Introduction to Fire Safety Management

6.6.1 First 
aid
In order to save life and minimise the result of any injury 
it is important that persons suffering acute illness or are 
injured at work receive attention straight away to stabilise 
Figure 6.10
A typical fi rst aid at work sign

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General principles of control
113
their condition. Once these often life saving fi rst aid 
actions are taken the patient can be transferred to the 
care of medical professionals to continue their recovery.
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 
require the employer or responsible person to provide 
adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and 
personnel to enable fi rst aid to be given to employees if 
they are injured or become ill at work. Employers should 
make an assessment of their fi rst aid needs in terms 
of the equipment and staff required and arrangements 
for liaising with emergency services. The assessment 
should include consideration of the following factors:
➤
Any 
specifi c risks, e.g.:
➤
Hazardous 
substances
➤
Dangerous 
tools
➤
Dangerous 
machinery
➤
Dangerous loads or animals
➤
The disposition of different risks, e.g. offi ces and 
process areas
➤
The number and types of previous injuries
➤
The numbers of persons on site
➤
Any employees with disabilities or special health 
problems
➤
Hours of work, e.g. 24/7 or normal offi ce hours
➤
Arrangements for any lone workers.
6.6.2 Equipment
There is no standard list of items that should be con-
tained within a fi rst aid box. The contents of the fi rst aid 
box will be dictated by the outcome of the assessment. 
However, where there is no special risk in the workplace, 
a minimum stock of fi rst aid items is likely to include:
➤
A 
leafl et giving general guidance on fi rst aid, e.g. 
HSE leafl et ‘Basic Advice on First Aid at Work’ (see 
‘Where can I get further information?’)
➤
20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings 
(assorted sizes)
➤
Two sterile eye pads
➤
Four individually wrapped triangular bandages (pref-
erably sterile)
➤
Six safety pins
➤
Six medium sized (approximately 12 
cm 
12 cm) 
individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound 
dressings
➤
Two large (approximately 18 cm 
18 cm) sterile indi-
vidually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings
➤
One pair of disposable gloves.
There should be no medicines stored in any fi rst aid kit.
6.6.3 Staff
The Health and Safety Executive suggest that there are 
two classes of competent person that should be in a 
workplace; appointed persons and fi rst aiders.
The role of an appointed person is to:
➤
Take charge when someone is injured or falls ill, 
including calling an ambulance if required
➤
Look after the fi rst aid equipment, e.g. restocking 
the fi rst aid box.
Appointed persons should not attempt to give fi rst aid 
for which they have not been trained, though short 
emergency fi rst aid training courses are available.
The role of a fi rst aider is to be trained in adminis-
tering fi rst aid at work; they should hold a current fi rst 
aid at work certifi cate. The training provider has to be 
approved by the HSE. A fi rst aider can undertake the 
duties of an appointed person.