What are the requirements for providing first aid at work?
Do I have to record and report all accidents to the Health and Safety Enforcing Authority?
How can I contact you for further information?
What are the requirements for providing first aid at work?
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require an employer to:
(1) Determine what first aid provision is necessary.
(2) Consider the factors that should be taken into account, such as:
Number of people employed
Risks in the workplace
Layout of the premises
Any first-aider should have passed an approved course and be re-tested every three years. Where a first-aider is not required an ‘appointed' person should be assigned to take charge in the event of an accident e.g. to call an ambulance.
Every employer should have at least one first-aid box, which should contain nothing but first-aid materials. First-aid boxes need to be maintained at the level of provision identified through the assessment.
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Do I have to record and report all accidents to the Health and Safety Enforcing Authority?
No. Some accidents are not reportable to the relevant enforcing authority under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). The health and safety enforcing authority will either be the HSE or the Local Authority, depending on the type of your business. Nevertheless the company must have a method for recording accidents at the workplace. This is relevant when an employee has sustained an injury or become ill and required the use of the first-aid or sought first-aid attention. Some such incidents may of course lead to the accident becoming reportable under RIDDOR.
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What accidents are reportable under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995?
The list below is not comprehensive but highlights four key areas of the regulations where reports need to be made:
A death or major injury that occurs out of or in connection with your business.
A death or injury to somebody not at work (such as a member of the public) who is taken to hospital for treatment.
A dangerous occurrence (something which does not result in an reportable injury but which could have done).
Where an employee is off work as a result of an accident at the workplace for more than three days.
For further information a booklet is available through the Health and Safety Executive (details provided below) or from the Health and Safety Team (dependant on stock being available).
Where a fatality or major injury happens the employer or person in control of the premises should notify either the Incident Contact Centre or the health and safety enforcing authority firstly by telephone, followed up with a written Accident Report Form F2508:
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How can I contact you for further information?
Incident Contact Centre details:
Incident Contact Centre
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly CF83 3GG
Fax: 0845 300 9924
Tel: 0845 300 9923
E-mail: riddor@natbrit.com
Genral inquiries:
Environmental Safety Section
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
Tel: 020 8583 5555
Fax: 020 8583 5044
Email: healthandsafety@hounslow.gov.uk
Otherwise the employer should send an F2508 within ten days following a work related accident involving an employee who is then off work for more than three days. F2508/a forms are available from HSE books.
For full information on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, health and safety regulations and guidance, including free leaflets, visit the Health and Safety Executive website: www.hse.gov.uk or tel: 0845 345 0055.
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