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First aiders:

2.First aid needs assessment

On this page:

    Introduction

    Each premises within the council must have a first aid needs assessment in place. This identifies:

    • if you need first aiders for your premises
    • how many you might need
    • what equipment you need.

    When to undertake a needs assessment

    A new needs assessment must be completed when a:

    • premises has had significant changes, such as a variation in who is occupying the premises.
    • council team is moving into previously unoccupied council premises.

    Who should complete the assessment

    If only one team occupies the premises, the team manager should complete the needs assessment.

    If more than one service occupies the premises, a site-responsible person should complete the assessment.

    The assessment

    To carry out a needs assessment, download and complete the form below:

    Information you’ll need:

    The form will ask you to consider:

    • hazards in the workplace
    • number of employees on the premises, and any health conditions they may have
    • previous records of accidents, illnesses or injuries
    • working arrangements for your staff, such as if any staff work alone or travel frequently.

    The answers to these questions, will help you to determine:

    • the number and level of first aiders you need
    • extra equipment you require.

    Please note:
    You should keep a written record of your completed assessment for future reference.

    After the assessment

    Once you have completed the assessment, you will have a list of actions to undertake. Here are the next steps:

    1
    Recruit first aiders

    If you have identified, through your needs assessment, that you need extra first aiders or appointed persons, you should ask for volunteers within your service or team.

    You can use our volunteer to be a first aider guidance to advise any potential volunteers about what is required and the support they will be given.

    2
    Order first aid equipment

    If you have identified, through your needs assessment, that you need extra equipment or signage, you can order this from Supplies.

    This includes any you need for:

    • the workplace
    • staff working from separate locations
    • staff who travel in their role, such as a personal first aid kit.
    Find out how to order from Supplies for work purposes

    Information you’ll need:

    You will need to provide:

    • the cost and detail code for your service area

    Please note:
    Orders will be delivered to your premises, or can be collected from the Supplies office.

    3
    Order a personal work mobile

    You may have staff who require a work mobile phone because they:

    • work remotely
    • travel regularly in their role.

    You can:

    Order a mobile phone via the ICT Customer Portal

    4
    Add a new first aider to the phonebook

    Once any new first aiders have completed their training you must request for their phonebook record to be updated:

    Email corporate.support@eastriding.gov.uk
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    Deciding how many first aiders you need

    The number of first aiders, or appointed persons, needed for your premises will depend on:

    • what hazards have been identified
    • the number of people in your building at any 1 time, and who they are
    • the size of the building
    • any effects on premises due to the blended working policy
    • planned leave or other absences.

    Members of the public

    If you provide a customer-facing service in your premises, dealing with members of the public, you should consider adding the maximum number of people that could be on the premises at any 1 time to your assessment.

    Although the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 does not require you to provide first aid for members of the public, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly recommends all employers include the public in their assessment and make provisions for them.

    Please note:
    Some staff members may have a first aid qualification for their role. They can be used to help fulfil the minimum cover required.

    Minimum equipment guide

    As a guide for activities with low hazards, a suggested list of minimum stock may be:

    • a leaflet giving general guidance such as the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) basic advice on first aid at work
    • individually wrapped sterile plasters (assorted sizes), appropriate to the type of work (hypoallergenic plasters can be provided if necessary)
    • sterile eye pads
    • individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
    • safety pins
    • large and medium-sized sterile individually wrapped unmedicated wound dressings
    • disposable gloves, preferably not latex.

    Sterile water

    If mains tap water is not available at your premises, you'll need to provide at least 1 litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline (0.9 per cent) in sealed, disposable containers.

    This is to wash chemicals out of the eyes in the case of an accident. Containers should not be used beyond their expiry date and if the seal is broken should not be used or kept for reuse.

    Other equipment

    You may need to order other equipment, such as:

    • scissors
    • hypoallergenic microporous adhesive tape
    • disposable gloves and aprons
    • individually wrapped wipes and bandages
    • first aid self-adhesive signs.

    Please note:
    You must not keep tablets and medicines in your first aid box.

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    Employee confidential helpline

    0330 380 0658

    Speak to fully qualified counsellors and support specialists at any time, 365 days a year.

    Use code 107574 to access the online resources.

    More about the employee assistance programme

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