FEATURE
HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE
At minimum, a workplace needs a well-stocked first aid kit
can also be appointed as designated caller of the Emergency Services, if and when the need should ever arise, but they do not require specific first aid training. If your workplace has more significant health and safety risks then you will need to appoint a trained first aider.
Significant risks include: • Active machinery • Areas exposed to harsh weather conditions • Chemicals and hazardous materials/waste • Electrical hazards • On-site traffic • Sharp or heavy implements/equipment
Your assessment should also consider the type of work
done, the size of your workforce and employee experience levels. You should also consider factors outside of the immediate workplace, such as the safety of remote workers, or the first aid provision for site visitors or the general public.
WHAT YOU NEED As a minimum, you need a suitably-stocked first aid kit, and you should provide at least one for each workplace (more than one may be needed on larger sites). All kits should be easily accessible and the contents of each checked and restocked regularly. Useful items include plasters and dressings, antiseptic wipes and disposable gloves. Larger or more hazardous workplaces will require a
designated first aid room. This room should be clearly signposted, easily accessible and a designated person should be given the responsibility for supervising it. It should be large enough to hold a medical couch, with adequate heating and ventilation, lighting and running water and be available for use at all times during working hours. All employers should implement a health and safety
policy and make sure that all staff are aware of it. It is also advised that all workplaces have an accident report book in which all workplace incidents are reported. All employers/workplace managers have a duty, under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), to report serious workplace accidents, dangerous occurrences and occupational diseases.
YOUR FIRST AIDER If you require a first aider, it is your responsibility as an employer to appoint one and pay for the appropriate level of first aid training. There are a wide range of courses and training providers
to choose from. Before selecting a course, check what will be taught and how the course is structured, what official qualifications, if any, the trainee will receive and what duties the trainee should be able to undertake as a result of the training. This will help you select the right course for
76 business network October 2019
your workplace needs. It is important to remember that your first aider will need to be trained specifically in first aid for the workplace – a generic or basic first aid course will not be extensive enough. It is also prudent to send your trained first aiders on
annual refresher courses, to update their knowledge and skills and to keep them up-to-date with any changes to first aid at work protocol.
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