First Aid at Work Policy

Transcription

1 First Aid at Work Policy Version Author Date Comments Approved by No V1.0 Lynne Sharp First draft To discuss by Health and Safety Sub-Group virtually V2.0 Comments from H&S Group incorporated For approval by QRC APPROVED

2 Reader information Reference Version Title Authors/Nominated Lead HS010 V2 First Aid at Work Policy Head of Governance and Engagement NHS Rushcliffe CCG Approval Date 3 August 2016 Approving Committee Quality and Risk Committee Review Date Groups/Staff Consulted Target audience Circulation list Associated documents August 2017 CCG Health and Safety Leads NNE, NW, Rushcliffe CCGs All CCGs Staff All CCGs Staff Health and Safety Policy Procedure for Reporting of Incidents and Near Misses including RIDDOR Superseded documents Sponsoring Director N/A Director Nursing and Quality

3 Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Statement of Intent 3. Definitions 3.1 First Aid 3.2 Certified First Aider 3.3 Appointed Person 4. Legislation 4.1 The Health and Safety (Firs-Aid) Regulations Roles and responsibilities 5.1 Accountable Officer 5.2 Director of Nursing and Quality 5.3 Health and Safety Leads 5.4 Staff 5.5 Health Professionals 6. Reporting 7. Monitoring and Audit 8. Review 9. References

4 1. Introduction 1.1 This policy covers the three south Nottinghamshire CCGs NHS Nottingham North and East, NHS Nottingham West and NHS Rushcliffe CCGs subsequently known as the CCGs. 1.2 This policy applies to all CCG staff and also includes temporary staff. 2. Statement of Intent 2.1 The policy intention is to ensure that employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. First aid provision must be adequate and appropriate based on an assessment of the hazards and risks of the workplace. 2.2 In assessing their needs, employers should consider: the nature of the work and the workplace hazards and risks the nature of the workforce the organisations history of accidents the size of the organisation the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers work patterns the distribution of the workforce the remoteness of the site from emergency medical services employees working on shred or multi-occupied sites annual leave and other absences of first-aiders and appointed persons first-aid provision for non-employees 3. Definitions 3.1 First Aid in cases where a person will need help from a medical practitioner or nurse, treatment for the purpose of preserving life and minimising the consequences of injury and illness until such help is obtained; and treatment of minor injuries which would otherwise receive no treatment or which do not need treatment by a medical practitioner or nurse 3.2 Certified First Aider A person who holds a valid certificate of competence in either First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW). Training in either FAW or EFAW will be provided by a HSE approved provider. 3.3 Appointed Person Takes charge of first aid arrangements and will call the emergency services if required. As part of their role they will check and replenish first aid boxes. 4. Legislation 4.1 Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 place a legal duty on the employer to make provision for first aid by way of providing adequate equipment, facilities and trained persons to render first aid to those employees who become injured or ill at work.

5 5. Roles and Responsibilities 5.1 Accountable Officer The individual CCG Accountable Officers are responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented in order to enable the CCGs to comply with the Health & Safety At Work etc Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety At Work Regulations 1999, (as amended) The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations Director of Nursing and Quality The Director of Nursing and Quality has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy through the Health and Safety Sub-Group of the Quality and Risk Committee. 5.3 Health and Safety Leads Each CCG has a designated Health and Safety Lead who will undertake the following: Carry out and regularly review an organisational risk assessment (Appendix 1) to ascertain the required level of first aid provision and document the findings (Appendix 2) Identify work areas where first aid support and provision is required; Identify employees who are prepared to take on responsibilities of the Certified First Aider and the associated training; If an employee has a current first-aid qualification other than FAW/EFAW, the employer may consider whether it would be suitable in relation to the role of workplace first-aider and their needs assessment. Maintain details of Certified First Aiders and Appointed Persons, their training records and training renewal dates; Ensure there is adequate provision to cover for the First Aider(s) planned leave or other absences Ensure there is appropriate provision and maintenance of first aid equipment (Appendix 3); Communicate the location and names of Certified First Aiders and Appointed Persons to all staff within each respective work area. Such information should also be prominently displayed on strategically placed notices within the work area Assess first aid requirements for all lone working staff, where relevant. 5.4 Staff All staff have the following responsibilities: To ensure that they are aware of all first aid arrangements within their immediate work area; Following any incident (including any instance where first aid was required), to ensure the incident is reported in line with the Incident Reporting Procedure;

6 To use the contents of first aid boxes only for first aid purposes, and to inform their manager of any obvious shortfall in its contents. 5.5 Health Professionals Provided they can demonstrate current knowledge and skills in first aid, the training and experience of the following qualify them to administer first aid in the workplace without the need to hold a FAW or EFAW or equivalent qualification: doctors registered and licensed with the General Medical Council; nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council; paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. 6. Reporting The incident reporting procedure meets the CCGs legal obligations to report all accidents, injuries, dangerous occurrences and reportable diseases (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995). Such events may involve employees, contractors, service users, visitors or any other member of the public. Contractors and those employed by the CCGs must comply with the policy requiring the reporting of accidents, incidents, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences. Where first aid provision has been carried out the first aider or appointed person should document the following information on the incident report: date, time and the nature of first aid treatment given details if injured/ill person place of incident type of injury/illness after the event (e.g. did the person return to work, go home or go to hospital?) name and signature of the person giving first aid treatment/dealing with the incident 7. Monitoring and Audit This policy will be monitored for compliance and effectiveness at regular intervals by the Health and Safety Sub-group of the Quality and Risk Committee. Monitoring will include areas such as incident analysis, risk assessments, accident investigations and audit. 8. Review The First Aid Policy will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Health and Safety Sub-group and approved by the Quality and Risk Committee. 9. References Health and Safety Executive First Aid at Work guidance on the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.

7 Appendix 1 First Aid Needs Assessment An employer should make an assessment of first aid needs appropriate to the circumstances (hazards and risks) of each workplace:

8 Appendix 2 Organisational Risk Assessment CCG Location Date Completed by: First-Aid Personnel Required Yes/No Number Needed First-aider with an emergency first aid at work certificate First-aider with a first aid at work certificate First-aider with additional training (specify) First-Aid Equipment and Facilities Required Yes/No Number needed Dust- and damp-proof first-aid container Kit contents Additional equipment (specify), eg foil blankets, eye wash bottles, shears, microporous tape Defibrillator Travelling first-aid kit First-aid room

9 Appendix 3 First Aid Box Kits There is no mandatory list of items to be included in a first-aid container. The decision on what to provide is influenced by the findings of the first-aid needs assessment. As a guide, where work activities involve low hazards, a minimum stock of first-aid items is: a leaflet giving general guidance on first aid (for example, HSE s leaflet Basic advice on first aid at work); individually wrapped sterile plasters (assorted sizes), appropriate to the type of work (hypoallergenic plasters can be provided if necessary); sterile eye pads; individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile; safety pins; large sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings; medium-sized sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings; disposable gloves (see HSE s leaflet Latex and you6). Travelling First-Aid Kit Contents There is no mandatory list of items to be included in first-aid kits for travelling workers. They might typically contain: a leaflet giving general guidance on first aid (for example HSE s leaflet Basic advice on first aid at work); individually wrapped sterile plasters (hypoallergenic plasters can be provided, if necessary); individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile; safety pins; large sterile un-medicated dressing; individually wrapped moist cleansing wipes; disposable gloves (see HSE s leaflet Latex and you). First aid at work does not include giving tablets or medicines to treat illness. Therefore it is recommended that tablets and medicines should not be kept in the first-aid container. If an individual needs to take their own prescribed medication, the first aider is generally limited to helping them do so and to contact the emergency services as appropriate.