First Aid in the Workplace

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 to apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.

It is a legal duty of employers to have arrangements in place for administering first aid to staff if needs be. This applies irrespective of whether the situation was caused, directly or indirectly, by the work itself.

It is essential to carry out a comprehensive assessment of first aid needs on your premises to achieve a sound overview of the sorts of first aid arrangements required.

Employers are also legally obliged to inform all employees of the arrangements in place for provision of first aid, including the location of relevant equipment, facilities and personnel.

Assessing first aid needs in your business premises starts with careful consideration of the physical environment. Close attention needs to be paid to things such as …

• Any active machinery
• Chemicals and other hazardous materials
• Uneven or elevated floors and walkways
• Electrical hazards
• Areas exposed to harsh weather conditions
• Confined spaces
• On-site traffic
• Slipping or tripping hazards
• Sharp or heavy implements

Other factors to consider include the type of work done on site, the size and nature of your work force and employees experience levels.

First Aid in the Workplace is a vital part of any company. This is why DBI Control have several team members who have completed the Emergency First Aid at Work training through Wales First Aid. Our trainer Mark delivered the course directly in our workplace, and we became equipped with the essential skills needed to give safe, prompt and effective first aid in emergency situations.

The first aiders are responsible for keeping first aid kids fully stocked and easily accessible, calling the emergency services if required and arranging first aid supervision cover for themselves when they’re not in work.