2.17 First Aid

Contents

1. General Statement
2. Arrangements for Securing the Health and Safety of Workers First Aid Personnel
3. Legal Indemnity of First Aiders
4. First Aid Boxes
5. First Aid/Recovery Room
6. Recording Accidents

1. General Statement

The company is committed to providing sufficient numbers of first aid personnel to deal with accidents and injuries occurring at work.

To this end, the company will provide information and training on first aid to employees to ensure that statutory requirements and the needs of the organisation are met.

Should employees have concerns about the provision of first aid within the organisation, they should inform a responsible person to enable the company to investigate and rectify the situation if necessary.

The person responsible for the implementation of this policy is the Registered Homes Manager.

2. Arrangements for Securing the Health and Safety of Workers First Aid Personnel

First aid personnel are employees who have volunteered for the role and who have been assessed as being suitable.

First aiders must receive training and should have passed an examination in accordance with Health and Safety Executive requirements. First aid personnel will be provided with retraining when their certificates cease to be valid after three years in order to ensure that their skills are maintained.

The company will ensure that there are sufficient first aid personnel within the workplace to adequately cover for every shift through the carrying out of a first aid assessment. This includes night shifts and weekend working (where relevant). Notices will be displayed in all workplaces giving the location of first aid equipment and the name(s) and location(s) of personnel concerned.

In low risk situations where the assessment of first-aid needs identifies that a first aider is not necessary, a person(s) may be appointed to take charge of the first-aid arrangements, including looking after the equipment and facilities and calling the emergency services when required and for to be available to undertake these duties at all times when people are at work. Appointed persons are not first aiders and must not attempt to give first aid for which they have not been trained. The appointed person will attend a course on emergency first-aid training for appointed persons.

3. Legal Indemnity of First Aiders

It is unlikely that first aid personnel rendering assistance to a colleague will become subject to legal action because of a deterioration in the colleague's condition. However, the company has arranged to guard against this possibility by providing through its insurance policies indemnification for any member of staff who assists an employee who becomes ill or is injured at work, either on or off the premises.

4. First Aid Boxes

First aid boxes are provided within the workplace to ensure that there are adequate supplies for the nature of the hazards involved. All boxes will contain at least the minimum supplies which are required under law. Only specified first aid supplies will be kept. No creams, lotions or drugs, however seemingly mild, will be kept in these boxes.

The location of first aid boxes and the name of the person responsible for their upkeep will be clearly indicated on notice boards throughout the workplace. First aid boxes will display the following information:

1. the name of the person responsible for their upkeep
2. the nearest location for further supplies
3. the contents of the first aid box and replenishing arrangements
4. the location of the accident book.

First aid boxes are maintained and restocked when necessary by authorised personnel. These personnel will be aware of the procedure for re-ordering supplies.

Portable first aid kits

Portable first aid kits are available for those members of staff who are required to work away from the normal workplace, where access to facilities may be restricted. Examples of these circumstances include:

1. work with potentially dangerous tools and machinery away from base location
2. staff travelling abroad on business
3. staff travelling in vehicles on a regular basis, e.g. sales executives or delivery personnel
4. staff whose work takes them to isolated or remote locations
5. staff participating in sporting or social events arranged or supported by the company.

5. First Aid/Recovery Room

This is provided to assist first aiders when administering treatment. Access to the first aid room is obtainable from authorised personnel. All staff, especially new recruits, must be made aware of the location of the first aid room. This room must only be used for the rendering of first aid during or after illness. The location of the first aid room has been arranged so that corridors and lifts, etc are large enough to allow for a stretcher, wheelchair or carrying chair to be used safely and easily.

6. Recording Accidents

All accidents must be recorded, however minor. The company has provided an accident book in which all incidents must be noted. The accident book is housed in a central location, details of which are displayed on first aid boxes.

It is the responsibility of employees to ensure that they complete an entry in the accident book as soon as possible after the injury has occurred. Where the injured person is unable to enter his or her account into the accident book, the first aider or witness (where relevant) should enter details on the employee's behalf. Where an accident results in admittance to hospital, or inability to continue work, the relevant manager must be informed immediately.

For the purposes of maintaining first aid supplies, first aiders should keep a record of those supplies that are used, by whom and for what reason.

See Accidents Procedure

End