Changes to Health & Safety First Aid at Work Regulations Oct 2009

Back 
See below for new first aid needs assessment...

 

  

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  

Five steps to risk assessment aims to help you assess health and safety risks

A risk assessment is an important step in protecting your workers and your business, as well as complying with the law. It helps you focus on the risks that really matter in your workplace – the ones with the potential to cause harm. In many instances, straightforward measures can readily control risks, for example, ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly so people do not slip or cupboard drawers kept closed to ensure people do not trip. For most, that means simple, cheap and effective measures to ensure your most valuable asset – your workforce – is protected.

The law does not expect you to eliminate all risk, but you are required to protect people as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’. This guide tells you how to achieve that with minimum fuss.

This is not the only way to do a risk assessment, there are other methods that work well, particularly for more complex risks and circumstances. However, we believe this method is the most straightforward for most organisations.

What is risk assessment?

A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.

Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your business if output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increase or you have to go to court. You are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace so you must put plans in place to control risks.

How to assess the risks in your workplace

Follow the five steps in this leaflet

  1. Identify the hazards[1]
  2. Decide who might be harmed and how[2]
  3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution[3]
  4. Record your findings and implement them[4]
  5. Review your assessment and update if necessary[5]

Don’t overcomplicate the process. In many organisations, the risks are well known and the necessary control measures are easy to apply. You probably already know whether, for example, you have employees who move heavy loads and so could harm their backs, or where people are most likely to slip or trip. If so, check that you have taken reasonable precautions to avoid injury.

If you run a small organisation and you are confident you understand what’s involved, you can do the assessment yourself. You don’t have to be a health and safety expert.

Download the Risk Assessment and Policy Template[6]. This template brings together your risk assessment, health and safety policy, and record of health and safety arrangements into one document to help you get started and save time. If you already have a health and safety policy, you may choose to simply complete the risk assessment part of the template. We also have a number of example risk assessments[7] to show you what a risk assessment might look like. Choose the example closest to your own business and use it as a guide for completing the template, adapting it to meet the needs of your own business.

If you work in a larger organisation, you could ask a health and safety adviser to help you. If you are not confident, get help from someone who is competent. In all cases, you should make sure that you involve your staff or their representatives in the process. They will have useful information about how the work is done that will make your assessment of the risk more thorough and effective. But remember, you are responsible for seeing that the assessment is carried out properly.

When thinking about your risk assessment, remember:

  • a hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, working from ladders, an open drawer, etc; and
  • the risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by these and other hazards, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be.

Some frequently asked questions

What if the work I do tends to vary a lot, or I (or my employees) move from one site to another?

Identify the hazards you can reasonably expect and assess the risks from them. This general assessment should stand you in good stead for the majority of your work. Where you do take on work or a new site that is different, cover any new or different hazards with a specific assessment. You do not have to start from scratch each time.

What if I share a workplace?

Tell the other employers and self-employed people there about any risks your work could cause them, and what precautions you are taking. Also, think about the risks to your own workforce from those who share your workplace.

Do my employees have responsibilities?

Yes. Employees have legal responsibilities to co-operate with their employer’s efforts to improve health and safety (eg they must wear protective equipment when it is provided), and to look out for each other.

What if one of my employee’s circumstances change?

You’ll need to look again at the risk assessment. You are required to carry out a specific risk assessment for new or expectant mothers, as some tasks (heavy lifting or work with chemicals for example) may not be appropriate. If an employee develops a disability then you are required to make reasonable adjustments. People returning to work following major surgery may also have particular requirements. If you put your mind to it, you can almost always find a way forward that works for you and your employees.

What if I have already assessed some of the risks?

If, for example, you use hazardous chemicals and you have already assessed the risks to health and the precautions you need to take under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), you can consider them ‘checked’ and move on.

© Clayton 2010