Health and safety

Most of our employees work in lower risk environments and are not exposed to significant occupational health and safety hazards. Nevertheless, we have a programme of initiatives in place to ensure that we continually improve our health and safety performance.

Although we recorded an increase in the overall Health and Safety related incidents/ accidents in 2022 (up 21% compared to 2021) this reflected more colleagues using our premises following the pandemic, with some large offices seeing an increase of 75% in footfall. In comparison to pre-pandemic times (2019) there were 31% fewer accidents in 2022

We report health and safety incidents to the relevant authorities as required by legislation.

Read our health and safety performance in detail (PDF 241 KB)

Read our health and safety public policy statement (PDF 52 KB)

Awards and recognition

In 2022 NatWest Group received a ‘Highly Commended’ recognition at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) in the ‘Commercial & Business Services’ Industry Sector award for Occupational Health and Safety and the Gold Fleet Safety award for how we manage people driving on business. We were also finalists in the St Andrew First Aid Awards in 2023 for ‘Employer of the Year’.

We are evaluated on our occupational health and safety performance by a number of ESG ratings companies. More information about how we performed as a bank in these ESG surveys is available on our ESG ratings and benchmarks page.

Training

All employees are required to complete mandatory online health and safety training, which covers the key risks for all employees including fire safety, display screen equipment, manual handling and slips, trips and falls. We reviewed the content for 2021 with an external communications specialist with an aim to instil a culture for all colleagues to have H&S in mind in all aspects of their office and home working environments. It includes specific content for people and building managers of their H&S responsibilities. The building manager section covers workplace management responsibilities and includes learning on asbestos, facades, fire emergency plans, risk assessments, emergency roles, and escape route checks. We also used the module as a vehicle to remind colleagues of the Fire Tag/Hi Vis evacuation system in selected buildings.

Specialist training includes:

Emergency training – including fire marshal and first aid training, carried out in line with local legal requirements
NatWest Group has a driver safety programme which includes risk-based training and we have introduced post-incident training to support drivers that have experienced multiple collisions to support their ongoing business driving
Specialist health and safety training is carried out in higher risk areas or for higher risk activities in areas such as our Cash and Coin Centres
Bespoke health and safety training programmes are in place for key roles including – the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health’s (IOSH) Managing Safely for Property Managers, IOSH Directing Safely for our Projects Managers, and Chartered Member IOSH and National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health (NEBOSH) qualifications for our Health and Safety professionals

Accreditation

In the UK, our Cash and Coin Centres follow the OHSAS 450001 standard.

Case Studies 2022

Ongoing development of new strategies

Our First aid strategy now includes the use of security guards as part of the trained population as a 24-7 presence. We now have over 50 guards ‘First Aid at Work’ trained at our largest sites. We have in place a training programme so all guards by 2024 will have a full first aid qualification.
For first aid, we have tried to use the software such as Microsoft teams, which we are currently piloting to check which qualified colleagues are on site on any given day in 250 Bishopsgate.
We have encouraged more of our colleagues to upskill in basic first aid skills, such as via the British Heart Foundation App.
In 2022 we were able to dissect the information from a full year of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessment data. Analysing the MI, as well as listening to anecdotal feedback, has helped us evolve a 'big 5’ strategy which we are working through with design and technology teams- including piloting of new products to help use zoom in the best ergonomically friendly way.
We conducted a Portable Appliance Test pilot on home working kit. The failure ratio worked out at a very low 0.97%. A risk appetite decision was reached that 60 months for testing frequency is suitable. We have added photos from the pilot to the ‘Informal equipment visual inspection’ guide. We ask colleagues to complete this every year as part of their DSE. assessment, bringing to life what equipment safety hazards to look out for at home.
Responsible person safety inspections by Facilities Managers now take place for all office locations in the UK twice a year.

Site audits

Completed first H&S audit visits for Switzerland & RBSI (IOM, Jersey/Guernsey) to support risk framework model and local business/H&S knowledge. An “Important” risk rating was raised for Switzerland, with an action plan in place (managed by Wealth). For RBSI properties the H&S rating was classed at “minor” with some local management improvements identified.
All Cash Operations centres are accredited to the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 45001 for Health & Safety management. In 2022 sample audits were conducted at sites by the external auditor LRQA, and all centre’s had an internal audit (delivered by Technical Standards & Assurance and Central H&S teams). Overall, the business achieved 95.2%. (2021 96.16%), against a pass mark of 90%.
Zero H&S material issues/ findings currently in place.

Case Studies 2021

Continued Covid-19 response

Internal Audit completed a review of the H&S (Property Services) approach to monitoring and implementation of controls in 2021 and this drove a score of “1 = Satisfactory”
The HSE were invited by the Bank to undertake proactive site inspections, covering offices and branches, and these scored a ‘pass’ with positive comments
Work continued in updating with our Primary Authority, General Medical Advisor and other banks to benchmark controls
NatWest Group ensured there was a model in place for monitoring cases, and engagement with local councils in reporting required cases and supporting queries
Two Covid “outbreaks” were reported in 2021, as a cluster of cases were reported in two mailroom locations, impacting 9 members of staff. Although these cannot be confirmed as workplace transmission, the Bank reported these to be transparent, and worked with local councils to implement additional controls and “read across”
Lateral Flow kits were rolled out through various stages of Government provision
H&S supported (on panel) two Bank-wide “workplace live” sessions on Covid vaccination/Flu Booster
Government guidance across all devolved nations was monitored, feeding updated risk assessments, Covid hub (both centrally and specific activities like such as Business School arrangements and our mobile fleet)
Regular meeting established with Property Services leadership team and global reps to support guidance updates & key decisions
Ongoing engagement with both the UNITE union and the Financial Services Union (FSU) to manage relations and provide comfort with positive feedback received

Ways of Working

The new model for ‘Ways of Working’ reflecting how colleagues would operate following the pandemic has meant that many established H&S processes needed to be reviewed so they were futureproofed
Introduction of a clearer model on the ‘responsible person’ oversight that facilities managers have over our office locations where we have responsibility to complete activities. This included working with suppliers to complete some on-site health & safety inspections for smaller offices and the introduction of a health and safety directory
Work is underway with suppliers to increase first aid cover in light of increased flexible working for UK and ensuring that the global teams are managing first aid arrangements effectively
Working with Future of Workspace Design we secured the commitment that in redesigned break-out spaces in the technology provision would include ergonomically-sound options such as additional keyboards and mice and special adjustment items
Review of Display Screen Equipment assessment model globally to ensure that an established process is in place to review workstations and working with suppliers and local HR to review the occupational health and kit proposition for all countries
Introduction of an informal visual inspection guide for all colleagues globally to complete at least once a year to ensure electrical safety is paramount in home working environments
Review of Group Learning content by scriptwriters in line with new working approaches to ensure colleagues understand their own responsibilities clearly whilst working from any location

Case Studies 2020

Covid-19 response

Bank-wide risk assessments created and reviewed for all operational activities undertaken, driven by ongoing monitoring of national guidance.
ICG group support on H&S technical matters including Global Medical Adviser support
Launched ‘Staying safe whilst working during the covid-19 pandemic’ mandatory learning module for all key worker staff
Issued face coverings to staff where mandated, also made available to customers in branches
‘Working in our building safely’ guide published
All buildings equipped with Covid-safe signage to support social distancing, hand hygiene stations
Supported Standards and Assurance team on Covid assurance visits to workplace locations, and any systemic actions required
Ensured with Facilities that they had the appropriate number of first aiders in each building open with reduced occupancy
Established “Deep cleans” process for confirmed cases and justification for safe working environments
Led incident management process tracking confirmed cases, ensuring checks and controls are in place by the business if more than one case is confirmed in a location
Engagement with local councils when more than one case is confirmed at one workplace location. H&S team then worked with councils on controls and management of the incidents
Shared updates and risk assessment controls with Global Material locations, providing weekly support on changes and queries
The Bank’s H&S team will continue in their efforts to respond to any changes or incidents in 2021 and continue to support the bank’s colleagues globally.

Display screen equipment assessment review

The Bank’s H&S created an easy to use online form for UK and ROI staff
Partnering with the Bank’s Health Advisory team, an enhanced question set was built based on the type of case studies referred for occupational health support, which could help diagnose the causes for discomfort.
Colleagues receive an email with recommended actions after completing the assessment that they should then take forward to improve their workstation conditions
Signposting is in place to newer available resources that can help support musculoskeletal health: Anyone who states that they have discomfort is referenced to the new Being comfy @ work booklet or Physiowizard/ Private Medical cover which is part of the bank’s offering to support colleagues
The Bank’s H&S team now examine completion rate MI, thus improving the controls environment around the process and enabling spot audits if required, as well as being able to identify trends.
The Bank’s H&S team will also be working with the global teams to create their own bespoke version of the form in 2021.