First aid
Prevents injury and illness getting worse and can save lives.
First-aid risk assessments must be carried out.
Adequate arrangements must be made – responsible people, equipment and facilities.
Everyone at work must be made aware of first-aid arrangements.
It is recommended that first-aid provision should also cover non-workers, such as customers.
First aiders
A first aider is someone who has a first-aid qualification – that is, a valid certificate of competence in either first aid at work or emergency first aid at work.
First aiders may need additional training where there are special workplace hazards.
The number and types of first aiders needed in a workplace depend on the level of risk and number of workers so:
- a lower risk workplace with less than 50 workers might have a first aider trained in emergency first aid at work
- a higher risk workplace with more than 50 workers might have first aider trained in first aid at work for every 50 or so workers
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are now becoming more common in workplaces.
Prompt use of an AED to assist people suffering a heart attack can help to save lives and are considered safe to use even by untrained bystanders.
First-aid kits
The contents of a first-aid kit should be linked to the risks at the site.
The items recommended where there are no special risks include:
- scissors/shears
- safety pins
- burns dressings
- foil survival blanket
- triangular bandages
- resuscitation face shield
- sterile dressings
- adhesive tape
- plasters
- wipes
- tweezers
- disposable gloves
- finger dressing
Additional items may be required where there are specific hazards – for example, eye-wash solution may be needed if workers handle certain hazardous substances or tourniquets or haemostatic dressings in work environments where the risk of catastrophic bleeding is high.