A recent study from the charity St John Ambulance highlights a lack of trained workplace first aiders in the workplace, with many staff unable to help their colleagues in an emergency, even though they would want to. Nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of the workforce have never had any first aid training at all and of those who are trained, over a fifth (22 per cent) have skills that are more than five years old, meaning that they may have forgotten these skills and have outdated qualifications.
The study found that popular ways employees show they care about their colleagues include making a colleague laugh when they’re stressed (43 per cent), taking on extra work to help a colleague (39 per cent) or making a tea or coffee when it’s not their turn (34 per cent).
“From cups of tea to emotional support, employees have shown that they’re there for each other at work. But while many people want to help their colleagues in an emergency, not enough would know what to do,” said Lisa Sharman, National Head of Education and Commercial Training at St John Ambulance.
The charity has called on organisations to train more of their workforce in first aid after finding that nearly a third (29 per cent) of employees have been in a situation at work when no-one had first aid skills.
The charity calculated that employees make more than 10 cups of tea and coffee for colleagues each week on average, equivalent to three full working days of tea-making over the course of a year. This, they say, is more time than it would take to do a St John Ambulance first aid course, to equip them with skills to help in all manner of first aid crises, including cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, or choking.
The legally required first aid workplace arrangements will depend on the outcome of the employer’s first-aid needs assessment and the particular circumstances of their workplace at any given time.
The findings of the needs assessment should indicate the level of first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel required.
Even if your workplace seems low risk, like an office, accidents and emergencies still happen, including choking, slips, allergic reactions, or even serious unexpected situations. For this reason, as a minimum, you must have:
- a suitably stocked first-aid kit
- an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements;
- information for all employees giving details of first-aid arrangements.
HSE guidance on first aid can be found here. FSB members can also find fact sheet guidance on first aid on the FSB Legal and Business Hub.