How many appointed first aiders

By law the Health and Safety First-Aid Regulations , employers must make sure they provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities, and personnel in the workplace. However, what is adequate and appropriate is quite vague and it can be difficult to know how to ensure you are legally compliant. Therefore, in order to ensure you do have the adequate number of first aiders in your organisation, you should carry out a first aid needs assessment.

The purpose of a first aid needs assessment is to ensure there are suitable provisions in place in case of an accident or incident.

As an employer, you can use this assessment to demonstrate to an HSE or local authority inspector how you decided what level of first aid provision is required.

When carrying out your first aid needs assessment, remember to take into account the practicalities of day to day work. For example, if you decide you only need one first aider, what do you do if that person goes off sick or is on holiday? Do you have someone in their place that is trained to the same level? Think about whether people regularly visit your workplace. If you work in an organisation that has a lot of visitors onsite, then it is advised that you are able to treat them should a situation arise.

High hazard workplaces, such as construction sites with dangerous machinery, will likely require qualified first-aiders who have completed additional training for first aiders to respond to injuries resulting from special hazards. Having carried out a first aid needs assessment of your workplace, you will be able to determine what level of provision is required. If you need to find training for your team, Ofqual is a good place to search for first aid training programmes available throughout the UK.

There is one occasion where an appointed person may attempt to give first aid, within the bounds of their abilities, and that is in an emergency where the first aider is unable to be there in time. If you are required to have a first aider on-site, then you must arrange cover by another first aid certified employee.

The decision you make as to whether you need an appointed person will come down to the results of your first aid needs assessment. You can find guidance on carrying out your own assessment here. Once you have been through your assessment you will be clear on which roles you need to fill. However, if you are left with any outstanding questions then we recommend getting in touch with the Health and Safety Executive.

Ultimately HSE cannot tell you what provisions you need. This decision will come down to you and your organisation. But they can offer further guidance on all the factors you may need to consider.

An appointed person does not have to be certified for their role, although many training providers do offer an appointed person course. Some companies recommend certifying your appointed person to cover all eventualities. This can help companies avoid the legal consequences of not complying with UK law. Appointed person training is especially popular with employers in the construction industry, or where lifting operations are involved.

Making the correct decisions when faced with an accident or emergency situation can be the difference between life and death. In the UK, up to , people die a year in circumstances where first aid could have helped, and as such, first aid training is vital for healthcare workers and civilians alike. This guide will focus on the following course from our First Aid Training Bundle First Aid at Work Refresher Training.

First Aid Appointed Person Training. Download our First Aid 'Who needs what? Get started with a free no obligation trial to any one of these courses today By using our website, you agree to our cookie policy.

They might be responsible for regularly checking the first aid kit is stocked up, and any used or out of date items replaced.

If a first aider isn't present, the appointed person will take charge when someone is injured or ill at work. This might be the case in a low-risk environment with few workers, where a trained first aider isn't required. Or, it might be that the appointed person is providing emergency cover. They can also provide emergency cover, within their role and competence, where a first-aider is absent due to unforeseen circumstances annual leave does not count.

This doesn't mean providing first aid. If an appointed person isn't trained in first aid, they can't be expected to make medical assessments or administer first aid. But they can call for help, fetch first aid equipment and reassure someone that help is on its way. You don't need to be a trained first aider to call the emergency services. And, because they are not trained first aiders, it's especially important that appointed persons can identify when they may need to call or get medical help for someone.

Why would you need an appointed person to do this? Surely anyone can call an ambulance? Yes, they can. But in many situations, people assume someone else has made the call. And this confusion can delay alerting the emergency services, and slow down help arriving.

After an accident, or in a medical crisis, quick action can mean the difference between life and death. When an appointed person is working alongside a trained first aider, they may be responsible for contacting the emergency services.

This makes sure that calls happen quickly, without taking the first aider away from someone needing their attention. For example, the first aider can be delivering CPR, while the appointed person calls for help.

An appointed person can help maintain injury and illness records as required. This might include your internal accident report forms, as well as making sure the accident book is filled in. If your first aid needs assessment shows that you need trained first aiders, then you should make sure you have enough first aiders to cover your workforce.