Employers are responsible for ensuring employees receive immediate medical attention if they’re injured or taken ill at work, with first aiders potentially saving lives.
UK law requires that an appointed person is on hand to take charge of first aid in the workplace - watchdog the Health and Safety Executive is responsible for making sure the law is obeyed.
Legal requirements
Businesses must provide adequate first aid cover, based on workplace size and risk assessment. Managers should consider the circumstances of their workplace, including the size of the workforce and specific health and safety risks, to determine what arrangements must be put in place. One first aider per 50 employees is a common guideline.
In smaller, low-risk businesses with fewer than 25 employees, the risk assessment may conclude a trained first aider isn’t necessary. UK law requires only one appointed person, who doesn’t need to be specifically trained in medical care, and one workplace first aid kit are needed in these circumstances. The appointed person must take charge of arrangements, such as ringing the emergency services, and ensuring the first aid box is always well-stocked.
When the workplace has potentially more serious health and safety risks, including the use of hazardous materials and machinery, the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require a medically trained first aider to be on the premises. All workers should be provided with details of the first aid arrangements.
Facilities
A company must provide a designated first aid room if a risk assessment identifies it’s required such as in larger workplaces, or when more serious hazards are present. A designated person should be responsible for supervising the facility, which must be easily accessible and reserved specifically for employees needing medical attention.
The room should contain an examination couch, washable surfaces and a sink with hot and cold running water. It must have adequate lighting, heating and ventilation and should always be kept clean and tidy.
Employers must display a notice on the door of the room detailing the first aiders’ names, locations and contact details. This information should also be displayed at other strategic locations around the workplace.
First aid kit contents
A basic first aid kit should contain bandages, antiseptics, gloves, scissors, and gauze, purchased from a reputable supplier of high quality first aid supplies. Workplaces with specialised requirements may also add items such as wound care products, burn ointments and the relevant dressings, for example. In addition, other supplies can be added, such as painkillers, sticking plasters, adhesive bandages, medical tape, eye pads, elastic bandages for sprains, disposable gloves and alcohol wipes. The kit should be kept in a central, easily accessible location with clear signage. Separate kits must be provided in high risk areas.
Well stocked first aid kits have two purposes: the most important is to enable you to respond immediately to a medical situation, but it also helps your company to avoid legal action due to non-compliance with safety laws.
Training for first aiders
Training starts with Basic First Aid, which teaches people how to respond to workplace illnesses and injuries in most environments, with Emergency First Aid at Work for a low risk setting being a step up. Both qualifications are valid for three years. The First Aid at Work Requalification course is for people whose certificate has expired and should be taken within one month of this, according to HSE guidelines.
Specialist defibrillator training teaches people how to operate an Automated External Defibrillator safely, so you can act quickly if an employee has a cardiac arrest. Paediatric courses are available for those who work with children and infants, meeting the statutory requirements for Ofsted-registered early years providers.
The UK has among the highest rates in the world of potentially fatal allergic conditions, so Anaphylaxis First Aid gives people the skills to recognise incidents and provide immediate treatment, including using an auto-injector. The First Response Emergency Care Level 3 qualification includes competencies in pre-hospital care, such as administering oxygen and managing traumas.
Other speciality courses include CPR certification, permitting the holder to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a person who can’t breathe on their own. The First Responder On Scene gives trainees the skills needed to care for patients while awaiting an ambulance in a wide range of environments, while the Healthcare Workplace Resuscitation course is aimed at state registered healthcare workers, enabling them to resuscitate people of all ages including infants, as part of their job.
Annual first aid refresher courses will help you keep abreast of the latest advances while your qualification is still current.
Risks and responsibilities
Workplace first aiders face potential legal and ethical issues, such as liability concerns and the duty to act in emergencies. While they’re required to provide immediate medical care for an employee by assessing the situation and risks, they may be held liable if their subsequent actions make the patient’s problem worse, such as causing additional injuries, but this should be covered under the firm’s liability insurance.
Your company can be penalised with heavy fines for not having first raiders, or for failing to meet the legal requirements of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 in terms of organising trained personnel and suitable facilities and equipment.
If you’re a business owner looking into how to get certified in first aid, contact the HSE, which will offer advice and guidance on finding an appropriate training provider.
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