REQUEST RESPONSE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Please provide by return of this email the following documentation: Health and safety / risk assessment for police officers conducting speed enforcement checks, using hand held devices, located at Fender Lane (eastbound), Birkenhead. Procedure for pre-usage checks and how they are recorded for laser device SL700. Please see the attached Risk Assessment document which is attached under this response table. There is a GRA in relation to the use of hand held speed detection equipment on Force systems as GRA 14.1.5. Prior to use of a location that has been used for some time by Roads Policing Officers as a speed enforcement location, officers would perform a dynamic risk assessment to ensure that there were no new features which would render use of the site inappropriate in relation to hazards to officers or members of the public. Please see the attached extracted from a speed enforcement document attached under this response table, after the risk assessment document. Signed risk assessments are retained by the Areas and Departments, which are responsible for identifying where risk assessments are required, obtaining an example or GRA where possible, and then completing the assessment, indicating where control measures are in place and where further action is required. GRA=Generic Risk Assessment It is confirmed that a signed copy of the risk assessment is held by the Force. Information in respect of the SL700 has previously been disclosed as part of an earlier FOI application and is accessible on the Internet. For convenience, please refer to the.pdf document at the top of the response e-mail.
The below is the Health & Safety Risk assessment for use of Hand Held Speed enforcement devises specified. A signed copy is held by the Roads Policing Unit of M.O.S.C. RISK ASSESSMENT Risk Assessment: - Speed enforcement Use of LTI 20.20 Ultralyte 100 Laser Location: Smithdown Lane Roads Policing Dept. Completed by: Sgt 7887 Paul Mountford Other relevant risk assessments: - Mobile Patrol Duties. See R.P.D Intranet site Date Completed: 23/6/2015 Review Date: June 2016 Text highlighted in red = specially relevant to non Roads Policing staff and officers attached to the department WORK ACTIVITY HAZARD WHO IS RISK CONTROL MEASURES Y /N FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED Ref No Description AT RISK (h/m/l) IN PLACE? By When Person Responsible 1 Preparation for check on Highway Risk of injury due to unsuitable site All Staff L Ensure suitable site is selected. Ensure: - Braking distances required for vehicles. This activity is only conducted on roads with a 20, 30 or 40 mph speed limit. In the case of a 40 mph road, this is defined as a fast road. Only L N
WORK ACTIVITY HAZARD WHO IS RISK CONTROL MEASURES Y /N FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED Ref No Description AT RISK (h/m/l) IN PLACE? By When Person Responsible officers who have undertaken a Fast Roads Course may engage in speed enforcement activity on such a road. NOTE this is relevant to officers attached to the Roads Policing Department including officers from the Special Constabulary. Good visibility/ weather. Daylight hours only. A minimum of 100 metres clear view. Select suitable Area for vehicles to stop. No large obstructions that effect visibility. Check speed restriction signs Do not obstruct pavement for pedestrians
WORK ACTIVITY HAZARD WHO IS RISK CONTROL MEASURES Y /N FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED Ref No Description AT RISK (h/m/l) IN PLACE? By When Person Responsible 2 Using device Risk of injury due to improper use 3 Performing speed checks All Staff L Only trained staff to use Type Approved devices. Do Not stare into transmit aperture for prolonged periods. Do Not view sun through scope. Never point at aircraft. Risk of collision All Staff/ public M A minimum of 2 officers should be at scene however when unavailable 1 officer can conduct a speed check. Officers to be wearing High Visibility Clothing Update Control Room as to location before commencing. Stay on pavement when using device and instructing vehicles to stop. Remain on pavement when speaking to driver. Ask them to get out of vehicle onto pavement or into a police vehicle. If using police vehicle consider using warning lights whilst sat in it with member of public. Remind driver/ member of public L L
WORK ACTIVITY HAZARD WHO IS RISK CONTROL MEASURES Y /N FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED Ref No Description AT RISK (h/m/l) IN PLACE? By When Person Responsible to be careful when re-joining traffic. 4 Contact with violent individuals Risk of injury/ assault All Staff M All officers to be PSP trained. All officers to wear PPE. Control Room to be aware of location. L. 5 Use of CS Risk of cross contamination All Staff/ Public` M Officers trained in use of CS. To be aware of advice to give if cross contamination occurs. L Signature of Assessor Name and Rank Paul Mountford. Sgt 7887 Date 23/6/2015 Signature of Force Health and Safety Officer Name Date Signature of Safety Representative Name Date Signature of Area Commander / Head of Department Name Date
Application 2 Extract from Roads Policing Unit documentation in respect of Speed Enforcement Speed Detection Devices Description and set up General Description. Hand held speed detection devices are a versatile instrument that measures both the range and speed of selected targets by the use of a laser. The advanced technology of the laser provides pinpoint aiming capability, permitting the user to isolate a single vehicle out of a group. The laser is capable of discriminating between approaching and receding vehicles. This is done by an indication on the main display in front of the three digit speed readout as a (minus) sign for receding and a + (plus) sign for approaching vehicles. The hand held device has in inbuilt computer, which can store every operation, carried out and at times has been used in court proceedings. It is vital that the equipment is checked before every use and that the device is within the calibration period. Calibration The devices are class 1 lasers and require yearly calibration with the manufacturer. The calibration plate showing the date is located on the outside of the device. This date should be recorded in your PNB when you test the device. First Time Operation Most devices are turned on using the fire button, power switch or trigger
You then have two options either to carry out a test mode or go straight to speed check. The test mode is performed in the LCD panel The test mode will show all the characters, warnings and legends currently set in the unit. Accuracy tests Range and alignment tests should be carried out periodically, with a record being made that can be recalled if required. For example an entry in an equipment log, a witness statement or a pocket notebook. Alignment Check Scope alignment is set at the factory. The only reason the scope may go out of alignment would be from a heavy blow. The purpose of the test is to make sure the aiming dot in the Head Up Display (HUD) is in alignment with the laser. To carry out this test use a pre-determined aiming mark as thin as possible, i.e. a lamppost, signpost or TV/radio mast. Check using the Unipar - SL700 To activate the test, press the fire button and at the same time follow the target with the red aiming dot. The device will give emit a target acquisition tone as the target is tracked and there will also be a confirmation display on the LCD monitor. Move the aiming mark on and off target to check and confirm precise alignment. Check using the Ultralyte 1000 LTI 20-20 To perform the check, put the LCD into test mode and press test again where t t will be displayed. Press the trigger at the same time as scanning the target. Moving the aiming dot on and off the target in zig zag motion, the highest pitch or target tone will be heard when the laser hits the center of the target. Range Check
Lay out a range of known distance using one of the methods in Chapter 10 of the ACPO Guidance for the Operational Use of Speed and Red- Light Offence Detection Technology. Make a measurement of the distance between the reference mark and the target. The measurement should be taken from the front face of the laser the speed should read 0 mph and the range should match the pre-measured distance. Any difference should not exceed +/- 0.2 of a meter We recommend that if an operator wishes to evidence that the system confidence checks were correct at the start and end of the enforcement, that they do that. ACPO have removed must from their guidance. The following is considered best practice on what to record in your pocket notebook 0800hrs-1st Floor Landing SDL Police Station. Full check test carried out on Unipar SL700 No73. Calibration date due 05/10/13 1. Visual Damage Check. 2. Switch on Test. 3. Alignment Test (Horizontal and/or Vertical) 4. Range Check (30 meters). 5. 30.01 6. 30.02 7. 29.99 8. 30.01 9. 30.01 10. All checks correct and within tolerance of +/- 200mm. 08.30hrs Set up speed check site at Breeze Hill junction with Stuart Road, Walton. Facing traffic coming over flyover from direction of Walton Hall Avenue. Weather conditions -Dry and bright conditions. Moderate vehicular traffic, visibility good. Pedestrian children moving around area on way to school.
Set personal radio to TXI (Press and hold No 9). (YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE YOUR EMERGENCY BUTTON IF NEEDED AND THEN BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT ANY EMERGENCY MESSAGE). Prior to commencing speed checks - Switch on test. All correct. Alignment check. Correct. The above should be put in your PNB each time you carry out checks on the laser device. DON T FORGET to do the 1to10 checks above when you get back to your station at end of your shift, and write these in your PNB. Safety and set up when using hand held lasers Types of speed enforcement operations using hand held laser Roadside with other agencies using dedicated stopping zone full risk assessment with safety briefing and safety officer appointed. Roadside single operator using non marked out stopping area local risk assessment Roadside speed watch no intention of stopping vehicles PNB entry Roadside kid s court full risk assessment, safety briefing with additional safety measures Setting up and using the device Clear line of sight into the section of road you are using no trees, poles or other obstructions Minimise the angle or cosine effect - the straighter the angle, then a more accurate speed is read by the laser. The cosine effect always works in favour of the targeted vehicle Aim the red dot just above the registration plate for at least 0.3 second
Keep the trigger pressed until a beep is heard High pitched beep = speed captured Low pitched beep = error These are confirmed in both the HUD and LCD Safety considerations When deploying on foot always wear a Hi Vis jacket and if weather allows headwear. Consider protection roadside furniture, bus stops, parked vehicle, marked vehicle and additional safety equipment Layout and speed of road dual carriageways and speeds above 30mph require additional training. Volume of traffic Driver s reactions, near misses How and where are you going to stop offending vehicles have an escape plan Approaching or receding vehicles advantages of both Winter sun - Do not aim the device into the sun as the aiming scope has x2 magnification and may damage your eyes