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No mater how well managed safety is within an organisation, people can still have accidents or fall ill. First aid is about providing the necessary equipment, trained personnel and other facilities needed for basic treatment, and making sure that a process is available to seek additional assistance.
There are requirements under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations to ensure that first aid is provided for those at work. There is no need to provide first aid facilities for the public under these regulations, but it is thought of as good practice to take public safety into account when considering the facilities and equipment needed.
Equipment
There must be at least one first aid kit in any premises. This should be a well-stocked container that is suitably identified as a first aid kit and kept in an accessible place. It is recommended that the first aid kit is a properly designed kit purchased from a reputable supplier.
 The standard symbol for first aid is a white cross on a green background, and this style of sign should be used to identify all first aid kits.
Most purchased kits are given an indicative size in numbers of persons, however, as an absolute minimum, a first aid kit should include:
- A general guidance leaflet
- 20 adhesive plasters
- Two sterile eye pads
- Four triangular bandages
- Six medium non-medicated wound dressings
- Two large non-medicated wound dressings
- Disposable gloves
Additional items might need to be included depending on the Risk Assessment and the size of the building.
In larger buildings, more than one first aid kit might be required to ensure that people do not have to travel too far to receive treatment, or the person treating an injured person does not have to travel far to get the required equipment. If a building occupies more than one floor level, usually one first aid kit would be supplied for each floor as a minimum. This does not include rarely accessed areas, such as towers or basements used for maintenance works only.
Special first aid equipment is available to compliment the normal first aid kits when there are specific risks, such as burns and scalds, use in food preparation areas and for emergency eye washing. Additionally, kits are available for the safe and hygienic cleanup of bodily fluids, such as urine.
It is important that any use of first aid supplies is replenished as soon as possible or when the date has expired, so spare items should ideally be kept. Medication (including pain killers) must not be kept within first aid kits.
Personnel
At least one person should be appointed to take charge of the first aid facilities, such as ensuring the kit is replenished, not date expired and calling the emergency services if required. Ideally this person should receive emergency first aid training, so the person can treat minor injuries.
Where more people are employed, and in situations where first aid treatment might be required for members of the public, the persons should receive a complete First Aid at Work training course. This training usually takes four days to complete, and the training provider is approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). A list of training providers is available in local telephone directories.
The names of those appointed to control or administer first aid should be available so that people know who to contact in case of an emergency. It is also important to ensure continuity of first aid cover in case of holiday leave, part-time work or other situations.
Note that treatment given to members of the public might not be covered by existing liability insurance. If there is any doubt, please contact your insurance provider.
Working off site
In some situations, people work away from the main site. For example, a minister is making pastoral visits to members of the congregation. If the risk of injury is considered anything other than low, a first aid kit should be provided. Small first aid kits are readily available for under £10.
Accident book
Keeping a record of accidents is a useful way to track how well health and safety is being managed. In many situations, it is a legal requirement to keep an accident book, and most insurers require that one is kept. Accident books cost as little as £5 from most good bookshops.
All injuries to employees, volunteers and the public should be recorded as a complete record of the accidents that happen, no matter how small or insignificant the injury. Completed accident forms contain personal information and should be removed from the accident book and stored in a secure location to comply with the Data Protection Act.
Accident reporting
Serious injuries to employees, and in situations where a member of the public is taken to hospital, are reportable accidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Reports are usually made in writing or via the HSE Website (see Additional Information below). Written forms are usually submitted to the Environmental Health department of the local District, Borough or Unitary Authority.
RIDDOR also requires that certain dangerous occurrences are reported (dangerous occurrences are incidents that did not result in personal injury, but could have done). Similarly, certain diseases are reportable.
If any injury or dangerous occurrence is reported, a record should be kept of when and how the report was made. Online and telephone reports are usually confirmed by a written copy of the report being sent to you.
Additional information
For an overview of the requirements of RIDDOR, or to report a serious accident or reportable disease, please visit the HSE Accident Reporting web pages.
For a range of quality first aid kits at discount prices, please visit www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk
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