Deborah Williams CMIOSH RMaPS at Compass Ltd. Deborah specialises in assisting private sector organisations within the construction, waste management and extractive industries.


01257 482256 | dwilliams@compass-ms.co.uk HEALTH & SAFETY


First aid at work


ACCIDENTS and illness can happen at any time, including at work; fi rst aid can save lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones. Employers are responsible for ensuring that immediate medical attention is given if their employees are taken ill or injured at work.


Employers must make appropriate fi rst aid arrangements for the workplace. In order to do this, an assessment of the fi rst aid needs of the workplace should be done. This assessment should include:


• the workplace, including its location and proximity to emergency services;


• the workforce, including the size, shift patterns and any specifi c needs; and • the hazards and risks present.


The fi rst aid arrangements will depend on the outcome of the fi rst aid needs assessments and the particular circumstances in the workplace at any given time. The fi ndings of the fi rst aid needs assessment should indicate the level of fi rst aid equipment, facilities and personnel required. As a minimum, each employer should provide:


• a suitably stocked fi rst aid kit; • an appointed person to take charge of fi rst-aid arrangements; and


• information for all employees giving details of fi rst-aid arrangements.


Where a fi rst aid needs assessment identifi es workplace or workforce issues, or more signifi cant health and safety risks, it is likely that a suffi cient number of appropriately trained fi rst aiders will be needed, as well as additional equipment and facilities.


28 First aiders and appointed persons


The fi rst aid needs assessment may identify that a fi rst aider is needed (for example, where a workplace uses machinery or hazardous materials). A fi rst aider is someone who has been trained in fi rst aid at work, emergency fi rst aid at work or some other appropriate level of training as identify by the needs assessment.


If a fi rst aid needs assessment identifi es that a fi rst-aider is not required, a person should still be appointed to take charge of the fi rst aid arrangements (the appointed person). This would include looking after the equipment and facilities and calling for emergency services when required. An appointed person is not required to have any formal training. It is important to ensure that someone is always available to take charge of the fi rst aid arrangements whenever people are at work.


The fi rst aid kit


The minimum level of fi rst aid equipment needed is a suitably stocked fi rst aid kit. At least one fi rst aid kit for each workplace should be provided, although more than one might be required for larger workplaces. Each kit should be stocked with a suffi cient quantity of fi rst aid materials suitable for the workplace.


First aid kits should be readily accessible and the contents should be checked frequently and restocked after use. The fi rst aid needs assessment may identify the needs for additional materials and equipment eg foil blankets, additional eye wash solution or cleansing wipes.


First aid facilities


A suitable fi rst aid room may be required in larger premises or where more dangerous hazards are present. This room should be readily accessible and a designated person should be responsible for supervising it. Wherever possible a fi rst aid room should be used exclusively for the purposes of fi rst aid. A fi rst aid room should:


• be large enough to hold an examination / medical couch;


• have washable surfaces and adequate heating, ventilation and lighting;


• be kept clean, tidy, accessible and available for use at all times when employees are at work;


• ideally have a sink with hot and cold running water; and


• be positioned as near as possible to a point of access for transport to hospital.


Accidents and ill-health


Under health and safety law, the employer must report and keep a record of certain injuries, incidents and cases of work- related disease. RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) puts duties on employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupation diseases and specifi ed dangerous occurrence or near misses.


In addition to being a legal requirement, keeping records can also help to identify patterns in the incidence of accidents and injuries and will assist in completing risk assessments.


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