First Aid Personnel

Health and Safety Services

Guidance on the Health & Safety (First Aid)

Procedure for Identification of First Aid Personnel

1. Each Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate of the University will liaise with the First Aid Co-ordinator to identify the number of first aid personnel needed to meet the requirements of the University’s Procedure on first aid. The number of people required will vary and will be dependent upon: -

· Workplace hazards and risks, nature of work being undertaken.

· The size of the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate

· Accident history of the Faculties, Schools, Centre or Directorate

· Nature and distribution of employees and students

· Number of buildings occupied by the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate

· Whether buildings are used by one Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate or are multi-occupied.

· Annual leave or other absence of first aiders.

2. In addition all security staff employed by the University will be trained in first aid.

Nature of Work – Workplace Hazards and Risks

3. Faculty, School, Centre and Directorate risk assessments should identify the risks associated with the activities being undertaken and whether the risk of injury is high or low. This information along with the accident history of the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate can be used to identify first aid needs. The numbers of first aid personnel required will be proportionate to the risks i.e. work in hazardous areas will require a larger number of first aiders than work in an office. In order to ascertain first aid requirements, the different risks in different areas of the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate need to be identified.

Size of Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate.

4. This will largely determine the level of first aid cover required. However this should never be the sole basis for determining first aid needs. There may be greater risks when fewer people are at work, therefore creating a requirement for additional first aid personnel.

Nature and Distribution of Workforce and Students

5. The particular needs of employees, students, etc., especially those at greater risk, will need to be considered so that appropriate first aid cover can be provided. Also the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate should consider how the size and location of its facilities could affect quick access to first aid provision. Faculties, Schools or Directorates with multi-floor buildings or occupying numerous buildings should consider how many first aid personnel would be required to give adequate provision on each floor or in each building. Where Faculties, Schools or Directorates share buildings then arrangements can be made to share first aid personnel.

6. This would require exchanges of information about risks and hazards that may be present so that first aid personnel are aware of situations they may have to tackle.

7. The same requirements apply to University staff working in premises controlled by others; the organisation in control of the premises should ensure that there is a full exchange of information about the risks and hazards involved in the work undertaken, and that appropriate first aid cover is agreed upon. In both cases employees need to be informed of what arrangements are in place.

Annual Leave and Absence of First Aid Personnel

8. It is essential that adequate provision is made at all times that people are at work. Therefore, Faculties, Schools and Directorates need to make provisions to cover annual leave and other planned or unplanned absences of first aid personnel.

Role of Occupational Health Service and Security Service

9. Occupational Health Service and Security Service will assist in the provision of first aid in emergency situations. In addition Occupational Health Service will give advice and guidance on first aid issues if required. However, the first point of contact in all first aid situations should be the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate’s nominated first aid personnel.

Suggested Minimum Numbers of First Aid Personnel

10. The following figures are for basic first aid coverage across the university, but where specific risks are present (e.g. HF, Cyanide) then additional first aid provision will be required

Category of Risk	Number of Staff and Students in the Location	Suggested Number of First Aid Personnel Required
Low risk	Fewer than 50	At least one appointed person with back up as required
	50 - 100	At least one person qualified in First Aid at Work, with back up as required
	More than 100	One additional person qualified in First Aid at Work for every 100 people
Medium risk	Fewer than 20	At least one appointed person with back up as required
	20 - 100	At least one person qualified in First Aid at Work for every 50 people, with back up as required
	More than 100	One additional person qualified in First Aid at Work for every 100 people
High risk	Fewer than 5	At least one appointed person
	5 - 50	At least one person qualified in First Aid at Work, with back up as required
	More than 50	One additional person qualified in First Aid at Work for every 50 people

Source: Health and Safety Executive Approved Code of Practice and Guidance on First Aid at Work

11. The University will rely on the goodwill of volunteers to become trained first aid personnel, and these people will have a vital role in the University’s organisation and arrangements for health and safety of its staff, students and visitors.

12. The following list can be used to identify the first aid needs of the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate

Aspects to consider	Impact of first aid provision
1. The law requires that an assessment of the significant risks in the workplace is made. What are the risks of injury and ill health in this risk assessment?	1. If the risks are significant then you will need to train people in first aid.
2. Are there any specific risks, e.g. working with: i. Hazardous substances ii. Dangerous tools iii. Dangerous machinery iv. Lifting operations v. Dealing with animals	2. You will need to consider: i. Specific training for first aid personnel ii. Extra first-aid equipment iii. Optimal position for first aid equipment
3. Are there parts of the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate where different levels of risks can be identified (e.g. in a research lab).	3. Different levels of first aid provision will be required for different parts of the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate
4. Accident record and cases of ill health should be considered.	4. There may be a need to: - i. Locate first aid provisions in certain areas ii. Review the contents of first aid boxes.
5. How many people are there in the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate?	5. An appropriate number of first aid personnel will be required.
6. Are there inexperienced people working in the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate or people with disabilities or special health problems?	6. There may be a need to consider i. Specialist equipment ii. Optimal position for first aid equipment
7. Are the premises being used by the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate spread out i.e. do they occupy several buildings or multi-floor buildings?	7. Provision of first aid personnel in each building or on several floors.
8. Does out of hours work take place?	8. There will be a need to provide first aid cover at all times.
9. Are any of the workplaces remote from emergency medical services?	9. There may be a need to consider special arrangements with the emergency services or others.
10. Does lone working take place?	10. There may be a need to consider i. Issuing personal first aid kits and training staff in their use ii. Issuing personal communicators to employees
11. Are any employees, students, etc working in facilities or sites occupied by other Faculties/Schools	11. Arrangements with occupiers of the facility or site will need to be made.

First Aid Personnel and Training

13. What is an Appointed Person? An Appointed Person is someone who is chosen to take charge when someone is injured or falls ill; this may include calling the emergency services. This would usually be in a low risk area where there are low numbers of people (see table, page 5). The Appointed Person will also look after the First Aid equipment e.g. restock the First Aid box. They should not give first aid for which they have not been trained. A short, basic first aid course is recommended for Appointed Persons, but is not a requirement.

14. What is a First Aider? A first aider is someone who has undergone a four day training course, and has demonstrated competency in administering first aid at work. They will therefore hold a current First Aid at Work certificate awarded by a First Aid training organisation approved by the Health and Safety Executive.

Selection of First Aid Personnel

15. This will depend on a number of factors of which the following should be considered:

· Reliability, disposition and communication skills of person.

· Aptitude and ability to absorb new knowledge

· Ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency situations

· Normal duties: these should be such that the person is in a relatively fixed location and will be able to go immediately and rapidly to an emergency.

· First aid personnel should be volunteers. If there are insufficient numbers of staff trained in first aid then alternative arrangements will be required which will have to be discussed with the First Aid Coordinator.

Training

16. All nominated first aiders will have to undergo training before taking up their first aid duties. This will involve attending a recognised HSE first aid course delivered by an approved organisation. If the nominated person is successful, they can take up the position of first aider in the workplace. This qualification is (currently) valid for a 3 year period.

17. The first aider must attend a two day refresher course before their current certificate expires, to update their skills. If the certificate is allowed to lapse, they will no longer be recognised by the HSE has having the skills necessary to administer first aid in the workplace. In order to regain a valid qualification, they would need to attend a four day course again.

18. All First Aid courses, including specialist training such as dealing with incidents involving cyanide, hydrofluoric acid or phenol, will be arranged by the First Aid Coordinator.

Notification

19. First aid arrangements operate most efficiently in an emergency only where they are known, understood and accepted by everyone in the workplace.

20. Each Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate should have a mechanism for communicating information amongst staff and students. This mechanism should be used to keep them up to date with first aid arrangements in their area. Additional signs and information will also be required to reinforce this information.

21. Induction training can be used as a way to notify / introduce new personnel to the University’s First Aid Procedure and to identify the first aid personnel within their area.

22. Staff may also be referred to the University intranet, where pages can be found with information about First Aid provision within the University :

Information for First Aid Personnel

24. What is expected of a First Aider? Emergency situations can develop suddenly and without warning and can result in injuries to people. The help of a first aider is obviously needed in emergencies or situation where people have become injured as a result of an accident or have become ill. The role of the first aider is simply to try to:

· Preserve life – including the lives of yourself and colleagues, as well as the casualty

· Limit the effects of the condition on the casualty

· Promote the casualty’s recovery where possible.

25. In addition First Aiders are expected to: -

· Complete necessary report forms (see item 4 below) if they attend an incident

· Affix and update first aid notices in areas delegated to them by the First Aid Coordinator.

· Attend at least one seminar held by the First Aid Coordinator a year.

· Ensure their first aid certificate is valid and in date, and liaise with the First Aid Coordinator to achieve this.

· Keep the First Aid Coordinator informed of changes in work situation or location, changes in School/Directorate structure or if they leave the university.

26. All first aid personnel, whilst at work, are expected to respond to any call for first aid at any reasonable time and as far as he or she reasonably can within his or her designated area.

27. To gain the necessary knowledge to fulfil this role, first aid personnel require training, as specified earlier in this document.

28. All first aid personnel will have access to suitable equipment to enable them to fulfil their role. This will usually be in the form of a first aid kit which will comply with HSE guidance. Any specialist materials identified by the first aid needs assessment must also be included. First aid personnel are responsible for keeping their first aid boxes stocked up.

First Aid Contacts

29. When first aid personnel have been trained and formally appointed, then Faculties, Schools or Directorates should notify members of staff and students as describe above.

30. First aid personnel need to familiarise themselves with other first aid personnel in their area or building. Arrangements for cover in the event of absence, holidays, etc. must be made to ensure that first aid provision meets statutory requirements at all times.

Who is the University’s First Aid Coordinator?

31. Janet Makin, Health and Safety Services, Waterloo Place182–184 Oxford Road Tel: 0161 275 8910 E-mail: janet.makin@manchester.ac.uk

Reporting Procedures

32. In the event of a First Aider attending an incident, they should complete a First Aid Report Form. A copy is reproduced in the Appendix. The completed form should be forwarded to the First Aid Coordinator, who will undertake any follow up action as required.

33. If the incident is an accident associated with a work activity, the First Aider should direct the injured person, or their manager, to complete an Accident Form. This should be sent to the University Health and Safety Services at the earliest opportunity so that investigations can be undertaken as required.

34. It would be advisable for the Faculty, School, Directorate or Centre to keep a copy of this form for their own records

External Medical Referral During Working Hours

35. In the event of an employee becoming ill or injured at work, such that the responsible first aider considers that a medical referral in required for further assessment and/or emergency treatment, the following procedures should be adopted: -

i. Appropriate transport should be arranged based upon an assessment of the person’s fitness, comfort and safety to travel.

ii. In some situations it may be appropriate to arrange an escort depending upon the individual circumstances.

iii. If an ambulance is required then the guidance in the Emergency Procedures section should be followed.

iv. Arrange for any persons to be contacted i.e. supervisor, friends, family, etc.

First Aid Boxes

36. Each first aider will have a first aid box and Faculties, Schools, Centres or Directorates will need to provide additional boxes depending on the needs assessment. The First Aid Coordinator can advise on this requirement.

37. It will be the responsibility of the Faculty, School, Centre or Directorate to ensure that First Aid boxes are provided and contain appropriate amounts of relevant first aid materials. The First Aid Coordinator will supply a list of suppliers from whom materials can be bought. The HSE have identified the types and amounts of materials required to be in a first aid kit for specific numbers of people and this information can be obtained from the First Aid Coordinator.

Emergency Procedures

38. To phone an ambulance, dial 9-999.

In the event of an ambulance or other emergency services being called to attend an incident Security must be contacted on;

Ext No. 69966 – internal or

Tel No. 306 9966 – external

39. The Security staff will ensure that the emergency vehicles gain access, and are directed to the incident as quickly as possible. All Security personnel are trained in first aid in the workplace, and they will be able to provide further first aid support for the injured party.

Arrangements for Specific Hazards

40. First aiders who work in areas where cyanide, hydrofluoric acid and phenol are used must attend a one day training course to learn about specific needs and requirements for treatment. Additional staff who are not first aiders but work with these substances must also be trained. This training will be arranged through the First Aid Coordinator.

41. Specific guidance relating to first aid in the university will be developed on the following: -

Hydrofluoric acid

Cyanide

Phenol

This information will be available to first aiders from training courses or on the Health and Safety Services website. See First Aid – Special Treatments.

Emergency Help – Out of Hours, Weekends and on University Campus

42. If first aiders are not available or additional assistance is required this can be sought from security staff on Ext 69966

First Aid – Working off Site and on Field Trips

43. The University adopts the strong recommendation that at least one supervisor on each supervised field trip should have the First Aid at Work qualification, and that all supervisors have had at least basic first aid training. This does not, however, apply to urban field trips where ambulances and medical aid are readily available (i.e. where an ambulance could be expected to attend within 10 minutes following a 999 call).

44. Where small groups of staff and students are working away from a field base control point, they should be offered a first aid kit, but there is no requirement for first aid training.

Legal Liability

45. All University first aiders are covered by the University’s Public Liability Insurance Policy for liability whilst administering first aid in the course of their working day. The insurance does not extend to cover administering first aid on non-university business.

46. First aid personnel should note that they should not use their own vehicle to transport a casualty to hospital. In the event of an accident, the University would not be liable for the recovery of or loss of no claims bonus, etc.