There are several requirements that all workplaces must meet in terms of first aid for the employees, so it is important that you understand what type of business your customer has and the various rules that will apply to them.
It is not only a legal requirement but a social obligation for your customer to provide the supplies, personnel, and space necessary to treat any casualty on the premises.
Workplace injury and illness statistics
Knowing the statistics for workplace injuries and illnesses can help to strengthen sales, proving your knowledge on the subject, as well as demonstrating the need for them to have the right first aid supplies.According to the HSE in 2023/24:
- 61,663 injuries to employees have been reported under RIDDOR
- 138 Workers were killed in work-related accidents
- 604,000 working people sustained an injury at work according to the Labour Force Survey
- 33.7 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
If there was ever any doubt as to whether a workplace required first aid equipment these statistics should reinforce the knowledge that there is a definite need for them. Certain industries will require more than others, but every workplace should have some first aid supplies to hand.
Legal requirements for a workplace
There are certain obligations that a workplace has to ensure the legal first aid requirements are met. Knowing what these are will help keep your customer informed as well as ensure that they have everything they require to be legally compliant.At a minimum, an employer should provide adequate supplies (according to their risk assessment), someone appointed to take care of the first aid arrangements and information for all employees on the first aid arrangements.
Your range should reflect the products that will be seen as essential such as a general workplace first aid kit.
The Appointed Person
The appointed person for first aid in a business is responsible for the upkeep of all the first aid equipment and supplies. They will be the one to ensure that the items needed to provide suitable first aid are all in good condition and will be responsible for calling the emergency services when needed.It is likely that this is the person you will be in contact with, because a part of their job role will involve purchasing supplies and ensuring that they are kept up to date.
What should be included in a workplace first aid kit?
According to legal guidance what is included in a workplace first aid kit will largely depend upon the needs a company has as outlined in their risk assessment. This will require you to do a bit of research into the company that you are supplying to, to determine which products in your range would suit their needs best. However, as a minimum, most first aid kits will contain at least a pair of gloves, some plasters, bandages, wipes and a first aid leaflet.Our range of British Standard first aid kits are available for general workplace first aid, catering workplaces and schools, each having the necessary equipment for the different sectors. For more information on what is included in a British Standard first aid kit, read this article.
We also have HSE workplace first aid kits, which will provide your customer with the minimum amount of first aid supplies required by law, but don’t offer as comprehensive a selection as the British Standard kits.
If there is uncertainty about how many first aid kits or which size a workplace requires, there is a grid provided below outlining the recommendations:
Tablets and Medication
Workplaces do not provide tablets or medication in their first aid kits as standard. This is not something that you should be promoting, because according to the HSE, tablets and medication are only to be supplied if it is Asprin to treat a suspected heart attack.Travel first aid kits
If an employee is travelling as part of their employment, it is the obligation of your customer’s company to determine the type of first aid kit and training that employee requires. Like with the general workplace first aid kits there is no set list of what these kits should contain, but recommendations, that you should familiarise yourself with, have been listed on page 32 of the HSE’s First Aid at Work - Guidance on Regulations publication.Workplace First Aid Rooms
The HSE states that first aid rooms are required in workplaces with a higher level of hazards, or it is a larger location further away from medical services. The workplace first aid room should be clearly sign posted, contain the necessary equipment and be easily accessible in case a stretcher, or other emergency transportation, is required.What should be in a first aid room?
The items that you should be recommending for your customer to have in a first aid room will remain roughly the same no matter whether they require a workplace first aid room or a school first aid room.
General items that should be included in your range if you are supplying to companies who may need a first aid room:
- A first aid examination couch – we have both the normal first aid couch and the low level examination couch which is ideal for children.
- A sink with hot and cold running water
- Soap and paper towels
- Somewhere to store the first aid supplies like a cabinet
- Foot operated refuse containers - using a yellow bag if it is for biohazard waste
- A chair
- A telephone
- A record book
- A notice must be displayed on the door advising of the names, locations and contact details of first-aiders
For more information please read our other blogs.
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By Sarah Mason