First aid in the workplace courses

All employers are responsible for ensuring their employees receive immediate attention should the worst happen and our HSE approved 1-3 day first aid courses offer the required first aid in the workplace training.

First aid in the workplace courses upskill employees, enabling them to provide temporary care to injured or unwell team members, keeping them safe until they are able to receive professional medical attention.

First aid regulations risk assessment

But, before booking any training, it is important to undertake a first aid regulations risk assessment and the following should all form part of this.

Low-level workplaces can include offices and shops, with warehouses and transport hubs considered high-risk environments.

The minimum cover should consider;
– is there an appointed person in charge of first-aid arrangements?
– is there a suitably stocked first aid kit which is frequently checked and these checks recorded?

Does your workplace use dangerous machinery, involve the use of acids, confined spaces, chilled/freezer rooms or involve special hazards? If yes, then you must consider;
– providing first aiders
– additional training for first aiders to deal with injuries caused by special hazards
– additional first aid equipment
– precise siting of first aid equipment
– providing a first aid area or designated room
– informing the emergency services

If you have a small number of employees then the absolute minimum provision is;
– an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements
– a suitably stocked first aid box which is checked regularly with these checks recorded

Larger teams must be provided with;
– first aiders
– additional first aid equipment
– a first aid room

Do you have any inexperienced workers on site, or employees with disabilities and/or particular health problems? If the answer is yes then you should consider;
– additional training for first aiders
– additional first aid equipment
– precise siting of first aid equipment

N.B. your first aid provision should cover work experience trainees too.

Make sure your first aid regulation provisions caters for the type of injuries and illnesses that might occur in your workplace.

Monitor accidents and ill health and review first aid provisions as appropriate.

After the injury or illness a full investigation should take place to ensure it is prevented in the future. This table should be re-evaluated as part of your investigation.

All findings should be recorded.

Do you have employees who travel a lot, work remotely or work alone? If yes, you should consider;
– issuing them with personal first aid kits
– issuing them with personal communicators/mobile phones

Do any of your employees work shifts or unsociable hours? If yes then you should;
– ensure there is adequate first aid provisions at all times people are at work

Do you have several buildings/several sites or are you split over multiple storeys? If yes then you must consider first aid provisions in each building or on every floor.

Is your workplace remote from the emergency medical services? If yes then you must;
– inform the emergency services of your location
– consider special arrangements with the emergency services

Do any of your employees work at sites occupied by other employers? If yes then you should;
– make arrangements with the other site occupiers to ensure adequate first aid provisions are available and, for due diligence, create a written agreement between employers.

Do you have enough provisions to cover for your first aider or appointed person when they are absent?
– you need to consider cover for annual leave and other planned absences
– you need to consider how you would cover unplanned leave and exceptional absences

Do members of the public visit your premises?
Under the first aid regulations, you have no legal duty to provide first aid for non-employees but the HSE strongly recommends that you include them in your first aid provision.

Suggested guide number of first aiders

Once you have worked through a risk assessment you can then see what degree of hazards are associated with your work activities employee to first aider’s ratio. These first aiders need to be available at all times whilst people are at work;

Less than 25 – At least one appointed person

25 to 50 – At least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work

More than 50 – At least one first aider trained in First Aid at Work for every 100 employed.

Less than 5 – At least one appointed person

5 to 50 – At least one first aider on each shift trained in EFAW or FAW depending on the type of injuries that might occur

More than 50 – At least one first aider on each shift trained in FAW for every 50 employed.

What else should you consider?

The first aid regulations also require you to inform your employees of what first aid arrangements are in place. Visible signs need to be in place informing staff who the first aiders/appointed persons are, where they can be found and the location of the first aid boxes. You will also need to consider how to give first aid information to employees with reading or language difficulties.

There is no mandatory list of items to put in a first aid box though it should contain what you are likely to require. As a guide, where work activities involve low hazards, a minimum stock of first aid items might be;

A pair of disposable gloves.

A first aid guidance leaflet

20 individually wrapped sterile plasters (assorted sizes) appropriate to the type of work (hypoallergenic if necessary or blue for catering)

Two sterile eye pads

Four individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile

Six safety pins

Two large, individually wrapped, sterile, unmedicated wound dressings

Six medium-sized, individually wrapped, sterile, unmedicated wound dressings

When assessing your first aid regulations there are also certain considerations you should have with regards to Latex Gloves. Some staff may have an allergic reaction to latex gloves. If this is the case an alternative form of protective barrier should be sourced. Details of possible effects of latex gloves and possible allergic reactions should be contained within your COSHH manual.

This information was sourced from www.hse.gov.uk