First Aid - Are you doing what you should?

by Charlotte Bamber on 05 March 2012

First aid at work is covered by the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982.
This legislation requires an employer to make first aid provision that is “adequate and appropriate” to the workplace.What must you do? As a minimum, an employer is expected to have -

1. Completed a first-aid needs assessment

2. Ensured that there is either an appointed person to take charge of first-aidarrangements or, if necessary, there are appropriate numbers of suitably trained first-aiders

3. Ensured there are adequate facilities and a suitably stocked first-aid box

4. Provided employees with information about the first-aid arrangements

These rules apply to every employer – there is no exemption.The first aid provision which an employer has to make will be dictated by the circumstances in the workplace. No fixed level of first aid provision exists but an employer should make an assessment of first aid needs appropriate to the circumstances of the workplace.

So do you need an appointed person or a first aider?

When your first aid needs assessment indicates that a first-aider is unnecessary, the minimum requirement is to appoint a person to take charge of first aid arrangements. Appointed persons do not require any training as their main task is to look after any equipment, as well as any facilities and to call the emergency services (if required).
This is different to a qualified first-aider who holds an HSENI-approved qualification.

The number of first-aiders you require is based around two key factors. The first concerns the risks and hazards that can be found in your workplace. Once these have been identified, you then need to consider
the number of employees. Higher risk workplaces (for example most construction workplaces or workplaces with
extensive use of dangerous machinery) with fewer than five employees are required to have at least one appointed person. Only higher risk workplaces with between 5–50 employees are required to have at least one
qualified first-aider. If there are more than 50 employees in a higher risk workplace, then one additional
first-aider is required for every 50 people employed. and, if you operate a shift system, have different sites or multi-floor buildings, you are likely to need more first aiders.

ETT now offers First Aid training.

The next three-day First Aid at Work course will take place on 13, 20 and 27 June
The next one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course will take place on July 4 July 2012.

For more information or to book call 028 2565 0750 and speak to one of our customer advisors.

HSENI First Aid Code of Practice