Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Principles of control
95
➤
are there young people, pregnant or nursing 
mothers on site, employees with disabilities or 
special health problems?
➤
are the facilities widely dispersed with several build-
ings or compact in a multi-storey building?
➤
what is the pattern of working hours, does it involve 
night work?
➤
is the site remote from emergency medical services?
➤
do employees travel a lot or work alone?
➤
do any employees work at sites occupied by other 
employers?
➤
are members of the public regularly on site?
6.9.3
Impact on fi rst-aid provision if risks are 
signifi cant
First aiders may need to be appointed if risks are 
signifi cant.
This will involve a number of factors which must be 
considered, including:
➤
training for fi rst aiders
➤
additional 
fi rst-aid equipment and the contents of 
the fi rst-aid box
➤
siting of fi rst-aid equipment to meet the various 
demands in the premises. For example, provision 
of equipment in each building or on several fl oors. 
There needs to be fi rst-aid provision at all times dur-
ing working hours
➤
informing local medical services of the site and its 
risks
➤
any special arrangements that may be needed with 
the local emergency services.
If employees travel away from the site the employer 
needs to consider:
➤
issuing personal fi rst-aid kits and providing training
➤
issuing mobile phones to employees
➤
making arrangements with employers on other sites.
Although there are no legal responsibilities for nonem-
ployees, the HSE strongly recommends that they are 
included in any fi rst-aid provision.
6.9.4 Contents of the fi rst-aid box
There is no standard list of items to put in a fi rst-aid box. 
It depends on what the employer assesses the needs 
to be. Where there is no special risk in the workplace, a 
minimum stock of fi rst-aid items is listed in Table 6.1.
Tablets or medicines should not be kept in the 
fi rst-aid box. Table 6.1 is a suggested contents list 
only; equivalent but different items will be considered 
acceptable.