Guide to Carrying out a First Aid Needs
Assessment
The new First Aid at
Work Guidelines for Employers from the Health and Safety Executive are
effective from 1st October 2009.
The new type of first aid needs assessment will identify what type of first
aid training your first aiders will need, how many first aiders you need and
where they should be located.
A First Aid Needs Assessment should consider the following topics:
·
the nature of the work,
the hazards and the risks
·
the nature of the
workforce
·
the organisation’s
history of accidents and illness
·
the needs of travelling,
remote and lone workers
·
work patterns such as
shift work
·
the distribution of the
workforce
·
the remoteness of the
site from emergency medical services
·
employees working on
shared or multi-occupied sites
·
annual leave and other
absences of first aiders
·
first-aid provision for
non-employees
·
the size of the
organisation
The nature of the work, the hazards and the risks
One of the more complicated areas of the new first aid needs assessment
is considering ‘the nature of the work, the hazards and the risks’. You
should consider the risks and identify what possible injuries could occur in
order to ensure sufficient first aid provision is available.
The following table, compiled using information from the Health &
Safety Executive, identifies some common workplace risks and the possible
injuries that could occur:
|
Risk
|
Possible Injuries
Requiring First Aid
|
|
Manual Handling
|
Fractures,
lacerations, sprains and strains.
|
|
Slip and trip hazards
|
Fractures, sprains and
strains, lacerations.
|
|
Machinery
|
Crush injuries,
amputations, fractures, lacerations, eye injuries.
|
|
Work at height
|
Head injury, loss of
consciousness, spinal injury, fractures, sprains and strains.
|
|
Workplace transport
|
Crush injuries,
fractures, sprains and strains, spinal injuries.
|
|
Electricity
|
Electric shock, burns.
|
|
Chemicals
|
Poisoning, loss of
consciousness, burns, eye injuries.
|
The table is not comprehensive and does not cover all the risks that
could occur in a workplace, so you should look at each area of the workplace
and document the risks and the possible injuries.
One reason for this exercise is to ensure that you provide the correct
type of first aider(s). There are now two levels of workplace first aider:
·
Emergency First Aider at
Work (EFAW) – 6 hour course
·
First Aider at Work (FAW)
– 18 hour course.
You should ensure that your first aiders are trained to deal with the
injuries and illness that could occur. The table below will help you match
your requirements to the most appropriate course:
|
What Emergencies are First Aiders Trained
to Deal With?
|
|
EFAW
= Emergency First Aid at Work (6 hour course)
FAW = First Aid at Work (18 hour course)
|
EFAW
6 Hours
|
FAW
18 hours
|
|
Acting safely, promptly and effectively in an emergency
|
n
|
n
|
|
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
|
n
|
n
|
|
Treating an unconscious casualty (including seizure)
|
n
|
n
|
|
Choking
|
n
|
n
|
|
Wounds and bleeding
|
n
|
n
|
|
Shock
|
n
|
n
|
|
Minor injuries
|
n
|
n
|
|
Preventing cross infection, recording
incidents and actions and the use of available equipment
|
n
|
n
|
|
Fractures
|
|
n
|
|
Sprains and strains
|
|
n
|
|
Spinal injuries
|
|
n
|
|
Chest injuries
|
|
n
|
|
Severe burns and scalds
|
|
n
|
|
Eye injuries
|
|
n
|
|
Poisoning
|
|
n
|
|
Anaphylaxis
|
|
n
|
|
Heart attack
|
|
n
|
|
Stroke
|
|
n
|
|
Epilepsy
|
|
n
|
|
Asthma
|
|
n
|
|
Diabetes
|
|
n
|
NB These
topics are not included in the 1 day EFAW course, therefore where these
risks occur in the workplace, a 4 day FAW course is strongly recommended.
Extra, specialised training and provision may be needed for hazards such
as chemicals, dangerous machinery, working in confined spaces, etc.
You should also consider the possible illnesses that could occur
in the workplace and ensure you have adequate provision.
The Nature of the Workforce
You should consider the needs and health of all workers and ensure that
first aiders are available and trained to deal with specific health needs.
You should consider things such as:
·
The Young
·
The Elderly
·
Specific health problems
(such as heart conditions, asthma, diabetes etc.)
·
Disabilities
The Organisation’s History of Accidents and Illness
You should look at the organisations history of accidents and illness to
try and identify any needs or trends that may influence the location or type
of first aider. Different levels of provision may be required in different
areas of the workplace.
The Needs of Travelling, Remote and Lone Workers
First Aid should be available wherever people work so you may need to
consider providing personal first aid kits or training to travelling, remote
or lone workers.
Work Patterns Such as Shift Work
Adequate first aid cover should be available whenever people are at work.
There may be circumstances when a higher level of cover is needed when less
people are at work, such as overnight maintenance work in a normally low
risk environment.
The Distribution of the Workforce
First Aiders should be able to reach the scene of an incident quickly.
Consider extra first aiders on large sites, sites with multiple buildings or
buildings with multiple floors.
Remoteness to the site from Emergency Medical Services
If the workplace is remote from emergency medical services you may need
to make special transport arrangements should an incident occur. Consider
how employees will summon help – do they have access to a phone?
Even in urban areas you should be aware that it often takes more than 10
minutes for an ambulance crew to reach a casualty, so the correct provision
of first aid is a vital link in reducing the effects of illness or injury.
Employees Working on Shared or Multi-Occupied Sites
On shared work sites it may be possible to share first aid provision,
such as the security team providing first aid cover at a large shopping
centre. It is important to fully exchange details of the hazards and risks
so that adequate first aid cover is provided. Make agreements in writing to
avoid misunderstandings.
Annual leave and other foreseeable absences
You should ensure that adequate first aid cover is available at all
times, including when a first aider is on annual leave, a training course, a
lunch break or other foreseeable absences. This generally means that
workplaces need more than one first aider to ensure that cover is
maintained.
If your first aid needs assessment identifies the need for a ‘First
Aider at Work’ (18 hour course), it is not acceptable to provide an ‘Emergency
First Aider at Work’ (6 hour course) to cover foreseeable absences. You
should also consider what cover is needed for non-planned absences such as
sick leave.
First Aid Provision for Non-Employees
The HSE recommend that you include non-employees in your first aid needs
assessment. You should consider the duty of care that you assume when a
non-employee visits your site. This is particularly relevant if you provide
a service for others such as schools, places of entertainment, shops etc.
Consider both the injuries and illnesses that could occur.
For large events such as concerts, organisers have a duty of care to
ensure that adequate medical, ambulance and first aid cover is available.
Organisers of such events should refer to The Event Safety Guide, published
by HSE books, for further information.
The Size of the Organisation
Employee numbers should
no longer be the primary basis for determining an employer’s first aid
needs; all the areas of the new first aid needs assessment should be
carefully considered. However, in general terms the larger your organisation
is, the more first aiders you will need.
·
For ‘non-manual’,
very low risk workplaces (such as shops, offices, libraries etc.) the HSE
recommend a minimum of one extra first aider on duty at all times per 100
people (or part thereof).
·
For ‘manual’
workplaces (light assembly work, warehousing, food processing etc.) or
higher risks, the HSE recommend a minimum of one extra first aider on duty
at all times per 50 people (or part thereof).
Reviewing the First Aid Needs Assessment
You should review your first aid needs from time to time, particularly if
you have operational changes in your workplace. It is recommended that a
record is kept of incidents dealt with by first aiders to assist in this
process.
Annual Refresher Training
Due to the wealth of evidence on the severity of ‘first aid skill fade’,
the HSE now strongly recommend that all First Aiders and Emergency First
Aiders attend annual refresher training.
July 2009