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First Aid in the Workplace

Introduction

This procedure outlines the management of first aid in University workplaces and specifies the minimum requirements for the provision of first aid services including first aid officers and their training, first aid equipment and first aid facilities.

Definitions

First Aid Officer means a person who in the performance of their duties is required to hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate who has been designated by the University to be a First Aid Officer.

Basic First Aid kit is a First Aid Kit as defined in the Approved Code of Practice of Occupational Health and First Aid in the Workplace.

Occupational First Aid Kit is a First Aid Kit as defined in Appendix 1 of the Approved Code of Practice of Occupational Health and First Aid in the Workplace.

Remote Area Module is an extra module that can be added to a First Aid Kit where the workplace is remote from available medical services, as defined in Appendix 1 of the Approved Code of Practice of Occupational Health and First Aid in the Workplace.

Motorist First Aid Kit is a First Aid Kit as defined by St John South Australia that shall be provided in all University vehicles.

Roles and Responsibilities

Line Managers/Supervisors are responsible for:

First Aid Officers are responsible for:

Employees, Students, Volunteers and contractors are responsible for:

Procedure

In determining the number of First Aid Officers required in a building or workplace, regard must be given to the following:

The Code of Practice, Occupational Health and First Aid in the Workplace indicates that there should be one First Aid Officer for every 50 employees. More First Aid Officers may be desirable where local risk assessments indicate higher risk work arrangements.

First Aid Officers will receive an allowance as specified in the applicable industrial instrument.

Selection of First Aid Officers

A First Aid Officer shall be designated by a Line Manager or a group of Line Managers in an area and also be the holder of a current Senior First Aid Certificate.

The selection process should consider the following:

Training

Where in the performance of their duties, a staff member is required to hold a Senior First Aid Certificate the staff member will be given the opportunity to undertake an appropriate training course during normal working hours (if available) The training must be supported by the relevant line manager and the relevant cost centre shall fund course fees.

Training must be provided by an accredited trainer. An up to date list of trainers is available at the Workplace Services website Accredited First Aid Trainers.

Signage

Appropriate signage should be in place to indicate where first aid kits are located and the responsible officer and contact number.

Records

First Aid Officers shall record all treatment in a first aid incident register which shall be kept in each first aid kit. First aid records must be kept for a minimum period of seven years.

Field Trips

Field trips to workplaces such as factories, shops and hospitals, do not require a First Aid Officer, if first aid treatment is required, site emergency services should be utilised. It is required that for other types of field trips where first aid facilities are unlikely to be available to have a person trained in first aid and to take a first aid kit. In these cases the Remote Area module must be included into the Basic First Aid Kit supplies. University vehicles must contain a Motorist First Aid Kit.

All field trip parties to non-urban areas such as bush, outback or ocean must include at least one person trained in first aid or otherwise qualified to render emergency medical assistance.

It is the responsibility of the person in charge of a field trip to anticipate possible first aid needs and ensure appropriate first aid services and equipment is provided. It is recommended that the minimum requirement be an Occupational First Aid Kit with a Remote Area Module.

First Aid Kits

First Aid kits shall be located in readily accessible and prominent locations.

They should be provided, maintained and located to ensure that:

Assessment of hazards in a work area may indicate that additional modules are required to be included into the first aid kit eg:

The first aid kit container should:

The contents of kits will vary according to the number of staff served by each kit and the nature of the work in the area. Minimum content lists are attached; additional items depend on the types of injuries likely to occur.

Emergencies

In case of an emergency contact Campus Security at 88888.

If an ambulance is called Campus Security will direct the ambulance to the injured/ill person(s). Ambulance and emergency services can be contacted by dialling (‘0’ for external line on internal phones) and then dial 000. Any mobile can be used to dial emergency services. Once contacted you must inform the operator of the emergency service required eg police, fire or ambulance. If you are calling from a mobile phone, you will need to inform the operator the town and state you are calling from then wait to be connected.

Text Emergency Call - Dial 106

People who use a TTY (teletypewriter) or computer with modem to access the telephone network can call emergency services via the National Relay Service.

Note: the person who calls the ambulance is not responsible for the costs unless they are the person being transported.

Documents/Forms

References

University OHSW&IM Policy

University OHSW Strategic Plan 2009 - 2011 Draft  (PDF 184kb)

University OHSW&IM Management System (PDF 250kb)

Occupational Health, Safety & Welfare Act, 1986

Occupational Health, Safety & Welfare Regulations, 1995

WorkCover Approved Code of Practice of Occupational Health and First Aid in the Workplace  (PDF 102kb)

 

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