Appointed persons

What is an appointed person?

When an employer's first aid needs assessment identifies that a first aider is not necessary, the minimum requirement is to appoint a person to:

• take charge when someone is injured or ill, including calling an ambulance if required;
•  look after the first aid equipment, eg restocking the first aid box;
• training in emergency first aid is recommended for appointed persons, as per the Approved Code Of Practice for First Aid (NI) 2000. (Courses normally last four hours and cover the following topics: what to do in an emergency, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, first aid for the unconscious casualty and first aid for the wounded or bleeding.) HSENI approval is not required for this training

Can appointed persons perform first aid, eg cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?

Appointed persons should not attempt to give first aid for which they have not been trained.

Are appointed persons required to take an approved training course in first aid?

There are no legal requirements for appointed persons to have any approved training in order to carry out their responsibilities. However, there are courses available for appointed persons.

First aid box

What should a first aid box in the workplace contain?

There is no mandatory list of contents for first aid boxes. Deciding what to include should be based on the employer's assessment of first aid needs. A suggested list of contents, where there is no special risk in the workplace, is given in the free leaflet: First aid at work: your questions answered http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg214.pdf

Equivalent but different items will be considered acceptable. Any items in the first aid box that have passed their expiry date should be disposed of safely.

Tablets and medication should not be kept in the first aid box.

How often should the contents of first aid boxes be replaced?

Although there is no specified review timetable, many items, particularly sterile ones, are marked with ‘best before dates'. Such items should be replaced by the dates given. In cases where sterile items have no dates, it would be advisable to check with the manufacturers to find out how long they can be kept. For non-sterile items without dates, it is a matter of judgment, based on whether they are fit for purpose.

First aid equipment

What first aid equipment should be provided?

Once an assessment of first aid needs has been carried out, the findings can be used to decide what first aid equipment should be provided in the workplace. The minimum level of first aid equipment is a suitably stocked first aid box. The assessment may indicate that additional materials and equipment are required such as scissors, adhesive tape, disposable aprons and individually wrapped moist wipes. They may be put in the first aid container if there is room or stored separately.

There may be a need for items such as protective equipment where first aiders may have to enter dangerous atmospheres. This should be securely stored near the first aid box, in the first aid room or the hazard area, as appropriate. Access to the equipment should be restricted to those trained in its use.

If mains tap water is not readily available for eye irrigation, at least one litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline (0.9%) in sealed, disposable containers should be provided. When the seal has been broken, the container should not be reused. The container should not be used beyond its expiry date.

First aid for the public

Do I need to make first aid provision for members of the public?

The First Aid at Work Regulations (NI) 1982 do not oblige employers to provide first aid for members of the public. However, many organisations provide a service for others, for example places of entertainment, fairgrounds and shops, and HSENI strongly recommend that employers include the public and others on their premises when making their assessment of first aid needs.

 The ACOP describes where first aid provision is intended to cover both employees and others, that employers should take care to ensure that the level of provision for employees does not fall below the standard required by the Regulations. In the case of the public and others the first aid provision should comply with the other relevant legislation and guidance (for example Education and Library Boards issue guidance on first-aid provision for pupils in schools). This can be found at the following link http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/4421/GFAS.pdf

First aid in schools

How do the First Aid at Work Regulations (NI) 1982 relate to first aid provision in schools?

Employers are responsible for the provision of appropriate first aid equipment and facilities and trained first aiders in respect of their employees - this includes schools, as they are workplaces. However, the Regulations do not oblige employers to provide first aid for anyone else. Nevertheless, HSENI strongly encourages employers to consider others when carrying out their assessment of first aid needs and to make provision for them.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has produced a booklet: Guidance on First Aid for Schools. This can be downloaded from the DfES website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/.

First aid rooms

Do I need to provide a room for first aid?

You should provide a suitable first aid room or rooms where your assessment of first aid needs identifies this as necessary.

What should be kept in the first aid room?

The room should contain essential first aid facilities and equipment. Typical examples of these are:

• a sink with hot and cold running water;
• drinking water and disposable cups;
• soap and paper towels;
• a store for first aid materials;
• foot-operated refuse containers, lined with disposable yellow clinical waste bags or a container for the safe disposal of clinical waste;
• a couch with waterproof protection, clean pillows and blankets;
• a chair;
• a telephone or other communication equipment;
• a record book for recording incidents where first aid has been given.

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First aiders

How many first aiders do I need?

There is no definitive answer. It will largely depend on the outcome of your assessment of first aid needs. The table on pages 6-7 of the leaflet First aid at work: your questions answered, provides some guidance on the number of first aiders, depending on the nature of the work carried out and number of employees.

The ACOP gives guidance on suggested numbers of first aid personnel to be available

Does my employee need to do any training to be a first aider?

Yes. If you have identified that your workplace needs first aiders, they must have completed a first aid at work course provided by an HSENI approved training organisation. A list of all approved organisations is available on our website http://www.hseni.gov.uk/

Record keeping

Do I need to record incidents requiring the attention of a first aider?

HSENI recommends that it is good practice to provide your first aiders/ appointed persons with a book in which to record incidents that required their attendance. The information kept can help you identify accident trends and possible areas for improvement in the control of health and safety risks. It can also be used for reference in future first aid needs assessments. This record book is not the same as the statutory accident book though the two could be combined.

There is a legal requirement to report accidents and ill health at work. Information on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NI) 1997 is given in the HSENI leaflet. http://www.hseni.gov.uk/riddor-2.pdf

What information should be recorded?

Useful information to record might include:

• date, time and place of incident;
• name and job of the injured or ill person;
• details of the injury/illness and what first aid was given;
• what happened to the person immediately afterwards (for example went home, went back to work, went to hospital);
• name and signature of the first aider or person dealing with the incident.

Who is responsible for keeping the records?

It is usually the first aider or appointed person who looks after the book. However, employers have overall responsibility.