The Nature of the work its hazards and its Risks
Quality Training By First Aid Specialists.
You should consider the risks and identify what possible injuries could occur in order to ensure sufficient first aid provision is available.
One reason for this exercise is to ensure that you provide the correct type of first aider(s). There are now two levels of workplace first aid:
•Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) – 6 hour course (1 Day)
•First Aid at Work (FAW) – 18 hour course. ( 3 Days)
Extra, specialised training and provision may be needed for hazards such as chemicals, dangerous machinery, working in confined spaces etc.
You should also consider the possible illnesses that could occur in the workplace and ensure you have adequate provision.
You should look at the organisations history of accidents and illness to try and identify any needs or trends that may influence the location or type of first aider.
First Aid should be available wherever people work so you may need to consider providing personal first aid kits or training to travelling, remote or lone workers.
Work Patterns Such as Shift Work
Adequate first aid cover should be available whenever people are at work
The Distribution of the Workforce
Annual leave and other foreseeable absences
You should ensure that adequate first aid cover is available at all times, including when a first aider is on annual leave, a training course, a lunch break or other foreseeable absences and non-planned absences such as sick leave.
First Aid Provision for Non-Employees
The HSE recommend that you include non-employees in your first aid needs assessment. You should consider the duty of care that you assume when a non-employee visits your site. This is particularly relevant if you provide a service for others such as schools, places of entertainment, shops etc. Consider both the injuries and illnesses that could occur.
The Size of the Organisation
The number of people on a site should no longer be the primary basis for determining first aid needs; all the areas of the new first aid needs assessment should be carefully considered, after identifying the locations / times that first aid cover is needed, the HSE recommend:
That ‘non-manual’, low risk workplaces (such as shops, offices, libraries) have a minimum of one first aider on duty at all times per 100 people (or part thereof).
That ‘manual’ workplaces (light assembly work, warehousing, food processing or higher risks), have a minimum of one first aider on duty at all times per 50 people (or part thereof).
Workplaces with more than 50 people:
It is likely that if your workplace is large you will have already identified the need for full FAW (18 hour) training for your first aiders; but in any case, due to the increased probability of illness and injury occurring in larger workplaces, the HSE recommend that full FAW (18 hour) training is provided in workplaces with 50 or more people
Reviewing the First Aid Needs Assessment
You should review your first aid needs from time to time, particularly if you have operational changes in your workplace. It is recommended that a record is kept of incidents dealt with by first aiders to assist in this process.
Annual Refresher Training
Due to the wealth of evidence on the severity of ‘first aid skill fade’, the HSE now recommend that all First Aiders attend annual refresher training.
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How to carry out a First Aid Risk Assessment
The new First Aid at Work Guidelines for Employers from the Health and Safety Executive are effective from 1st October 2009. The new type of first aid needs assessment will identify what type of first aid training your first aiders will need, how many first aiders you need and where they should be located. A First Aid Needs Assessment should consider the following topics:
Employees Working on Shared or Multi-Occupied Sites
You should consider the needs and health of all workers and ensure that first aiders are available and trained to deal with specific health needs. You should consider things such as:
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The Young
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The Elderly
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Specific health problems (heart conditions, asthma, diabetes etc.)
The Needs of Travelling, Remote and Lone Workers
First Aiders should be able to reach the scene of an incident quickly. Consider extra first aiders on large sites, sites with multiple buildings or buildings with multiple floors.
The Work Force
The Organisation’s History of Accidents and Illness
Remoteness to the site from Emergency Medical Services
If the workplace is remote from emergency medical services you may need to make special transport arrangements should an incident occur. Consider how employees will summon help – do they have access to a phone?
On shared work sites it may be possible to share first aid provision, such as the security team providing first aid cover at a large shopping centre. It is important to fully exchange details of the hazards and risks so that adequate first aid cover is provided.