10.4 First-aid provision Flashcards
What is sufficient will depend on the circumstances. A formal assessment of first-aid
needs is required to determine the appropriate level of provision. It should consider:
(a) The nature of the work and workplace hazards and risks.
The general risk assessment is useful in assessing first-aid needs.
Understanding the nature of an accident or injury if preventive or control
measures fail can help in determining the necessary first-aid provision.
(b) The size of the organisation.
A larger workforce generally has a greater the need for first-aid provision. The
actual provision should be determined by the risk assessment and
assessment of needs.
(c) The nature of the workforce.
Consideration should be given to the needs of young workers, trainees,
pregnant workers and employees with disabilities or particular health
problems.
(d) The organisation’s history of accidents.
In large or multi-site organisations historical accident data may be useful in
determining where first-aiders should be located, what area they should be
responsible for and what first-aid equipment is necessary.
(e) The needs of travelling, remote and lone workers.
The assessment should determine the need for the following:
(1) Personal first-aid kit.
(2) Personal communicators or mobile phone to call for assistance.
(3) Additional training.
(f) Work patterns.
Sufficient provision should always be available when employees are at work.
Separate arrangements may be required for each shift, and for ‘out of hours’
working.
(g) The distribution of the workforce.
On a site with more than one building, if the travel distance between buildings
is unreasonable, separate first- aid provision may be required in each building.
Numbers and locations of first-aiders or appointed persons in a multi-storey
building should give adequate provision to employees on each floor.
(h) The remoteness of the site from emergency medical services.
Where a site is remote from emergency medical services, special transport
arrangements may be required. The emergency services should be informed
in writing of the location of remote sites and any particular circumstances,
including specific hazards.
(i) Employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites.
On a shared or multi-occupied site, employers can arrange for one employer
to take responsibility for providing first-aid cover for all the workers.
(j) Annual leave and other absences of first-aiders and appointed persons.
Adequate arrangements for covering both planned absences (for example:
annual leave) and unplanned absences (for example: sickness) of first-aiders
and appointed person should be made.
(k) First-aid provision for non-employees.
There is no requirement for employers to provide first-aid for anyone other
than their own employees. However, it is strongly recommended that
employers include non-employees in their assessment of first-aid needs and
make provision for them.
Where a first-aider is deemed unnecessary an appointed person may be allocated
responsibility to: 3
take charge of the first-aid arrangements
look after the equipment and facilities
call the emergency services when required.
When a candidate is being selected for the role of a first-aider, the following factors
regarding their suitability should be considered: 4
reliability, disposition and communication skills
ability to absorb new knowledge and learn new skills
ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures
normal duties – can they be easily left to respond immediately to an emergency?
