standards. These have included aspects of compliance such as ensuring desks are two metres apart, protective screens being in place, appropriate FIT testing being carried out, adequate PPE provision for all staff and decontamination of shared equipment.  

This week, we received a letter from the HSE summarising their recommendations and asking us to confirm that we have taken steps to address all of them at both sites. I can confirm that we will be replying to say that we are confident all measures are in place, both sites are Covid compliant and meet the standards set by the HSE.

If any of you have concerns about your working environment or any aspect of Covid compliance then please speak to your line manager or email the OCE mailbox or contact our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian. 

Finally, I would like to thank all of you for continuing to make changes to the way you work in order to keep yourselves and your colleagues safe.

Marcus Bailey
Chief Operating Officer

Published 3rd December 2020