What is first aid in the workplace?
As the term suggests, first aid is the immediate care given to a person who is injured, feeling unwell or experiencing a medical emergency. In the workplace, this typically refers to an employee who is in the office, at an off-site location or out on duty, potentially with other colleagues. If your business facilities are open to the public, first aid in the workplace can also apply to a customer, client or even a passer-by who suffers an emergency on or near your premises. Depending on the severity of the emergency, first aid can entail treating the entire situation until the person involved can either safely make their own way to a medical provider, go home to rest and recover or return to what they were previously doing. It can also involve providing temporary care until professional medical personnel arrive at the scene.
Your responsibilities as an employer
As an employer, you’re expected to provide a safe and secure working environment for all members of staff, one that minimises the risk of accidents and injuries and prevents or limits exposure to harmful substances or irritants. For indoor work, a clean, hygienic and uncluttered workplace with sufficient airflow and a comfortable temperature are other responsibilities that help protect employee health and wellbeing. When emergencies do occur, employees typically expect you to have a well-stocked first-aid kit on hand and one or more persons on-site who know how to administer basic care or, in some cases, perform life-saving procedures like CPR or the Heimlich Manoeuvre.
What do the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require?
First aid in the workplace is currently guided by the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations [of] 1981. Adhering to these regulations ensures that you’re meeting the basics of providing a safe working environment. It also offers protection from legal cases that could arise after an emergency situation. Below, we look at what the regulations ask you to do. For a full breakdown of each regulation and detailed information, you can read the government-issued document here.
1. Conduct a first-aid assessment
Different types of workplaces have different levels of need when it comes to safety. For example, an office worker is at low risk of injury in their daily duties compared to somebody who is working in a warehouse or operating heavy machinery. A first-aid assessment helps you determine your organisation’s unique needs so that you can meet them accordingly.
2. Provide an adequate first-aid kit and related equipment
The contents of your kit and the equipment that you provide typically follow a basic outline that we’ll explore later in this article. You can also look to your first-aid assessment to determine any extra items that you may benefit from having.
3. Appoint a first-aid person or dedicated first aiders
If your workplace is small and low risk, you are only required to appoint a person who is in charge of keeping the first-aid supplies stocked, looking after the maintenance of any related equipment and calling emergency services when needed. This person does not need to be trained in first-aid skills. For larger companies or workplaces with a higher degree of risk, dedicated first aiders are typically required. First aiders are employees who have undergone first-aid training, usually either Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or the more intensive First Aid at Work (FAW). This training includes lessons in how to perform lifesaving procedures. The regulations recommend having one first aider per 25 employees, though appointing a larger number can be prudent. It’s important to remember that these people may not always be on-site due to holiday or sick leave, remote working, meal breaks or off-site duties. Appointing a higher number of responders can help ensure that a trained person is always on hand when an emergency occurs.
4. Inform all employees about first-aid arrangements
This involves making sure that they know where the first-aid kit is kept, as well as any other equipment, like an AED (automated external defibrillator), and which colleagues are responsible for helping during emergencies.
5. Ensure that employees undergoing an emergency are attended to immediately
Generally, this involves administering first aid on-site and contacting emergency services if the severity of the injury or medical event calls for it.
These regulations apply to most industries in the UK. There are additional requirements for offshore work, shipping, mining, the military and diving contractors due to the nature and locations of the work.
It’s worth noting that the regulations do not stipulate any obligation to provide first aid to non-employees, like members of the public, though most businesses would typically do so anyway.
Conducting a first-aid needs assessment
The regulations don’t dictate specific first-aid provisions for you to make, but by carrying out a first-aid needs assessment, you can get a clear picture of what your working environment requires. Let’s look at the factors that first-aid assessments typically consider and evaluate:
- Size of the workplace, including any additional or secondary locations
- Number of employees
- Average age and general fitness of your workforce
- The types of duties performed and what risks they carry
- Other risks and hazards inherent to the workplace – these can include dangerous machinery or harmful chemicals
- Your organisation’s history of accidents and medical emergencies
- The needs of employees who work off-site
- The distance between your sites and hospitals and how accessible sites are to ambulances
- Any existing physical or mental conditions among your workforce
While not a requirement of the regulations, if your business is customer facing, it’s a good idea to consider additional provisions for members of the public who could experience an emergency on your premises.
Stocking your first-aid kit
The majority of injuries in a typical, low-risk workplace are mild. These can include cuts and scrapes, bruises, blisters, mild burns, insect bites and sprains. A well-stocked first-aid kit contains supplies for mild injuries as well as ones that can be beneficial in more serious emergencies (like gloves). It’s important to regularly check supply levels and to make sure that kits are stored somewhere easily accessible and that all employees know where to find them. Here are some of the basics to acquire when building a kit:
- A brochure with general first-aid guidance
- Twenty individually wrapped sterile plasters in assorted sizes
- Two sterile eye pads
- Four individually wrapped triangular bandages
- Six safety pins
- Individually wrapped, sterile, unmedicated wound dressings (two large, six medium sized)
- At least three pairs of disposable gloves
If any employees work off-site or out in the field, consider preparing a small, mobile kit for them to keep at their other locations or in their vehicle.
Do you need a first-aid room?
If you have large premises with many employees or a high-risk workplace, you may decide to create a dedicated first-aid room. Typically, a first-aid room has the following features:
- An examination table with waterproof protection, clean pillows and a blanket
- A chair
- Sufficient space for the patient and people attending to them
- Clear signposting
- Proximity to an exit, allowing easy access for medical professionals
- Hot and cold running water
- Drinkable water and cups
- Soap and paper towels
- Washable surfaces and a high standard of hygiene
- Waste disposal with a foot-operated lid
- First-aid-supply storage
- Incident record book
What to do after an emergency
Another legal requirement of the regulations is that you keep an accident book. This is used to record details of accidents, injuries and other incidents that occur at work. You’re expected to detail this information accurately and within a short period of time after the incident occurs. These records can help you identify patterns of accidents so that you can potentially apply risk-reduction strategies. They can also serve as evidence for any legal or insurance-related proceedings. It’s also worth noting that the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) require you to report certain types of accidents, injuries and near-misses to the Health and Safety Executive.
Provisions for and knowledge of first aid in the workplace is a vital component of employee safety. By following the regulations, thoroughly examining existing risks and work patterns and taking your health and safety responsibilities as an employer seriously, you can create an environment in which your staff feel safe and valued and potentially save lives when disaster strikes.
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