Code of Practice - First Aid at Work

Introduction

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.  What is adequate and appropriate will depend on the circumstances in the workplace and assessment is assisted by guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive.  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, for example whether trained first aiders are needed, what should be included in a first aid box and if a first aid room is needed.

The Regulations do not place a legal obligation on employers to make first aid provision for non-employees such as students or members of the public.  However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly recommends that non-employees are included in a first aid needs assessment and that provision is made for them.

The first aid needs assessment should be an integral part of risk assessments for work activities, and first aid provision included in the planning and arrangements for the work.

University arrangements for first aid training and materials

The University currently has an external contract with the British Red Cross for First Aid training.  The contract includes specialised training where necessary, such as dealing with hazardous substances, care of babies and children.  The University contracts for the provision of Use of Defibrillators training, currently accessed via the Health and Safety Unit..  First aid materials (boxes/kits/contents) are supplied by the University's approved supplier Lewis's Medical Supplies (Pleskarn Ltd).

First aid training will normally be provided under the University's arrangements but current qualifications obtained from other suitable providers, for example where new starters have obtained their qualification in previous employment and the provider was HSE-approved at that time, that qualification will also be accepted where proof is provided to the University Health & Safety Unit.

University arrangements for first aid provision

A general first aid provision is in place on all campuses at all times that they are occupied.  This is provided by the Estates & Facilities Directorate via the Campus Security personnel (staff and contractors).. All these personnel are required to be qualified First Aiders.    Sports Attendants in the sports facilities and Resident Assistants in the student residences must have successfully completed at least Emergency First Aid at Work training.  Faculties and Directorates may make additional provision where required by an assessment of first aid needs.

First Aiders

A First Aider is someone who has successfully completed a training course with a provider approved by the University in administering first aid at work and holds a valid First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate.  Certificates are currently valid for three years.  (FAW training courses involve at least 18 hours of training and are run over a minimum of three days.  EFAW training courses involve at least six hours of training and are run over a minimum of one day.)  In order to maintain their qualification, holders of the FAW certificate must attend a shorter approved requalification course within the specified period of the expiry date of their certificate.  Beyond the expiry date, repeat of the full FAW course is required.  First Aiders holding the EFAW certificate must repeat the EFAW course in order to requalify, regardless of the expiry date.

Emergency procedures

Assistance should be sought from a First Aider for all injuries and sudden illnesses.  Contact details for Campus Security and local First Aiders are given on first aid posters.

An ambulance should be requested if the injury/illness is life-threatening or needs the skills and equipment of an ambulance or paramedic team.   Examples include heart attack; sudden unexplained breathing difficulties; heavy bleeding; unconsciousness; traumatic back/spine/neck pain.

If possible, Campus Security should be contacted and asked to call the ambulance.  If an ambulance must be called direct, Campus Security should be informed.  They can then direct it on arrival to the appropriate location and support the First Aider in the interim if necessary.

Transporting non-urgent casualties

An ambulance should normally be called to take casualties to hospital.  However, there may be occasions when minor injuries and illnesses do not warrant an ambulance although medical attention is required, or the casualty needs to go home.  In these circumstances, a taxi should be called and the casualty should be accompanied, ideally by a First Aider.

The latest list of taxi companies approved for use by the University

University arrangements for Insurance

The University's insurers have confirmed that First Aiders are covered by the University's Public Liability insurance if they perform first aid duties, according to their training, whilst on University business either on or off University premises.  This includes shared areas on campus, fieldtrips in the UK or overseas, or whilst visiting other locations as part of their work (for example attending meetings, conferences or training courses).  It also covers accompanying casualties.

However, it must be noted that the Insurer's do not provide any cover regarding use of personal vehicles to transport casualties.  Under these circumstances the individual driver must take full responsibility if they decide to do this.

First aid posters

First aid posters are displayed in all University buildings.  Posters in common areas give contact details only for the Campus Security as they can provide first aid assistance at all times.  If Faculties and Directorates have their own first aiders, they may also create and display posters in local areas and should then take responsibility for ensuring the relevant details are kept up to date.

First aid boxes

There is a British Standard BS8599 -1:2011 for first aid kits but it is not a regulatory requirement under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 to have kits that comply with the standard.  The contents are dependent on the first aid needs assessment.  First aid boxes containing at least the minimum recommended supplies are held in central areas on each Campus, usually at Security reception desks and Gatehouses. Faculties and Directorates may decide to hold additional boxes on the basis of their assessments of first aid needs.  The contents are monitored and maintained by the host Faculty/Directorate under University arrangements from Faculty/Directorate budgets.  First aid kits should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that there are sufficient contents and that the contents are within the expiry date and under no circumstances should tablets/medicines of any kind be kept in first aid kits.

First aid rooms

There is no legal requirement for every employer to have a first aid room; however, the assessment of first aid needs may identify that one is required dependent on the circumstances of the workplace.  Under University arrangements, some rooms have been designated first aid rooms for the use of people who feel unwell and may wish to rest quietly.  These rooms serve a dual purpose with the rest rooms required under separate legislation for pregnant and nursing mothers.  The rooms have a bed, a sink with drinking and hot/cold running water and, where possible, are on the ground floor and close to toilets.  Access and day-to-day management of the first aid rooms is generally the responsibility of Campus Estates & Facilities, but there may be a local arrangement with a nearby Faculty/Directorate.

First Aid rooms are found at the following locations:

Defibrillators are found at the following locations:

Assessment of first aid needs

In addition to the University and Campus first aid provision, Faculties/Directorates must also assess the need for any additional first aid provision for their activities on and off campus.  Following this assessment, if it is decided that additional first aid provision is required, this must be provided, checked and maintained from the Faculty/Directorate's own resources.  The first aid needs assessment must be an integral part of risk assessments for work activities and must cover all the Faculty/Directorate areas and activities.  Any additional first aid provision must be included in the planning and arrangements for the work.

Responsibilities under this Code of Practice

The University's Health & Safety Unit

• ensures the contract with the designated provider complies with required standards for the provision of first aid training and materials;
• conducts regular meetings with the designated provider to ensure compliance with the contract agreements and resolution of problems related to the provision of first aid training and materials;
• provides advice and guidance to the University, Faculty Operating Officers and Directors of Professional Services on compliance with the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and the HSE guidance (including assessments of first aid needs);
• provides advice and guidance for practising first aiders;
• prepares an annual report of first aid training and provision for the University Health and Safety Committee;
• enquires about changes to first aid arrangements at Campus Health and Safety Committee meetings;
• assists Faculty Operating Officers and Directors of Professional Services, where necessary, with assessments of first aid needs.

The Director of Estates & Facilities

• ensures that valid first aid at work qualifications are included in relevant Estates & Facilities Directorate job specifications.

The Head of Facilities & Operations, Estates & Facilities Directorate

• ensures that Campus Security personnel (staff and contractors) hold valid FAW qualification and annually refresh their first aid knowledge.
• ensures that Campus Security provide and maintain a general campus first aid provision at all times the campuses are occupied.

The Head of Accommodation Services

• ensures that Resident Assistants provide and maintain a general first aid provision in the student residences at all times the residences are occupied by students.

The Head of Sports Strategy

• ensure the Sports Attendants in the sports facilities have completed at least Emergency First Aid at Work training and, as appropriate, some hold the First Aid at Work certificate.
• ensures that Sports Attendants provide and maintain a general first aid provision in the sports facilities.

Campus Estates & Facilities Managers

• ensure that Campus Security personnel (staff and contractors) are aware of their role in Campus first aid arrangements.
• ensure that up-to-date first aid posters are displayed in common areas throughout all buildings.

Faculty Operating Officers and Directors of Professional Services

• ensure there is adequate first aid provision (first aid assistance and equipment) for all their areas and activities and at all times.
• include assessments of first aid needs in risk assessments of teaching, research and support activities. This will identify whether or not additional first aid provision is required from Faculty/Directorate resources to supplement the basic campus provision, for example specialist first aid skills, or to provide assistance for off-campus activities.
• ensure that, where the assessment has shown that additional first aid provision is needed, adequate numbers of volunteers are recruited from Faculty/Directorate staff (or research students if necessary) and are trained as First Aiders under the University's arrangements.
• allocate sufficient Faculty/Directorate resources for first aid training and materials where necessary to supplement the general campus provision.
• ensure that first aid materials are available at all times where the assessment has shown this to be needed to supplement the general campus provision
• ensure that contact details for campus or local First Aiders are available in all their Faculty/Directorate areas and at all times, and that this information is brought to the attention of all staff, students, visitors and contractors.

First Aiders

• respond to requests from staff, students, visitors and contractors in their areas where they are reasonably able to do so.
• provide first aid in accordance with their training.
• do not administer tablets or medicines to treat illness except where taught to give aspirin to a casualty in the case of a suspected heart attack. The casualty should not be left so as to locate aspirin.  Aspirin only to be given in accordance with currently accepted first-aid practice and training. Tablets and medicines must not be kept in the first aid box.
  https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/first-aid-advice/heart-conditions/heart-attack/
  http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/First-aid/Everyday-First-Aid/Heart-attack/Questions-and-answers
• where appropriate, assist the casualty to take their own prescription medication such as an inhaler for asthma and contacting the emergency services as appropriate.
• dispose of contaminated first aid materials in accordance with local sanitary waste or clinical waste disposal arrangements
• record and report via the online Accident/Incident Reporting system all first aid assistance they give.
• inform the Health & Safety Local Officer of any changes to their availability and contact details so the local first aid provision and posters may be reviewed.
• monitor contents of first aid boxes in their area and request supplies as necessary.

Campus Security

• act as First Aiders
• notify the emergency services on request and direct them on arrival to the appropriate location.

Health and Safety Local Officers

• assist their FOO/Director with an assessment of local first aid needs
• check the details displayed on Faculty/Directorate first aid posters and the contents of first aid boxes during routine workplace inspections and after reports of use.
• notify any changes to first aid arrangements at Campus Health and Safety Committees.
• Inform the University's Health & Safety Unit of any problems with the University's contracts for provision of first aid training and materials.

All staff and students

• seek assistance from Campus Security or a local First Aider in all cases of injury or sudden illness on University premises.
• ask Campus Security to call an ambulance if they think an injury or illness is life-threatening or needs the skills/equipment of an ambulance or paramedic team.
• if they must call an ambulance direct, inform Campus Security that an ambulance has been called and why so they can direct the ambulance on arrival, and provide first aid or support First Aiders already in attendance if necessary.
• complete a University report form for all accidents, injuries, sudden illnesses, first aider attendances, and near misses.

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