Page 64 - 053 OfficeTeam OH Catalogue V5:Layout 1

First Aid Risk Assessment www.otworkplaceteam.co.uk 64 What the Law Says The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 states: "An employer shall provide or ensure that there are provided such equipment and facilities as are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for enabling first aid to be rendered to his
adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for enabling first aid to be rendered to his
employees if they are injured or become ill at work"
they are inju
red or become ill at work" Employers have an obligation under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and guidance documents to make adequate and appropriate first aid provision for their workforce. It is recommended that someone is able to undertake first aid duties at all times when people are at work. What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in your workplace
at work. What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in your workplace
and you should assess what your first-aid needs are.
ld assess what
your first-aid needs are.
and you should assess what your first-aid needs are.
What is First Aid at Work?
s First
Aid at Work? People at work can suffer injuries or be taken ill. It doesn’t matter whether the injury or illness is caused by the work they do or not, it is important to give them immediate attention and call an ambulance in serious cases. You should make arrangements to ensure this happens. It can save
ambulance in serious cases. You should make arrangements to ensure this happens. It can save
lives and prevent minor injuries becoming major ones.
vent minor inj
uries becoming major ones. How do I Assess the Risks in my Workplace? As part of managing the health and safety of your business, you must control the risks in your workplace. To do this you need to think about what might cause harm to people and decide whether you are taking reasonable steps to prevent that harm. This is known as a risk assessment and it is something you are required by law to carry out. A good starting point is to walk around your workplace and think about the hazards. What is it about the activities, processes or substances used that could injure your employees or harm their health? Think about the risk, which is the chance, high or low, of somebody being harmed by the hazard, and how serious the harm could be. Think about how employees or others, who may be present, might be harmed. Ask your employees what they think the hazards are, as they may
present, might be harmed. Ask your employees what they think the hazards are, as they may
notice things that are not obvious to you or have good ideas on how to control the risks.
not obvious to you or
have good ideas on how to control the risks. Once you have identified the risks and what you need to do to control them, you should put the appropriate measures in place. Record your findings, any paperwork you produce should help
appropriate measures in place. Record your findings, any paperwork you produce should help
you to manage the risks in your business and tell people what they need to know.
isks in your business
and tell people what they need to know. A risk assessment must show suitable and sufficient information, for example:
A risk assessment must show suitable and sufficient information, for example:
• A proper check was made.
oper ch
eck was made. •You asked who might be affected. •You dealt with all the obvious significant hazards, taking into account the number of people who
You dealt with all the obvious significant hazards, taking into account the number of people who
could be affected.
d be
affected.
could be affected.
•The precautions are
s are reasonable,
and the remaining risk is low.
•The precautions are reasonable, and the remaining risk is low.
•You involved your employees or their representatives in the pro
r employees or the
ir representatives in the process. Where the nature of your work changes fairly frequently or the workplace changes and develops, or where your workers move from site to site, your risk assessment may have to concentrate more
or where your workers move from site to site, your risk assessment may have to concentrate more
on a broad range of risks.
road ra
nge of risks. If your risk assessment identifies a number of hazards, you need to put them in order of importance and address the most serious risks first. Identify long-term solutions for the risks with the biggest consequences, as well as those risks most likely to cause accidents or ill health. You should also establish whether there are improvements that can be implemented quickly, even if temporarily, until more reliable controls can be put in place. Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date. If you are unsure about the risks or hazards within your business seek further advice. 1 2 3
First Aid Ri
sk Assessment