What are the rules governing First Aid in the Workplace?

Do you run a business? Are you an employer? Do you have responsibility for workplace safety in your organisation?

If you are any of these, you might now know the rules that govern First Aid training in the Workplace. Or how strictly it is enforced.

The Compliance Code for First Aid in the Workplace falls under the responsibility of WorkSafe Victoria. Every business or organisation in Victoria must follow the requirements of this Code.

This Code provides employers with practical guidelines in accordance with the duties they have under the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health & Safety Regulations 2017.

Now the purpose of the Code aligns with the basic purpose of all Workplace Health & Safety requirements - which essentially mandate that employers need to provide a safe work environment for their employees. A purpose everyone would agree with.

Under the Compliance Code – First Aid in the Workplace is defined as “the provision of initial health care and basic life support for people who suffer an injury or illness at work. The goals of first aid are to preserve life, alleviate suffering, prevent further illness or injury, and promote recovery.”

The First Aid arrangements in your workplace covered by the Code include:

· First Aid needs assessment

· First Aid officers and their training requirements

· First Aid kit contents, location and maintenance

· First Aid rooms

· First Aid equipment, and

· First Aid procedures.

The Code also dictates the minimum number of people you need to have trained in CPR and/or First Aid in your organisation which can depend on the type of industry you are in, the risks involved in running your business and other factors.

Now for Low Risk workplaces, you need to have 1 First Aid Officer for 10 – 50 employees, 2 First Aid Officers for 51 – 100 employees and an additional First Aid Officer for every extra 100 employees.

While in High Risk workplaces, you need to have 1 First Aid Officer for up to 25 employees, 2 First Aid Officers for 25 – 50 employees and an additional First Aid Officer for every extra 50 employees.

An important point to note is that these are the recommendations for the minimum number of people who need to be trained. But there is an overriding compliance that you need to have at least a minimum of 1 trained first aid officer on site AT ALL TIMES.

What this means for a lot of organisations is that the only practical way to ensure that you cover all possible contingencies such as people being away on annual leave or sick leave, public holidays, shift work schedules etc is to have not 1 but 3 people trained in First Aid for every ratio above.

This is simply the only practical way to ensure you will always have someone trained in First Aid available at all times. Remember there are very severe penalties that apply if an accident occurs that causes serious injury or death when there was no one on site trained in First Aid. The penalties can include large fines and even jail time.

It's vital to understand the Code also covers whether you need volunteers or patrons of your organisation also to be trained in First Aid.

For more information on the Code or to download a copy, please visit https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/compliance-code-first-aid-workplace

If you would like any advice on the Code or assistance with your company’s first aid training please call us on 1300 661 065 or visit our website at https://www.resultsfirstaid.com/contact