First Aid Cover at Work

Hello there; with minimal risk to a member of staff i.e an office worker, who works in the office on her own as the two Directors work from home, is there any requirement at all for Health and Safety policy implementation?

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work. Regulation 3 states that there should be at least an appointed person in every workplace during working hours. Employers are required to carry out an assessment of first aid needs. This involves consideration of 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.In the event of injury or sudden illness, failure to provide first aid could result in that person’s death. The employer should therefore ensure that an employee who is injured or taken ill at work receives immediate attention.
HSE will prosecute in cases where there is a significant risk, a disregard for established standards or persistent poor compliance with the law. Consideration should be given to the Hierachy of Control. Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs requires Employers to assess the risks to employess and others who may be affected by the Employers business activities. Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act imposes certain duties on Employers to provide health, safety and welfare at work to all employees including adequate welfare facilities which would include first aid. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 then need to be considered. Your risk assessment and workplace hazards should determine if you need first aiders or appointed persons and the quantity required. You also will have a responsibility to provide edequate supervision under section 2 of the HSAWA so presumably when some staff start early in the morning you have supervision or shift leaders? Would it not make sense to put thse on an appointed persons course so that at all times you have first aid cover? This is the route I have gone down. Where the risk is low or medium with access to a hospital within a few miles we have supervision and team leaders who are appointed persons. Where the risk is high or access to medical services is remote we have first aiders. Perhaps you could consider this as an option.

Hi - the need for first aiders is, or should be based on risk assessment, the type of industry working, numbers of staff, proximity of hospitals etc. if you look at the HSE website and download the "first aid at work - your questions answered" this may help you in answering your questions. I think your question does come down to risk assessment and what is reasonably practicable to do.

In our company we have a First Aid Policy which outlines responsibilities, states how many first aiders should be in what area, what type of training they need to undertake, etc and each area has a local proceedure to state what/who is their first aider and what to do in case of emergency and what to do if first aider is not on site, this is communicated to all staff. sometimes it is impossible to cover every eventuallity but as long as you have risk assessed and done what is reasonably practicable then you should be within the law.

Hi, we have approx 30 employees with 2 first aiders and 1 appointed person. Can anyone please clarify if it is law that we need to have first aid cover at all times that employees may be on the premises? I can't find anything to state yes or no if this is the law. For example, some staff start early in the morning, but the employees who are first aiders would not start until later in the morning. This would be the same for any overtime hours that may occur. Is it just a case of better to be covered at all times? Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.