A recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution shows the importance of having suitable first aid arrangements in place and equal to workplace risks. Earlier this year, a UK manufacturing company of household cleaning products was fined £50,000, after an agency worker suffered burns to her face, eye, neck and arm when she was doused in a corrosive sink and drain un-blocker. The investigation showed that there were inadequate training arrangements and supervision or monitoring of PPE usage. Whilst eye-wash bottles were provided, the first aid arrangements available did not take account of the potential scale of any exposure, including the lack of a shower for example.
This case demonstrates why employers must carry out an assessment of workplace first aid requirements. This involves considering workplace hazards and risks, the size of the organisation and other relevant factors to determine what first-aid equipment facilities and personnel should be provided with.
For First Aid at Work requirements, there is no fixed number of employees set out in law. However, the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to make sure that employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces, including those with fewer than five employees and to the self-employed.
Your assessment should consider:
- The nature of the work and hazards present (an office will differ from workshops or laboratories);
- The size of the organisation and how people are distributed across buildings or sites;
- The health and safety record of the organisation;
- Shift patterns, lone working and out-of-hours activities;
- The presence of inexperienced workers or employees with disabilities or particular health needs, including young persons and pregnant workers;
- Whether contractors or members of the public are on site; and
- The remoteness of the site from emergency medical services.
Current HSE guidance suggests that low-hazard workplaces, such as offices, shops and libraries with fewer than 25 employees, should have at least one appointed person. Higher-hazard workplaces, such as light engineering, assembly work, food processing, warehousing and environments with extensive dangerous machinery, should have one appointed person even where there are fewer than five employees. [hse.gov.uk]
If you need any support or guidance with your workplace health and safety, please get in touch.