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| First Aid in the Workplace | | Date Added: January 27, 2009 08:38:07 PM |
| First Aid in the workplace
In every modern workplace first aid has become a vital consideration, both out of natural concern for the wellbeing of employees, and of course because of the legal considerations around it.
All workplaces are required to have a First Aid Kit in place, and sufficient first aid supplies to cope with all likely occurrences within the workplace. As you can imagine in a saw-mill this means that there would be very different requirements to say, an office.
The full legal requirements for first aid are beyond the scope of an article like this, so it is important to seek proper advice on first aid as part of the overall health and safety programme for the workplace. A non-exhaustive list of requirements includes:
A qualified person or “appointed person”, with varying training requirements.
A first aid kit in all work places – note this includes in vehicles used for work.
An assessment of the workplace should be carried out to determine the level of risk and first aid requirements for each workplace.
There are no specific legal requirements for the contents of the first aid box, however a better idea about this can be achieved during your H&S audit, of from your first aid supplier
Signs for first aid boxes. All first aid boxes should have the standard white cross on the green background.
Replacing first aid boxes: many items in first aid boxes have best before dates, and these should be observed.
A workplace is advised to have a dedicated first aid room – where your health and safety audit finds this is important.
Do employees need training? If your workplace has been identified as needing trained first aiders, then yes. As with all items the outcome rests largely on the results of your health and safety audit. However common sense dictates that it is best to have trained first aiders, and too much first aid equipment rather than too little.
Can my first aiders be sued? It is very unlikely that a first aider could be sued for action that has been taken as a result of doing a first aid course. You should consult a legal specialist of you want more information about this however.
It is recommended to keep a first aid book, and that the first aider or designated person should add any first aid incidents to the book. Note also that it is a legal requirement to report any road accidents.
Remember that it is the responsibility of the employer to minimise the risk of accidents, and to take such actions (including H&S audit, replacing first aid boxes) as are necessary.
Here is a list of the most common accidents in the workplace that require first aid. These are slips and trips, manual handling and lifting, traffic accidents, electrical accidents, and then specialist accidents depending on the nature of the work, including accidents associated with chemicals, heavy machinery or fire.
And finally it must be remembered that prevention is better than a cure – this really is the “Ambulance at the bottom of the cliff situation”. Educating the workforce, paying attention to health and safety, proper provision of first aid equipment, and attention to cabling, lifting practices etc. Will prevent the accident from taking place, keep your people safe, and of course – in the workplace.
Good health, and stay safe. |
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