Health & Safety
It pays to know about fi rst aid in the workplace
FIRST aiders can provide vital and often life-saving help and assistance to people who have had an accident or are experiencing serious ill-health. In addition, it is a legal requirement of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 to make suitable arrangements for fi rst aid.
Employers must make appropriate fi rst-aid arrangements for the workplace. In doing so, they should consider the circumstances of the workplace, workforce and the health and safety risks that may be present to help decide what arrangements are needed to be put in place.
In order to establish what provision for fi rst- aid is required the employer should make an assessment of the fi rst-aid needs appropriate to the circumstances of your business.
This should include consideration of: • The workplace • The workforce • The hazards and risks present
• The number of people employed at the site;
• The number of inexperienced workers;
• Employees with disabilities or particular health problems
• Employees with the characteristics of groups at higher risk from health conditions
• Previous accidents or records of ill health
• Recurring injuries or illnesses
• Employees who travel a lot, work remotely or alone
• Employee shift patterns or out of hours work
• The proximity of the workplace to emergency services
• First aider absences (eg. through sickness or annual leave) and provision of cover
• Access to your site by non-employees (eg. visiting members of the public).
You can fi nd out more information on carrying out a fi rst-aid needs assessment, including a suite of example case studies and an online assessment tool to help you decide what arrangements you need to put in place for fi rst-aid on the HSE website.
The arrangements will depend on the outcome of the fi rst-aid needs assessment, and the particular circumstances in the workplace at any given time.
The fi ndings of the needs assessment should indicate the level of fi rst-aid equipment, facilities and personnel required.
As a minimum, an employer must have: • A suitably stocked fi rst-aid kit
• An appointed person to take charge of fi rst-aid arrangements
• Information for all employees giving details of fi rst-aid arrangements
Where your needs assessment identifi es workplace or workforce issues, or more signifi cant health and safety risks, you are likely to need a suffi cient number of appropriately trained fi rst-aiders and may need to arrange additional equipment and facilities.
You might decide that you need a fi rst-aider. This is someone who has been trained by a competent fi rst-aid training provider in fi rst-aid at work, emergency fi rst-aid at work, or some other appropriate level of training (identifi ed by your needs assessment). In 2017, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) introduced key changes to workplace fi rst aid training which now includes basic training in
COMPASS’s Deborah Williams
the use of a life-saving defi brillator. When a casualty is unresponsive and not breathing, a defi brillator can mean the diff erence between a life lost and a life saved. Defi brillators are automated, safe and easy to use by anyone, not just fi rst aiders.
Many employers are now providing a defi brillator at the workplace and basic instructions on the use of the device.
Professional Drivers First Aid / First on the Scene Training
By the nature of the work drivers carry out, they are more likely to either be involved in or witness to a serious road traffi c accident.
With the right training drivers could save lives of other road users.
Compass off er Professional Drivers First Aid courses, which include practical training on how to react to an emergency situation and how to prevent further harm occurring.
As a Driver CPC approved training provider this training can also count as 7 hours of mandatory Driver CPC training.
Deborah Williams CMIOSH RMaPS is Principal Safety Consultant at Compass Ltd.
Deborah specialises in assisting private sector organisations within the construction, waste management and extractive industries.
You can contact her on - 01257 482256 or via email:
dwilliams@compass-ms.co.uk 34 SHM June, 2017
www.skiphiremagazine.co.uk
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