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First Aid Legislation Eastbourne

Jul 10, 2022Eastbourne News0 comments

As a business in Eastbourne, what First Aid course do you need to do which will meet the legal requirements of the HSE.

Which First Aid course in Eastbourne do I need.

 

If you are trying to find what First Aid course and kit you require as a business in Eastbourne, you have arrived at the right place.

First Aid is a precious life-saving skill to possess – it’s not just for work, it’s for everyday life! When companies train their staff in First Aid, it becomes as good as a gift to their employees. The Resuscitation Council (UK) have stated that 72% of cardiac arrests happen in the home, compared to 15% in the workplace. We believe this says it all!

There are three main elements to satisfy the First Aid legislation in the workplace from the Health & Safety Executive.

 

1. Which First Aid course do I need to train my staff in?

There are two main courses which are First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work.

2. What First Aid Kit do I need to supply?

This in our view is really important and from experience, so few companies look at this in detail.

3. What Facilities do I need to provide?

You may need to provide a suitable first-Aid room. This is only usually required for larger companies.

 

It is crucial to choose the correct course plus equipment and we hope this article will guide you through the process of what you need to know and do.

Firstly, We need to go through the law and try and help you gain the answers you need, which will lead to the right decision on your First Aid requirements.

ELST can provide the necessary training in First Aid for your organisation, in and around Eastbourne. Our courses fulfill the requirements of the Health & Safety Executives (First Aid) legislation.

Before you possibly choose Emergency Life Support Team for your training in Eastbourne, let’s find out what course, facilities and equipment you may need.

Health & Safety Executive First Aid Legislation

Health & Safety Legislation on First Aid in the workplace

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate, facilities, equipment and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate care if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to those who are self-employed.

What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will all depend on the circumstances in your workplace. This includes whether trained First Aiders are needed, what should be included in a First Aid kit and if a First Aid room is required. Employers should carry out an assessment of first Aid needs to determine what they should provide.

The Regulations do not place a legal duty on employers to make First Aid provisions for non-employees such as members of the public or children in schools.

HSE strongly recommends that non-employees are included in an assessment of First Aid needs and that provision is made for them.

 

Do you employ staff in Eastbourne?

You have the responsibility for making sure that your employees receive immediate appropriate life-saving care if they become ill or are injured at work. Illness and Accidents can happen at any time and First Aid can be life-saving, and prevent minor injuries from becoming major ones.

 

As an employer what should you do?

You must make appropriate arrangements for your workplace First Aid needs. You should consider the circumstances of your workplace, workers and the health and safety risks that may be present to help you decide what arrangements you need to put in place.

Some small low-risk workplaces need to have only a First Aid box and a person appointed to take charge of First Aid arrangements such as calling the emergency services and stocking the First Aid box. The appointed person does not need specific First Aid training.

If your workplace has more significant health and safety risks, for example, you use machinery or hazardous materials then you are more likely to need a trained First Aider.

You must provide all your employees with details of the First-Aid arrangements.

 

First Aid needs assessment

In order to establish what provision for First Aid is required you should make an assessment of the First Aid needs appropriate to the circumstances of your workplace.

This should include consideration of:

  • the workplace,
  • the workforce, and
  • the hazards and risks present.

You can find out more information on carrying out a First Aid needs assessment, including a suite of example case studies and an online assessment tool to help you decide what arrangements you need to put in place for First Aid.

HSE has published further guidance on all the factors above that will help you carry out your First-Aid needs assessment.

 

First Aid arrangements for business in Eastbourne

Your arrangements will depend on the outcome of your First Aid needs assessment and the particular circumstances in your workplace at any given time.

The findings of the needs assessment should indicate the level of First Aid equipment, facilities and personnel required.

As a minimum, you must have:

  • a suitably stocked First Aid kit
  • an appointed person to take charge of First Aid arrangements;
  • information for all employees giving details of First Aid arrangements.

 

Where your needs assessment identifies workplace or workforce issues, or more significant health and safety risks, you are likely to need a sufficient number of appropriately trained First Aiders and may need to arrange additional equipment and facilities.

 

First Aiders and First Aid training in Eastbourne

You might decide that you need a First Aider. This is someone who has been trained by a competent First Aid training provider in First Aid at work, emergency First Aid at work, or some other appropriate level of training (identified by your needs assessment).

If you have identified that you need First Aiders HSE has produced guidance to help you select a competent First Aid training provider

ELST can help you by providing you with the courses you need.

Appointed persons

Where your First-Aid needs assessment identifies that a First-Aider is not required, you must appoint a person to take charge of the First Aid arrangements, including looking after the equipment and facilities, and calling the emergency services when required. An appointed person is not required to have any formal training.

It is important that someone is always available to take charge of the First Aid arrangements, including looking after the equipment and facilities and calling the emergency services when required. Arrangements should be made for an appointed person to be available to undertake these duties at all times when people are at work.

ELST Orange-Aid first aid kits

The First Aid Kit you may need

The minimum level of First Aid equipment you may need is a suitably stocked First Aid box.  (First Aid kit.) You should provide at least one First Aid kit for each workplace, although more than one might be required on larger sites. Each kit should be stocked with a sufficient quantity of First Aid materials suitable for the particular circumstances of your workplace.

First Aid kits should be made easily accessible. The contents of the First Aid kit should be checked frequently to ensure the contents are in-date and restocked soon after any use.

Your needs assessment may indicate that additional materials and equipment are required eg foil blankets, cleansing wipes, and cutting shears. These may be kept in the First Aid kit if there is room, or stored separately.

HSE has published further guidance on First Aid equipment which gives advice on the minimum contents of a First Aid kit.

 

First Aid Facilities

You may need to provide a suitable First Aid room where your Needs Assessment identifies that one is required. This will usually be necessary in larger premises or where higher hazards are present. The room should be easily accessible and a designated person should be given responsibility for supervising it.

Wherever possible, a Firs-Aid room should be reserved exclusively for the purposes of First Aid.

First-Aid rooms should:

  • be large enough to hold an examination/medical couch
  • have washable surfaces and adequate heating, ventilation and lighting
  • be kept clean, tidy, accessible and available for use at all times when employees are at work
  • ideally, have a sink with hot and cold running water
  • be positioned as near as possible to a point of vehicle access for transport to hospital.

First Aid rooms should display a notice on the door advising of the names, locations and, if appropriate, contact details for First Aiders. This information should also be displayed in other appropriate places.

HSE has published further guidance on equipment and facilities that you may require in a First Aid room.

 

Accidents and Ill Health

Under health and safety law, you must report and keep a record of certain injuries, incidents and cases of work-related disease.

You can find out which ones must be reported and how to report them on our report an incident pages. You can find out which ones must be reported and how to report them on the HSE report an incident pages.

RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) puts duties on employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises (the Responsible Person) to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences (near misses)

Keeping records will help you to identify patterns in the incidence of accidents and injuries, and will help when completing your risk assessment. Your insurance company may also want to see your records if there is a work-related claim.

 

Remember data protection

Make sure you protect people’s personal details by storing records confidentially in a secure place.

  • If you have more than 10 employees, or own or occupy a mine, quarry or factory, you must keep an accident book under social security law.
  • You can buy an accident book from HSE Books or record the details in your own record system.

 

Quick link Resources from the Health & Safety Executive to help you as a business in Eastbourne

 

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

 

So there you have it, and I know this may take a bit of time to assess what you need to do. But trust us, it will be worth it. Knowing you are meeting your legal requirements for First Aid in your workplace will be true peace of mind.

 

Andy Sullivan

 

Company Director