First Aid In The Workplace: Legal Requirements
It takes no more than 6 minutes for the human brain to expire because of a lack of oxygen. It also takes no time for even a minor accident to claim people’s lives or sustain permanent injuries, especially if sufficient first aid is not provided. Hence, knowing how to help a person out in times of an emergency is essential. First aid in the workplace ensures that the right methods are provided to administer medical assistance.
Legal Requirements: First Aid In The Workplace
As an employer, you are liable to ensure that immediate care is provided to staff that gets ill at work or are get into an accident.
The policies and laws around workplace first aid can be complex. As for the first aid arrangements for employees, the regulations are broken down:
– Evaluate your first aid needs on this basis of the risks and hazards involved in your workplace
– As stated by The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, you are liable as an employer to arrange appropriate and sufficient equipment for first aid along with an adequate amount of trained first aiders who can aid the ill or injured staff.
– As for any business that deals with the public (for example shops), it is essential that you arrange appropriately for first aid within your working environment.
– As for individuals who are self employed, even if your work is home based, it is important to make sufficient first aid provisions. On the other hand, if you happen to be working with other self employed individuals on a site, you are liable to make provisions for your own first aid. However, you can also decide to go with a written agreement that makes way for joint agreement.
Your First Aid Needs Assessment will help you determine the kind of equipment you need, the number of first aiders that is required as well as the training they should acquire. There are more things a needs assessment must cover:
– The nature of your workplace environment as well as if your staff is especially susceptible to sustaining injuries or getting into accidents due to the nature of their work.
– The size of your business or organization to determine the number of first aiders required.
– If you happen to have more than one site – does each site come with its own set of potential hazards? How swiftly can a first aider travel between each of the sites? Do you require separate first aiders for each area?
– if you happen to employ people with medical conditions – does the training need to be specifically modified for them?
– If you happen to employ people who work remotely – would they need a first aid box or a mobile phone lest an emergency arises?
– If you happen to employ people who work out-of-hours or in shifts – what arrangements would they require for each shift?
With all these factors in mind, you can holistically assess the first aid needs for your workplace and plan accordingly.