When a person is injured or becomes ill, no matter the severity, it is beneficial to have a first aider within a workplace. An on-site workplace first aider can provide the first level of medical assistance. This could involve simply applying a bandage, or it could involve beginning CPR on a person.
Is it a legal requirement to have a first aider in the workplace?
The HSE outlines that ‘adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel’ should be provided in a workplace, where there are 5 or more employees.
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities, and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.
However, what is considered to be adequate or appropriate? Well, this is dependent on the workplace and the industry. For example, whether first-aiders are required, what should be included in a first-aid box etc.
The level of first aid equipment and facilities a business should provide can be determined by an assessment.
What are the benefits of having a workplace first-aider?
- First-aiders can save lives
Waiting times for an ambulance are now longer than ever before due to the service being overrun. Whilst paramedics and NHS medical assistance personnel do an amazing job, those extra minutes that we spend waiting for an ambulance can have a significant effect on the health of the person who is ill or injured. First-aid training provides people with the confidence that they can help in an emergency. Many lives have been saved because CPR is given by first-aiders.
- First-aiders can help to reduce recovery time
Whilst some illnesses and injuries have long recovery times, fast-acting aid can help reduce this time. By providing initial first-aid, whether this be by applying a bandage, or beginning CPR, the overall recovery time can be reduced by quick help.
- Better health and safety
First-aid courses provide great insight into risks and hazards which can be present in a workplace. These courses can help people to identify these risks, and in turn, what potential injury or illness could be caused by them. As a result, employees are more conscious of risks, and how to avoid them.
Your workplace is safer
By providing first-aid equipment, facilities, and personnel, the workplace is equipped to deal with illness and injury. This in turn makes your workplace safer for employees, because, in the event of an accident, there is the appropriate first aid to help them.
Ensures equipment is used properly
By having first-aiders within your workplace, you are ensuring that first-aid equipment and kits are used properly. They will go through training to ensure that equipment that is commonly found in a first aid kit e.g. a sling or dressings are applied correctly.
Team first-aid courses can often mean support
Dealing with an emergency on your own can be very stressful and overwhelming. You cannot guarantee that everyone who participated in the first aid course will be working together. However, more often than not employees will be working at the same time or on the same shift. In an emergency situation, having another first aider present can help with confidence, especially when providing something intense such as CPR.
Contact us
If you’d like more information on first aid support, and how Acorn can help, please get in touch. Visit our FAQs page, call us at 01260 277797, or email us at website@acornoh.co.uk