TRAINING & EDUCATION BE PREPARED Niall Robinson, Product and Procurement Manager at Arco, the UK’s leading
safety expert, explains the importance of complying with British laws in regard to first aid kits and how businesses should prepare themselves for incidents at work.
Under The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, employers have a legal obligation to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure employees receive immediate attention if they are taken ill or injured whilst at work.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in 2015/16 621,000 non-fatal injuries occurred at work in the UK. For each of these incidents, the employer would have been required, by law, to offer first aid assistance, whether that’s bandaging a wound, treating a burn or even administrating CPR. Employers who don’t comply with current legislation will be liable for prosecution including a prison sentence or fines.
TYPES OF FIRST AID KIT When deciding which first aid kit to purchase, there are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration, such as working environments, the size of the company, nature of the work and size of the site.
Before making any decisions, a risk assessment should be completed to asses the types of hazards employees could face. For instance, an office would only have minimal risks, compared to a factory or a construction site. Once a risk assessment has analysed potential risks, employers should consider which kit best suits their requirements. For example, offices or libraries may only need a simple First Aid kit containing items suggested by the HSE. As larger construction sites or factories are more prone to hazards, the installation of a British Standard (BS8599) Compliant Complete First Aid Point may be beneficial, as its substantial contents cover a range of emergencies including burns, eye care and biohazard disposal.
It’s worth noting that the size of the kit is also very much dependent on the
26
“EMPLOYERS ALSO NEED TO PROVIDE SUITABLY-TRAINED FIRST AIDERS.”
In addition, the HSE is clear that all workplaces must also ensure suitable first aid provision to deal with any specific risks identified in the first aid needs assessment. Arco has developed bespoke first aid solutions for several high-risk activities, including First Aid Stations specifically designed to treat electric shock. Buffered Emergency Eyewash should be provided for those working with chemicals, Calcium Gluconate First Aid kits for those working with hydrofluoric acid and emergency tourniquets and haemostatic dressing kits where there is a risk of catastrophic bleeds from severe lacerations.
TRAINING As well as providing an adequate first aid kit, employers also need to provide suitably-trained first aiders to treat employees at work. Arco offers two main HSE-recommended training courses:
• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) teaches delegates how to administer first aid to casualties who are unconscious, choking or suffering from shock. It also shows how to treat both large and small wounds. This is a one-day course, which is typically suitable for low-hazard environments with between 25-50 employees.
• First Aid at Work (FAW) is a three- day course, covering all of the above as well as giving employees the ability to administer first aid in a range of specific injuries and illness including fractures, sprains, poisoning and eye injuries. This course is ideal for higher-hazard environments, where there’s a greater risk of injury.
size of the company or site. According to BS8599, low-hazard environments with more than 100 people, only require one large kit per 100 employees, whereas high-hazard workplaces with more than 25 people require one large kit per 25 employees.
It’s important to understand what your company requirements are by law before setting anything in stone. Both the first aid kits and training are vital for employee safety and should not be considered an afterthought.
www.arco.co.uk/firstaid www.tomorrowshs.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68