Health and safety annual summary report - 2025/26

This section provides an overview of FSS's compliance with health and safety legislation and associated statutory requirements during the reporting period.

HSE has not issued any Improvement Notices or Prohibition Notices to FSS during the reporting period.

FSS had two RIDDOR-reportable incidents that resulted in absences of more than 7 days. The first was an injury sustained during a team-building sports event in a local park. Discussion with HSE confirmed that this was reportable under RIDDOR. The second occurred in a food business operator (FBO) premises and resulted in a broken wrist after an individual fell while running in a corridor.

At the start of 2026, first aid cover at Pilgrim House was improved with the training of two office administrators as First Aiders.  This enabled the Office Reception to be the main point of contact for first aid cover and provided improved cover during normal working hours, and resilience for holiday or sickness leave.

Pilgrim house has had upgrades to its fire safety arrangements. The rear emergency exits on the 3rd and 4th floor fire doors have been upgraded. Previously, if staff exited onto the rear fire escape stairs, the doors locked behind them. If stair safety had been compromised - for example, by smoke - staff would have been trapped and would have needed to shelter in the emergency refuge, until help arrived. The upgrade allows these doors to be operated in both directions, allowing an alternative escape route to be sought if required. The Pilgrim House Server room has also had additional upgrades for fire safety compliance.

The swipe card entry system at Pilgrim House has been upgraded to record the presence of personnel within the third and fourth floor office spaces, which will allow for an automated roll-call list to be progressed in the coming year.

Portable appliance testing and electrical inspection of floor boxes at Pilgrim House was undertaken in 2025. The 5-year hardwire testing remains the duty of the landlord.

FSS utilises the Scottish Government’s occupational health provider Optima for health referrals.  This includes where staff declare underlying health conditions that may impact on their health and safety at work, and for staff returning to work after prolonged periods of ill health. Referrals  trigger case reviews, with FSS taking appropriate action on any recommendations, including creating person specific risk assessments. 

Where risk assessment has identified the need, appropriate health surveillance is required. To facilitate this, administrative support is essential to coordinate testing at FBO sites, as well as securing the capacity of an occupation health nurse and technician from our occupational health provider. Resource challenges within FSS were compounded by the advance planning periods required by our occupational health provider to allocate personnel for FBO site testing.  Identified testing did not take place and the issue has been elevated as a business risk. Discussions have taken place with Optima and a health surveillance programme will be undertaken from 2026 to 2027.