The Health and Safety First-Aid Regulations

In Great Britain the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require an employer to provide sueh equipment and faeilities as are adequate and appropriate in the eireumstanees to enable first aid to be rendered to his employees if they are injured, or beeome ill, at work. An Approved Code of Praetiee gives more speeifie details on the number of first-aid personnel and their training, and the type of equipment. 

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 requires the employer to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and persoimel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured... 

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 upon the type of work being carried out by the employer. The minimum provision is a suitably stocked first aid box and a competent person to take charge of first aid arrangements. 

Despite all the safety precautions taken on construction sites to prevent injury to the workforce, accidents do happen and you may be the only other person able to take action to assist a workmate. If you are not a qualified first aider limit your help to obvious common sense assistance and call for help, but do remember that if a workmate s heart or breathing has stopped as a result of an accident he has only minutes to live unless you act quickly. The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and relevant approved codes of practice and guidance notes place a duty of care on all employers to provide adequate first aid facilities appropriate to the type of work being undertaken. Adequate facilities will relate to a number of factors such as ... 

The first-aid facilities to be provided are outhned in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, with greater detail being given in an Approved Code of Practice and Guidance First aid at work , HSE publication L 74. The recommendations include ... 

The first aid requirements to be met by employers were revised in 1981 and were consolidated in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. These Regulations apply to all employments, except those prescribed in Regulation 7, and have endeavoured to match the first aid facilities with the needs of particular employments. 

Clearly marked FIRST AID boxes must be provided and put in the charge of a responsible person whose name must be displayed near the box. This facility can be shared with other contractors but, where more than 50 people have to.use the facility, the responsible person must hold a valid first aid certificate. The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require that the content of first aid boxes meets the needs of those who have to use it and advice is given on the detail of the contents in an Approved Code of Practice and associated Guidance Note. 

In 2004, the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations and the Approved Code of Practice were reviewed and it was decided that no new Regulations were needed. However it is expected at the time of going to print that two changes will be introduced in 2007 (likely). The first is that first-aid provision should be based on risk assessment rather than relying on minimum numbers. The assessment should identify first-aid risks in the workplace and then recommend the level and type of equipment, facilities and personnel required. The revised requirements may also specify annual refresher training rather than every three years. 

These are covered by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which amplify the general duties placed on employers, employees and the self-employed by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Further requirements are contained in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Arrangements and provisions for the treatment of electric shock are contained in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. 

---