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

Q. Can you deliver first aid or CPR training at our workplace?

A. Yes! Results First Aid can come to any business location anywhere in Victoria for groups of 10 or more staff, helping reduce downtime and meet workplace compliance conveniently. We also offer blended online training which can provide greater flexibility when organising staff rosters for training.

Q. What industries do you work with?

A. Results First Aid have extensive experience in training a wide range of organisations including childcare, medical/dental practices, manufacturing, aged care, fitness centres, sporting clubs, and more. We make training both practical and relevant to various workplace environments.

Q. How long do first aid training courses take?

A. The duration of any first aid course depends on the unit of competency being studied. For example, Provide First Aid including CPR (HLTAID011) typically involves about 5–8 hours of theoretical and practical study, delivered in one day or split across sessions.

Q. Are your courses fully accredited and nationally recognised?

A. Yes! All first aid and CPR courses delivered by Results First Aid are nationally recognised. As a fully accredited training it means that our courses align with Australian standards, therefore certificates are accepted by employers and regulators across Australia.

Q. Which staff should complete first aid training in my business?

A. Workplaces usually require a sufficient number of trained first aid officers or designated first aiders based on risk assessment and regulatory requirements. While specifics vary by industry, having sufficient trained staff onsite at all times enhances both safety and compliance. Actual numbers of trained are regulated by workplace Health & Safety Guidelines. If you are unsure about what applies to your business please contact us.

Q. How do we schedule our training or get a quote tailored for our individual business needs?

A. Anyone in business responsible for first aid training can contact Results First Aid by phone at1300 661 065 or email training@resultsfirstaid.com to discuss your needs, get a quote, and schedule training at your workplace. Our friendly, efficient and helpful staff will respond to any request for assistance or answer any questions promptly

Q. Do office workers need first aid certification?

A. Yes office workers do need First Aid certification. Despite being classified as a ‘low-risk’ industry, there is a minimum requirement for how many office employees need to be First Aid trained and certified for each size company that runs an office. The guidelines are as follows:

·       1 to 10 employees: Not strictly required, but highly recommended.

·       10 to 50 employees: At least 1 trained first aid officer.

·       51 to 100 employees: At least 2 trained first aid officers. Note: Coverage rules mean you must ensure a first aid officer is available at all times the workplace is occupied. If your primary officer is on leave or working from home, you will need to ensure adequate backup coverage.

Q. What CPR training is required for construction workers?

A. The standard CPR training requirement for construction workers is the same as most other industries. The course code is HLTAID009. And the full course title is Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). On completion of this course each attendee will receive a certificate which confirms they have successfully attained the requirements of the course. This will meet the needs of any construction employer.

Q.   Which corporate first aid provider is best?

A.    Naturally we would say that Results First Aid training is the best corporate trainer in Melbourne. But it’s not just us saying that. We have over 4,400 Google 5-star reviews. We really care about the people we train and the people who organise their training. Our training is recognised for being friendly, informative and easy. Find out more at https://www.resultsfirstaid.com/courses

Q. Can staff receive same-day certificates?

A. When your staff complete a First Aid or CPR training course with Results First Aid, they will receive their certificate via email on the night of completing their course. This means it will be available in their email to them in the morning.

Q. How quickly can we organise workplace CPR training?

A. At Results First Aid we are very efficient at organising training. For CPR training we could possibly organise training for you within 24-48 hours, depending on the location and number of staff needing to be trained. To find out more please contact us on 1300 661 065 or email training@resultsfirstaid.com

Q. Do trainers travel to our site?

A. Yes, we can send our trainers to any site within the Melbourne Metropolitan region or even to any location in Victoria, provided you have at least 10 people to train in one session. We are able to train in schools, offices, warehouses and factories, childcare and aged care centres, construction sites, etc To find out more please contact us on 1300 661 065 or email training@resultsfirstaid.com

Q. Can training be customised for our industry risks?

A. Yes, absolutely. We are very experienced at customising our training to provide examples that are customised specifically to your industry risks. We call this… training.

Q. Can you track employee certification expiry dates?

A. Yes, absolutely. That is all part of our service at Results First Aid. Because we record and store all certificates we issue to our graduates we are able to retrieve this information if you require it. Many employers find this very handy to keep track of whose certificates are up to date and whose have expired.

Q. What happens if our first aid certificates expire?

A. We will notify your staff well in advance of their First Aid or CPR certificate expiring. Again this is all part of our service. They will get a reminder in the month prior to their certificate expiry date. Another reminder 6 weeks prior. Another reminder at the beginning of the month of expiry and one more reminder 2 weeks before their expiry date. All of these reminders should ensure the person books in for their training before the certificate expires.