Hampshire Constabulary

Annual fitness assessment preparation

Advice for staff during snow and ice

In the event of a major incident being declared

• Please do not self report to work if off duty - if we need you we will contact you.
• Stay at home.
• Stay close to your phone.
• Tune in/watch the news.
• This staff information page and the staff information phone line will be updated on a regular basis, please keep monitoring.

Preparing for the annual fitness assessment

Click here to download bleep test on to a personal laptop, mp3 player or CD. Please be aware that you are not allowed to connect personal devices to force computers.

Measure out a 15 meter section and mark each end with a marker such as a cone, or even a book. Ideally the surface should be flat – why not use the gym, garden or a local park.

Make sure you are fully warmed up. This could be a light jog and stretching.

Begin the test - basic rules to remember are:

• You must always ensure that they have one foot on or beyond the 15 meter marker at the end of each shuttle run.
  
• If you reach the marker before the beep then you should wait at the marker until you hear the beep and then resume running.

The development plan below is available for those who are currently on maternity leave and want to prepare for the fitness assessment ready for your return to work.

PostnatalDevelopmentPlan3monthsver1.doc

Snow and ice

Staff are reminded of the following: 

• If you cannot travel into work because of treacherous road conditions, you should call in to work and, where possible, report to your nearest police station. If you cannot come in at all and cannot work from home, please speak to your line manager and local Human Resources team in regards to time taken off.
• If you are one of those officers likely to be affected and may have to work from a station other than your normal place of work, please consider taking your uniform and PPE (NOT CS) home with you.
• If you have planned meetings, which you are required to travel to, cancel them unless it is absolutely business critical that they happen.

Staff are also reminded to call the dedicated staff information line internally on 79 2663 or externally on 01962 834657 for up-to-date guidance.

All staff are urged to take extra care in the road conditions, and drive with all due caution - just as we advise the public.

• It is important that you keep warm, and take extra layers of clothing and hot refreshments with you.
• If a member of the public asks for driving advice, urge them only to make journeys if absolutely necessary.
• If someone must make a journey, advise the motorist to drive slowly, avoid hard braking, travel with extra warm clothing and refreshments, and ensure their mobile phones are fully charged and working.
• For further driving advice, advise them to listen to their local radio stations, particularly BBC Radio Solent for updates.

The provision of time off for circumstances linked to the adverse weather.

Please see further guidance below. Differing situations mean various situations for staff such as for example: working as usual at normal workbase, working at workbase closer to home, working from home, being at home not working as they cannot safely leave their house and travel to work, being at home because knock on effects of weather, e.g. school closure, have meant they have needed to care for children. This list is not exhaustive.

In terms of time recording the following guidance is given:

• In accordance with FPP 23706, Emergency Leave would be appropriate for those who have needed to remain at home due to caring responsibilities - this usually would not go beyond 24 hours.
• For those working either at any workbase or home then they should record their working time in the normal way.  
• For those at home and unable to safely get to any workbase then that time does not count as working time. 

It is fully recognised it is no fault of the staff member that they could not get into work but in terms of time recording this needs to be balanced against the fact that they have not been working and fairness to those who are working. Various arrangements can be taken to deal with this such as use of annual leave, TOIL, flexi.  Where staff have no annual leave or other time owing to them then arrangements should be made to deal with each situation.  That could be for example working additional hours within an agreed timeframe.

• CATCH IT - Germs spread easily. Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.
• BIN IT - Germs can live for several hours on tissues. Dispose of your tissue as soon as possible.
• KILL IT - Hands can transfer germs to every surface you touch. Clean your hands as soon as you can.

Swine Flu has very similar symptoms to the common cold, but with other symptoms such as sudden fever and cough, which can be accompanied by headaches, tiredness and chills.

• If you have symptoms and a temperature, you should not come to work and should contact your GP.
• If you have symptoms but no temperature it is safe for you to attend work, and just maintain high levels of personal hygiene. Occupational Health has helped provide funding for hygiene products for the force (hand gel, tissues and wipes) and the ordering of these has been co-ordinated by your OCU or department alongside Occupational Health.
• If you come in general contact with a person infected with swine flu, there is no need to stay at home unless you are displaying symptoms.

Sickness Reporting - Operation Obsidian
At present any absence from work for suspected swine flu should be reported through the normal sickness absence procedure, but the Operation Obsidian Mailbox should also be notified by the person receiving the report. If you have any questions, contact Occupational Health either by email: occupational.health@hampshire.pnn.police.uk or through switchboard (101 from within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight or 0845 045 45 45 from outside the force area).