Health and safety is very important in any sort of workplace and so you need to make sure that you are following any sort of legal health and safety requirements. One of the important health and safety requirements for places of work is that there is the right sort of equipment to deal with any sort of accident that can happen. The first step for health and safety in case of accidents is to ensure there is a first aid kit in the workplace.
Accidents can happen at any time and you should be able to protect your employees from any serious injuries. It doesn’t matter what size of a business you have, you must adhere to the law when health and safety is involved.
The importance of a first aid kit in the workplace
In order to follow the requirements, you must have a valid first aid kit that suits your workplace. You must also have the right number of people who can perform first aid and are trained by a professional. Without having first aid appointed people, you are putting your employees at risk. The first aid kit that you will need will vary depending on how many people you are protecting and what sort of business that you are running. However, there are some basic items that you’ll need to have to ensure that you are following the law.
What a first aid kit in the workplace should include
You can find industrial first aid kits which are available to purchase online and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You’ll also need to ensure that you restock your first aid kit when you have used certain items. The items that you will need in your first aid kit for your workplace are as follows: plasters, bandages, disposable gloves, cleansing wipes, dressings, face shields/pocket masks, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers and pins and clips. All of these items are extremely important because each accident will be unique and so you need to be able to find the right solution quickly. Having cleansing wipes or alcohol free ones are very important because you need to make sure that any wounds are cleaned out as best as possible. Make sure not to ignore the smaller things like pins and clips because these are going to be vital when it comes to holding dressings or bandages.
Ongoing maintenance
For a safe first aid in the company it is important to consider that first aid kits also have to be serviced regularly. On the one hand, this is necessary to ensure that the first-aid kit is fully equipped for an emergency. Plasters in particular are one of the products that are used up quickly. If there is a need here, the missing content can easily be supplemented with refill packs.
On the other hand, it must be checked that the contents of the first-aid kit are within the statutory shelf life. The use-by date should not be exceeded, especially with sterile compresses, as this can lead to a loss of quality of the material and the formation of germs. Because in the worst case this can lead to contamination of the wound and should be avoided at all costs! An annual inspection of the first-aid kit is therefore legally stipulated. As a rule, this task is carried out by first aiders or company paramedics in the company.
Final thoughts
You should always have a first aid kit handy and someone who has been first aid trained to administer the assistance — who can actually perform first aid . Before you purchase your first aid kit, make sure to sit down and try to establish the sort of things that you will need on top of the basic items. You should do this depending on the type of hazards that your business might involve. For example, a retail shop might need slightly different items than a factory with heavy machinery might need. Kitchens also might require items that help burns or other kitchen accidents. If you run a business or are in charge of looking after health and safety in one, make sure to invest in a first aid kit and keep it stocked up to stay in line with the law.
Work safety consists largely of the areas of fire protection and first aid. Since an accident can always occur despite safety precautions, it is helpful if all employees can help quickly and safely. For this purpose, the annual first aid instruction and the training of some employees to become operational first aiders are planned.
- Where is the first aid kit located?
- Who are the company first aiders?
- How does an accident or first aid mission have to be documented?
- Who has to be reported to an accident at work?
The annual first aid briefing is there so that all employees know what needs to be observed in the case of first aid in the company. In addition, company first aiders must also be trained.
