FIRST AID AT WORK

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF FIRST AID

The purposes of First Aid at Work (FAW) are the preservation of life, minimising the consequences of injury or illness and the treatment of minor injuries. First aid is not about providing medical facilities, services or treatment, or the administration of medicines.  

The objective is to ensure employers have made the appropriate arrangements for workers who are injured or taken ill at work to receive immediate attention and that an ambulance is called in serious cases. This is a welfare provision that has obvious benefits and continues to have the full support of employers and employees. 

Specifically: 

·    FAW requires an employer to assess first aid needs in his workplace and make provision as identified. This includes arranging for First Aider training and providing first aid kits and first aid rooms where appropriate. 

·    A First Aider must have a qualification from a training establishment whose courses are approved by HSE. 

·    The function of the First Aider is to take emergency action to preserve life and minimise the consequences of injury or illness until medical attention is available. The First Aider will also deal with many more minor incidents requiring no professional medical attention. 

·   Where the employer’s assessment of needs concludes that a First Aider is not required, then the minimum first aid requirement in that workplace is someone appointed to take charge of the first aid box and equipment, and to be responsible for calling the emergency services if required. This “appointed person” should not be expected to perform the duties of a First Aider. HSE recommends they are trained in basic first aid skills but this is not currently a legal requirement. 

·    The definition of first aid at work does not include giving tablets or medicines to treat illness (eg aspirin for headaches). However, FAW does not prevent staff that have been specially trained to take action beyond the initial management of an injury or illness at work from doing so. 

The Rochdale Occupational Health Service is an approved First Aid Training authority and meets the criteria set out by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) in the First Aid at Work Regulations 1981and our courses are regularly monitored by independent Assessors. 

ROHS are unique in that we provide a recall system to inform employers when their First Aider's certificates are due to expire.  They can then be booked for retraining with plenty of notice for the employer to arrange work shifts and cover. 

RECRUITMENT & SELECTION OF FIRST AIDERS

The number of First Aiders you need depends primarily on assessment of risk, number of employees and location of those employees.   (see chart below)

When deciding how many First Aiders you need, you should take into account shift-work and provision during First Aider’s holidays and sick leave.  Qualified First Aid personnel should be available at all times when people are at work – don’t forget Night Shift Workers.

It is essential that people who are reliable and likely to remain calm in an emergency are considered for selection.  In addition, a First Aider should have the aptitude and ability to cope with an intense course of study, and be able to use the knowledge and skills learnt during the course.

The duties can be physically demanding (bending, kneeling, lung capacity to resuscitate) and First Aiders should be free of any condition, which would affect their capability to provide the skills of First Aid.

 

Risk Rating	Number of employees	Recommendations
Lower Risk  (shops, offices)	Fewer than 50   50 – 100   more than 100	At least one Appointed Person   At least one First Aider   One additional First Aider for every 100 employed
Medium Risk  (engineering, food processing)	Fewer than 20   20 – 100     more than 100	At least one Appointed Person   At least one First Aider for every 50 employed   One additional First Aider for every 100 employed
Higher Risk  (construction, chemical manufacturers, slaughterhouses)	Fewer than 5   5 – 50   more than 50     Where there are hazards	At least one Appointed Person   At least one First Aider   One additional First Aider for every 50 employed   In addition, one First Aider trained in specific emergency action