Safety Matters with Dr Paul
Providing First Aid
The Queensland Work Health and Safety Act 2011 places an obligation on a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace as far as is reasonably practicable. This obligation includes providing and maintaining first aid equipment and facilities.
Queensland’s Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 specifically requires the PSBU to provide first aid (section 42). The PSBU must ensure that first aid equipment and facilities for administering first aid are provided and that workers have access to the equipment.
The PCBU must ensure that there are an adequate number of trained first aiders at the workplace or workers have access to an adequate number of other persons who can administer first aid.
There are some factors that must be taken into consideration when providing and maintaining first aid equipment and facilities at a workplace:
- The nature of the work being carried out
- The nature of the hazards present
- The size and location of the workplace
- The number and composition of workers and other people present
Recommended elements in providing first aid include:
- Reviewing first aid requirements in consultation with relevant workers
- Maintaining an adequate number of first aiders with relevant competency in first aid
- Providing access to adequate and relevant first aid equipment and facilities
- Displaying arrangements for accessing first aid, including first aider contact details
- Establish and maintain a first aid register with details of first aid administered
- Maintaining equipment and facilities in a clean and hygienic condition
- Reviewing the condition of the first aid equipment and facilities (e.g. use by dates)
- First aid arrangement in worker induction program
- Ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of treatment and first aid records
The most common first aid issues I find are inadequate and poorly maintained first aid kits and an insufficient level of first aid competency at the workplace.
Relevant documents and records could be a list of first aiders and their contact details; list of emergency contact numbers; first aider competency records; role and responsibilities of first aiders; equipment and facility inspection details; and a register of first aid administered by a first aider.
This article provides general information only and should not be a substitute for seeking professional advice regarding your specific situation.
Dr Paul will be contributing regular articles to assist and advise PCBUs and their workers on the management of health and safety.
