First Aid
Your employees can suffer injuries or illness whilst at work and whether or not work related, it is important that they receive prompt and appropriate care.
In the event of an accident it makes sense to have someone who can take charge of the situation. If an injury needs to be treated then a trained first aider is required. The law defines two types of person who can take charge of the situation following an accident.
Appointed Person:
An Appointed Person is required to take charge when someone is injured or suffers illness. Their duties include calling an ambulance, or taking the injured to hospital and they should be available at all times when people are at work, so a deputy/second person should be appointed to cover for holidays, overtime, shift work, sickness absence, etc.
First Aider:
A First Aider is an appointed person who has undergone an approved training course and holds a current first aid certificate. The Health and Safety Executive maintain lists of training organisations and approves training courses. Refresher training courses are needed every three years to maintain first aider accreditation and competence.
The legal requirements are set out in The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and require employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid including:
- equipment
- facilities
- personnel
Provision does not have to be made for non-employees but it is recommended especially where such persons might use the premises or workplace (e.g. retail premises).
The law also specifically requires suitably trained persons where the workplace hazards make the risk of injury significant.
You should carry out a risk assessment in order to determine whether you need trained first aiders in addition to appointed persons and how many are required.
In December 2004 the HSE announced the results of its review of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981- the first time that they have been reviewed since their introduction. It was concluded that there was nothing to indicate that major changes to the Regulations were necessary. The Guidance will be revised and it is proposed that the structure of training courses should be amended - the current four day course to be replaced by a one day and a three day course.
It was also recommended that the HSE should approve the structure and content of courses and encourage the setting up of an industry wide body. At present, the HSE approves training providers but not the structure and content of courses.
No date for the implementation of the recommendations was given.
