Employers are required by law to ensure that procedures are in place for employees to receive immediate care should they become ill or injured whilst at work and this is regardless of whether the illness or injury is as a direct result of their work activities. The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 detail the aspects of First Aid that employers must comply with and these are explained below.
1. Train an appropriate number of employees to an adequate level depending on the nature of the business.
When assessing the number of First Aiders needed within a business an employer must consider:
- The number of employees that are at work at any one time. Higher numbers of employees will require more First Aiders.
- The location of the business.
If the business is located in a rural area then there may be a need for additional First Aiders to provide care until the emergency services arrive. - The size of the building/buildings and the distance between each building.
Larger buildings may require additional First Aiders and there should be a First Aider within each building. - Shift patterns.
If the business relies on shift work then there should be the appropriate number of First Aiders at work during each shift. - Hazards and previous incidents that have occurred.
Business activities that are high risk such as working with chemicals or machinery should have additional First Aiders that have been trained to an appropriate standard. There is a table within the HSE First Aid at Work document containing hazards commonly found in the workplace and the injuries that they may cause. - Absence and sickness. Contingency plans should be in place to ensure that there is always the correct number of First Aiders at work regardless of employees being absent.
- Travelling, remote working and lone working.
- The likelihood of visitors to the business and how many are expected.
First Aid provision may need to be increased if the business has a large number of visitors.
There is a table available within the HSE First Aid at Work document that provides a guide as to the suggested numbers of First Aid personnel and to what level they need to be trained.
2. Ensure the correct First Aid equipment is available, stored safely and in date.
- First Aid kits. Employers must ensure that the correct number of First Aid kits are made available. The First Aid kits should be accessible to all employees and every employee should know where the First Aid kits are located. The contents of the First Aid kits should be checked regularly to ensure that all equipment is within date and not contaminated. Equipment should be replaced as it is used.The HSE First Aid at Work document suggests what should be contained within a First Aid kit.
- Burns dressings and eye wash stations. An employer may also need to provide separate First Aid kits containing burns dressings and also provide eye wash stations and this is dependent on the potential hazards in the workplace.
- First Aid rooms. An employer provides a First Aid room then all employees should know where it is located and it should be accessible to all employees and the emergency services. Consideration must be given to access for carry chair and stretchers. The First Aid room should be kept clean and well stocked and should ideally not be used for any other purpose. The First Aid room should have:
- Running hot and cold water
- A First Aid kit
- Heating and ventilation
- An examination couch
- A phone
- A foot operated bin
- Clinical waste bags
- An accident book
- Soap and paper towels
3. Recording and reporting incidents.
- Accident book.
The First Aider who deals with an incident should record the details within and accident book.The details should include:
- The date, time and place of the incident
- The name and job title of the person treated
- The injury/illness and the treatment given
- Whether the person went back to work, home or to hospital
- Name and signature of the First Aider who dealt with the incident
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
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