Q3: What should I consider when assessing first-aid needs?
Some small workplaces may only need the minimum provision. But, there are factors that might mean you need greater provision. The checklist in Table 1 covers the points you should consider.
Q4: What should I put in the first-aid box?
There is no mandatory list of items to put in a first-aid box. It depends on what you assess your needs to be. As a guide, where work activities involve low hazards, a minimum stock of first-aid items might be:
- a leaflet giving general guidance on first aid (e.g. HSE’s leaflet: “Basic advice on first aid at work” )
- 20 individually wrapped sterile plasters (assorted sizes)
- appropriate to the type of work, in pubs this would mean blue plasters
- two sterile eye pads
- four individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
- six safety pins
- two large, individually wrapped, sterile, unmedicated wound dressings
- six medium-sized, individually wrapped, sterile un-medicated wound dressings
- a pair of disposable gloves (see HSE’s free leaflet: “Latex and you”)
This is a suggested contents list only.
It is also recommended that you don’t keep tablets and medicines in the first-aid box.
Q5: What is an appointed person?
If you decide you don’t need a first-aider in your workplace, you should appoint someone to take charge of first-aid arrangements. The role of this appointed person includes looking after first-aid equipment and facilities and calling the emergency services when required. They can also provide emergency cover where a first-aider is absent due to unforeseen circumstances (annual leave does not count). Appointed persons do not need first-aid training, though emergency first-aid courses are available.
Even if you decide first-aiders are unnecessary, there is still the possibility of an accident or illness, so you may wish to consider providing qualified first-aiders. Appointed persons are not necessary where there is an adequate number of first-aiders.
Q6: Do I have to do anything else?
You have to inform your employees of the first-aid arrangements. Putting up notices telling staff who and where the first-aiders or appointed persons are and where the first-aid box is will usually be enough. You will need to make special arrangements to give first-aid information to employees with reading or language difficulties.
You will also need to keep an Accident Book where you can record any injuries or accidents and what steps you took to prevent a similar accident happening again and what first-aid treatment was applied to recorded injuries. (You can buy one from the Health & Safety Executive by clicking here).
For details of the How To Run A Pub Boot Camps that cover, amongst other things, Emergency First Aid At Work, go to the Training page on the website.
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