First Aid Guidance for Managers

Transcription

1 Department Human Resources First Aid Guidance for Managers Date Issued: March 2011 Revised: July 2015 Occupational Safety

2 Contents Page Summary of Managers Responsibilities 3 What Support Will You Receive From Occupational Safety? 3 General Statement 4 Introduction 4 Legal Background 4 Assessment of First Aid Need 5 First Aiders 5 Payment of First Aiders 5 Designated First Aider Training Requirements 6 Refresher Training 6 Paediatric First Aid 7 Requalification 7 Monitoring of Certificate Expiry 8 Training Providers 8 Appointed Persons 8 First Aid Boxes and Travelling First Aid Kits 9 First Aid Rooms 9 Recording First Aid 9 Information on First Aid Arrangements 10 Reassessment Of Needs 10 Appendices 1. Guide to Carrying Out a First Aid Needs Assessment Guide to the Numbers of First Aiders Required 2.1 Social Care School General Emergencies That First Aiders Are Trained to Deal With Example of Recommended Numbers of First Aid Boxes Recommended Contents of First Aid Boxes and Kits Recommended Requirements for a First Aid Room Record of First Aid Form 19 Occupational Safety Page 2 of 19 Revised July 2015

3 Specific guidance for schools, originally published by the DFEE but still current at the time of writing, Guidance on First Aid for Schools a Good Practice Guide can be found on the website. Summary of Manager s Responsibilities To ensure that: - You assess the first aid provision required for the activities/premises for which you are responsible. Within your assessment of first aid needs you consider the number of qualified first aiders required for the activities/premises for which you are responsible. Staff are released as appropriate to attend first aid courses. The numbers of first aiders do not fall below the minimum numbers specified in the risk assessment. The appropriate number of first aid boxes are available and suitably stocked. Any first aid rooms meet the requirements of the guidance. A record is kept of all first aid administered. All staff are informed of the arrangements made in connection with first aid, including the location of equipment (e.g. first aid boxes), first aid rooms (where available) and first aid personnel. What support will you receive from Occupational Safety? The Occupational Safety Team will: - Help you with the interpretation of any aspect of the guidance. Provide clarification and further detail on the application of the guidance. Occupational Safety Page 3 of 19 Revised July 2015

4 General Statement With the increased awareness of health and safety risks in the Council we recognise the need for personnel trained to a high standard in the practical application of first aid. In recognising the need for trained personnel we also acknowledge the willingness of those who volunteer to accept the role of first aider for their workplace and the valuable role they play in assisting the Council to meet its obligations under health and safety at work legislation. Introduction First aid is the skilled assistance given to an injured or ill person by trained people at the time of the occurrence. It is the approved method of treatment until other skilled aid is available (if required). Depending upon the nature of the injury or illness, arrangements should be made for transfer to hospital, doctor, home or return to work. First aid aims to: Preserve life Prevent the condition from becoming worse Promote recovery Note: The administration of tablets, painkillers or medicines to treat illness is not included within the definition of first aid. Legal Background The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 place a general duty on all employers to make adequate first aid provision for their employees if they are injured or become ill at work. It doesn't matter whether the injury or illness is caused by the work they do or not. First aid provision encompasses all arrangements that need to be made to manage injuries or illness; this includes access to equipment and facilities which are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for enabling first aid to be administered where necessary to employees. The law does not oblige employers to provide first aid for members of the public. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly recommends that employers consider the public and others on their premises when carrying out their assessment of first aid needs. Additionally, sector specific guidance or standards may require that first aid provision is made for service users and/or members of the public, for example within schools or social care settings. Occupational Safety Page 4 of 19 Revised July 2015

5 Assessment of First Aid Need There is a need to assess the first aid requirements of your place(s) of work. Managers are responsible for making sure that this assessment is carried out, a process which may require liaison with building custodians especially in multi-occupied buildings. This assessment may highlight a need for trained first aiders who should then be provided, but there is no fixed legal requirement for first aiders. The provision should allow immediate assistance to be given to casualties and the summoning of an ambulance or other professional help. Detailed guidance on assessment of first aid need is included in Appendix 1. First Aiders Where an assessment identifies a need for first aid to be readily available for employees, the employer should ensure that first aiders are provided in sufficient numbers and at appropriate locations to administer it without delay. There are no hard and fast rules on exact numbers. It will depend on the circumstances of your workplace. Appendix 2 provides a general guide on how many designated first aiders you might need, however, the numbers given are suggestions only. You should assess your first aid needs in the light of your particular circumstances. Where there are special circumstances, such as shift work or sites with several buildings, there may need to be more first aid personnel than set out in Appendix 2. You will need increased provision to cover for absences. Certain criteria should be considered in selecting staff to be trained as first aiders - these are as follows:- Reliability, disposition and communication skills Aptitude and ability to absorb knowledge and skills Ability to cope with demanding emergency procedures Normal duties which allow staff to attend to emergency situations Payment of First Aiders Only staff who are Designated First Aiders are entitled to an annual payment for undertaking this responsibility. There may be other staff who hold appropriate first aid qualifications, but these persons will not receive such a payment unless they are designated. The manager should decide which members of staff are the designated first aiders. Occupational Safety Page 5 of 19 Revised July 2015

6 Designated First Aider Training Requirements In order to take up designated first aid duties, a first aider should have undertaken one of two types of training: First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) Both FAW and EFAW certificates are valid for three years. EFAW training enables a first aider to give emergency first aid to someone who is injured or becomes ill while at work; training takes 6 hours and is usually a one day course. FAW training includes EFAW and in addition equips the first aider to apply first aid to a range of specific injuries and illness. FAW training takes 18 hours and is usually delivered over three days. The workplace first aiders should be trained to deal with the injuries and illness that could occur. The table in Appendix 3 will help you assess if FAW or EFAW training is appropriate. Additional specialised training of first aiders may be necessary. For example, specific training may be recommended where work is undertaken in confined spaces, or when working with very young children. The content of additional training courses is not specified by HSE and approval to run them is not required. A certificate for additional training should be issued separately from the FAW/EFAW certificate. Refresher Training Research has shown that following training the practical skills of first aiders can deteriorate. Therefore, in line with the HSE, the Council strongly recommends that first aiders complete annual 'refresher' courses during the three year FAW/EFAW certification period. Managers should ensure that qualified first aiders attend these short (3 hour) courses to help maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in first aid procedures. Occupational Safety Page 6 of 19 Revised July 2015

7 Paediatric First Aid All registered providers of early years care are obligated to use the Early Years Foundation Stage framework which contains a requirement for early year's settings who care for 0-5 year olds to have personnel qualified in paediatric first aid. Where paediatric first aiders are required they should be available at all times that 0-5 year olds are present in the early years setting. There should be adequate numbers to cover foreseeable absences and school trips so a minimum of 2 would usually be required, and possibly more if your assessment of need suggests this. Within an early years setting, under the EYFS framework, it is not sufficient to have only first aiders who have undertaken a First Aid at Work course as this generally covers adult first aid. A paediatric first aider is someone who has received specific training and assessment in first aid for children. Conversely this course alone, however, would not qualify the employee to act as a workplace first aider for the purposes of fulfilling the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations. Paediatric first aid certificates are valid for 3 years, after which time the qualification will need to be renewed. Re-qualification Renewal of first aid qualifications is essential to ensure continuity of first aid provision in the workplace. Another advantage in the case of the FAW course is that it is usually less expensive and time-consuming to renew qualifications than enrol on the full course again. Re-qualification in FAW is a 12 hour (two day) course, and for EFAW is a 6 hour (one day) course (the same as the original certificate). Re-qualification training in first aid should be arranged and undertaken within the three month period before the current certificate expires. The new certificate will be dated from expiry of the previous one. Where retraining has not been undertaken before certificate expiry there is a period of 28 days grace during which time retraining should be completed. The new certificate will still be dated from the expiry of the previous certificate. If retraining is not completed by the end of this 28 day period, the individual will be required to undertake a full FAW course or EFAW course, as appropriate, to be re-established as a first aider. Occupational Safety Page 7 of 19 Revised July 2015

8 Monitoring certificate expiry It may be useful for managers to keep a record of first aiders certification dates. This can be used to ensure first aiders attend annual refresher courses and, prior to the certificate expiry, complete an appropriate course to obtain a new three year certificate. If the onus is on the individual first aider to monitor certificate expiry dates and flag up when retraining is due, this should be made clear to them. Training Providers FAW, EFAW, Refresher, Re-qualification and Paediatric first aid training can all currently be arranged through the Workforce Development team of CBMDC. Forthcoming training dates are publicised through the usual channels. Alternatively other training providers are available but please ensure that you are satisfied that they have appropriately qualified trainers and they are competent to deliver FAW and/or EFAW courses. Appointed Persons Where an assessment of first aid need identifies that a designated first aider is not necessary, the manager/building custodian should, as a minimum, 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. If this is the agreed arrangement then appointed persons should be available to undertake these duties at all times when people are at work. To fulfil their role appointed persons do not need first aid training. Appointed persons, therefore, are not first aiders, and should not attempt to give treatment for which they have not been trained. If the first aid needs assessment indicates that trained first aiders are required, they should be available whenever people are at work. However, in exceptional, unforeseen circumstances where first aiders are absent, an appointed person can temporarily provide emergency cover within the limits of their role. Note that first aiders taking annual leave does not count as exceptional, unforeseen circumstances. Appointed persons are not necessary where there are an adequate number of first aiders. Occupational Safety Page 8 of 19 Revised July 2015

9 First Aid Boxes and Travelling First Aid Kits The minimum level of first aid equipment is at least one suitably stocked and properly marked first aid box or container for each work site containing a sufficient quantity of first aid materials. Depending upon the first aid needs assessment, more than one box may be required on larger sites (see Appendix 4 for further guidance). First aid containers should be easily accessible and preferably placed near to hand washing facilities where possible. They should only be stocked with items for giving first aid and should not contain any medication. All containers should be identified by a white cross on a green background. There is no mandatory list of items to be included in a first aid box or travelling first aid kits for mobile workers. The decision on what to provide will be influenced by the findings of the first aid needs assessment. Suggested lists are included at Appendix 5. If staff have received additional training in the treatment of specific hazards, which require the use of special antidotes / equipment, these may be securely stored near the first aid box. Contents of first aid boxes should be examined frequently by someone nominated to do so, and items disposed of once they reach their expiry date. Items should be replaced soon after use or disposal. First Aid Rooms You should provide a suitable first aid room or rooms where your assessment of first aid needs identifies this as necessary. The first aid room(s) should contain essential first aid facilities and equipment, be easily accessible to stretchers and be clearly signposted and identified. If possible, the room(s) should be reserved exclusively for giving first aid. A first aid room will usually only be necessary where there are higher hazards such as in chemical industries or on large construction sites, and in larger premises at a distance from medical services, although they are provided in some schools. A full list of the requirements for a first aid room is included in Appendix 6. Recording First Aid Under the First Aid Regulations, records must be kept of all first aid administered. When any first aid is administered, an entry should be made on the Record of First Aid which can be found at Appendix 7. The record sheet should be kept appropriately to maintain confidentiality. Occupational Safety Page 9 of 19 Revised July 2015

10 Information on First Aid Arrangements Green first aid signs should be located in prominent positions in the workplace and must list the names of the first aiders and where they may be found. These signs should also indicate the locations of first aid boxes and the first aid room (if present). These can be obtained from Y.P.O. Managers must ensure that all staff are aware of the arrangements for the provision of first aid. This is particularly relevant when inducting new staff. Reassessment of Needs First aid needs should be reassessed from time to time, particularly after any operational changes to ensure that existing provisions are appropriate. It would be good practice to tie this in to the general risk assessment annual reviews. Note Administering antiseptic cream or providing painkillers is NOT first aid. These substances should NOT be kept in your first aid box. Occupational Safety Page 10 of 19 Revised July 2015

11 Appendix 1 Guide to Carrying Out a First Aid Needs Assessment The First Aid at Work Guidelines for Employers from the Health & Safety Executive were effective from 1st October Under the guidelines, the first aid needs assessment needs to identify how many first aiders you need and what training they require. You will also need to identify the number and type of first aid boxes required. 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 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 Appendices 2-6 give general guidance which is applicable to many workplaces within Bradford Council, but higher risk areas will require a more in depth assessment. The Nature of the Work, the Hazards and the Risks One of the more complicated areas of the 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 Machinery Work at height Workplace transport Electricity Chemicals Fractures, sprains and strains, lacerations. Crush injuries, amputations, fractures, lacerations, eye injuries. Head injury, loss of consciousness, spinal injury, fractures, sprains and strains. Crush injuries, fractures, sprains and strains, spinal injuries. Electric shock, burns. Poisoning, loss of consciousness, burns, eye injuries. Occupational Safety Page 11 of 19 Revised July 2015

12 Appendix 2 A Guide to the Numbers of First Aiders Required Appendix Social Care The figures below are guidelines. They are the minimum number of first aiders recommended for each type of premise. Managers must consider the numbers of staff, clients or residents involved, the type of activities undertaken, the hours that the building is open, and the risk of injury to these groups. Note: Sector specific standards may require you to provide more than this, depending on the service you provide. Where managers assess that they need less first aiders than the recommended minimum, this should be justified through a risk assessment. An example of where this would be permissible is where a service shares a building with another service that has first aiders that could be called upon. Setting Recommended Minimum No. Of First Aiders (Full Time Equivalent) Adults Residential Homes 6 FAW Day Facilities 2 FAW Area Offices 2 FAW Home Care 1 EFAW Children & Families Family Centres 3 FAW Community Homes 4 FAW Children with Disabilities Residential Units 4 FAW Area Offices 2 FAW Occupational Safety Page 12 of 19 Revised July 2015

13 Appendix 2.2 Schools Governing bodies/head teachers should consider the likely risks to pupils and visitors, as well as employees, when drawing up policies and deciding on the numbers of first-aid personnel. The HSE provide guidance on numbers of first-aid personnel based on employee numbers as shown in appendix 2.3. Schools will generally fall into the lower hazard category, but some schools or areas of activity may fall into the higher hazard category. Schools should base their provision on the results of their risk assessment. If there are parts of the school where different levels of risk can be identified, the employer should consider the need to make different levels of provision in different areas/departments. When considering how many first-aid personnel are required, the governing body/head teacher should also consider: adequate provision for lunchtimes and breaks. It is good practice to encourage lunchtime supervisors to have first-aid training adequate provision for leave and in case of absences first-aid provision for off-site activities i.e. school trips. If a first-aider accompanies pupils off-site, will there be adequate first-aid provision in the school? adequate provision for practical departments, such as science, technology, home economics physical education adequate provision for out of hours activities e.g. sports activities, clubs any agreements with contractors (e.g. school meals) on joint provision for first aid for their employees adequate provision for trainees working on site they have the same status as staff for the purposes of health and safety legislation paediatric first aid needs (Adapted from Guidance on First Aid for Schools a Good Practice Guide DFEE) Occupational Safety Page 13 of 19 Revised July 2015

14 Appendix 2.3 General HSE suggested numbers of first aiders to be available at all times people are at work 1 From your risk assessment, what degree of hazard is associated with your work activities? 2 How many employees do you have in your area? 3 What first aid personnel do you need? Low hazard e.g. offices, libraries, tourist information centres Higher hazard e.g. light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing, work with dangerous machinery, sharp instruments or chemicals construction work. Less than 25 At least one appointed person At least one EFAW first More than 50 Less than 5 aider At least one FAW first aider for every 100 employees (or part thereof) At least one appointed person 5-50 At least one first aider trained in EFAW or FAW depending on the type of injuries that might occur More than 50 At least one FAW first aider for every 50 employees (or part thereof) When determining numbers of first aiders you should also consider: What injuries and illness have previously occurred in your workplace? Ensure any injuries and illness that might occur can be dealt with by the first aid personnel you provide. Where first aiders are shown to be unnecessary, there is still a possibility of an accident or sudden illness, so you may wish to consider providing qualified first aiders. Other factors below that may affect your first aid provision? o Inexperienced workers or employees with disabilities or health problems o Employees who travel a lot, work remotely or work alone o Employees who work shifts or out of hours o Premises spread out across buildings/floors o Workplace remote from emergency medical services o Employees working at sites occupied by other employers o Planned and unplanned absences of first aiders/ appointed persons o Members of the public who visit the workplace Occupational Safety Page 14 of 19 Revised July 2015

15 Appendix 3 Emergencies That First Aiders Are Trained to Deal With EFAW = Emergency First Aid at Work (6 hour course) FAW = First Aid at Work (18 hour course) EFAW 6 Hours Acting safely, promptly and effectively in an emergency Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Treating an unconscious casualty (including seizure) Choking Wounds and bleeding Shock Minor injuries Preventing cross infection, recording incidents and actions and the use of available equipment Fractures Sprains and strains Spinal injuries Chest injuries Severe burns and scalds Eye injuries Poisoning Anaphylaxis Heart attack Stroke Epilepsy Asthma Diabetes These topics are not covered on the EFAW course, so if any of these injuries or illnesses could occur, a full First Aider at Work (18 hour course) should be provided. FAW 18 hours Occupational Safety Page 15 of 19 Revised July 2015

16 Appendix 4 Examples of recommended numbers of first aid boxes Below are some suggestions for common types of workplace within the Authority, however, each case is different and the number of boxes provided should reflect the risk: Smaller Offices (less than 50 staff) 1 box Larger Offices 1 box per floor Social Care Settings Needs to be risk assessed according to type and number of client group Nurseries 1 box - located in office/first aid room Primary Schools 1 box - located in office/first aid room 1 box - PE/hall area 1 box - if required in a place of the school s choice Special Needs Schools 1 box - located in Office/first aid Room 1 box - science/prep room* 1 box - home technology 1 box design technology 1 box - art 1 box- hall/gymnasium Secondary Schools 1 box - office/first aid room 1 box - science prep rooms* 1 box - home technology 1 box design technology 1 box - art 1 box - hall/gymnasium * denotes requirement for eye irrigation Vehicles All Authority owned/ hired/ leased vehicles should have a travelling first aid kit. The driver should be responsible for the upkeep of the kit and liaise with their manager/supervisor to ensure it remains fully stocked i.e. by reporting to their manager/supervisor if a kit is used or goes out of date. A risk assessment may dictate that if employees own cars are being used on official Council business that a travelling first aid kit should by provided by the Council. Occupational Safety Page 16 of 19 Revised July 2015

17 Appendix 5 Recommended Contents of First Aid Boxes and Kits There is no standard list of items to put in a first aid box. It depends on what you assess the needs are. However, as a guide, and where there is no special risk in the workplace, a minimum stock of first aid items would be: Item First Aid Boxes Travelling First Aid Kits Guidance card or leaflet 1 1 Individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings (assorted sizes) 20 6 Sterile eye pads, with attachment Individually wrapped triangular bandages (preferably sterile) 4 2 Medium sized individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings (Approx.12cm x 12cm) Large sterile individually wrapped 2 1 unmedicated wound dressings (approx. 18cm x 18cm) Safety pins 6 2 Disposable gloves (preferably non-latex to avoid allergy problems) 1 Pair 1 Pair Where tap water is not readily available for eye irrigation, at least one litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline in sealed disposable containers should be provided. The first aid needs assessment may indicate that additional materials and equipment are required such as scissors, adhesive tape, disposable aprons and individually wrapped moist wipes. They may be put in the first aid container if there is room or stored separately. Tablets or medicines should not be kept in the first aid box. Occupational Safety Page 17 of 19 Revised July 2015

18 Appendix 6 Recommended Requirements for a First Aid Room A Designated first aider should be responsible for the room and its contents. They should ensure the room is equipped and is clean and ready for use. A Designated first aider should be available at all times when employees are at work. The room should be readily available at all times when employees are at work and should not be used for any purposes other than first aid/gp/ nurse visits. The room should be located on the Ground Floor near a main entrance to allow access for emergency services. The room should be large enough to hold a couch and a chair. The entrance should be wide enough to accommodate a stretcher or wheelchair. The room should contain suitable facilities and equipment. It should be well ventilated, heated and lit. All surfaces should be easy to clean. The room should be cleaned daily and arrangements made for refuse and clinical waste disposal. The room should be clearly identified as a first aid room. A notice should be affixed to the door showing the names and locations of the nearest first aiders Effective means of communication should be provided to contact first aiders in the event of an accident / sudden illness The following facilities should be provided within first aid rooms: - o Sink with hot & cold running water o Drinking water and cups o Soap and paper towels o Smooth topped work surfaces o Suitable first aid materials store o First aid equipment (as per Appendix 4) o Suitable refuse containers o A couch and blankets o Disposable plastic apron o Disposable protective gloves (preferably non latex to avoid allergy problems) o A chair o A Record of First Aid o A bowl Any specialist first aid equipment may also be stored in this room along with an Oxygen cylinder, if necessary. (Please refer to the medical oxygen guidance for managers on the Occupational Safety Website). Occupational Safety Page 18 of 19 Revised July 2015

19 Appendix 7 Record of First Aid Date Time Name of Person First Aid Treatment Description of Incident leading up Name of Person Giving First Aid Given to First Aid being given Receiving First Aid