How Many First Aiders Does Your Workplace Need?
Did you know that the Health and Safety Authority in Ireland does not have a blanket rule about the number of First Aiders required in a workplace?
The number of First Aiders your business needs will depend on the nature of your business, as well as the number of employees you have. Let’s take a look at the different types of workplace and their First Aid requirements, so that you can ensure you are compliant with the relevant regulations.
Types of Workplace
The type of workplace and the maximum number of employees at any one time will determine the number of Occupational First Aiders you require. The guidelines are as follows:
Factories, Construction Sites, Surface Mines and Quarries. In these workplaces, the maximum number of employees dictates the number of First Aiders you need. If you have up to 49 employees, you’ll need one First Aider if your Safety Statement risk assessment deems it necessary, and if you have 50-149 employees, you must have at least one First Aider. For a workplace with 150-299 employees, you must have at least two First Aiders, while a workplace with more than 300 employees will require an extra First Aider for every 150 employees or part thereof.
Underground Mines. In particularly high-risk working environments, you will be required to have more trained First Aiders. For instance, in underground mines, you’ll need one First Aider for every 10 employees or part thereof.
Other workplaces. In any other workplace that is not specified above, the rules are as follows. If you have up to 99 employees, you will need one First Aider if your Safety Statement risk assessment deems it necessary. If you have between 100 and 399 employees, you will be required to have one First Aider, and if you have between 400 and 699, this rises to two First Aiders. A workplace with more than 700 employees must have one extra First Aider for every 300 employees or part thereof.
When you are considering the number of First Aiders required in your workplace, you will need to work out exactly how many employees you have, and which category your business falls into. These rules are designed to keep employees safe, with variation according to the relative hazards of different types of workplace.
What Happens if a First Aider is Absent From the Workplace?
In Ireland, if your designated First Aider is absent temporarily or in exceptional circumstances, the HSA states that the employer may designate someone to take charge of anyone who is injured or ill until medical assistance is obtained. For this person, if they have not been trained in basic life-saving skills, the primary focus would be to seek appropriate assistance as soon as possible, and to ensure that the situation is maintained and not exacerbated.
Where there is a predictable absence of a First Aider, due to annual leave, for instance, the employer must ensure that there are enough trained First Aiders to cover this deficit and meet the requirements for the number of First Aiders on site.
What Training do First Aiders Need?
In Ireland, a PHECC-approved First Aid Responder training course is the best option for First Aider training. The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) regulates the emergency medical service (EMS) in Ireland and is responsible for standards, education and training in this field.
At ASM Group, we offer PHECC-approved First Aid Responder training courses, which provide employees with the required first aid skills to safely administer first aid in the event of a medical emergency in the workplace. We offer the First Aid Responder Training Course and the First Aid Responder Refresher Training Course, and both can be delivered to groups on request. We can often tailor our training to suit the unique needs of your organisation.
What Does First Aid Training Entail?
First Aid training enables participants to recognise and assess the causes and effects of sudden illness and/or injury in a pre-hospital environment, and to contact emergency medical services when required. A First Aider will learn how to respond in a safe, effective and appropriate way to an emergency, offering life-saving care until medical professionals arrive. This may include:
- Using an AED/defibrillator
- Basic wound care
- Handling common medical emergencies
- Managing shock
- Treating burns and electrical injuries
- Dealing with hypothermia and hyperthermia
- Keeping the patient calm and passing on all details to medical professionals in attendance.
The First Aid Responder training course also includes training on the contents of a first aid kit and how to keep these up to date.
What About Mental Health?
As well as protecting physical health at work, it is vital to consider mental health. Many employees suffer from mental health issues, and the stress of an unsupportive system can contribute to burnout and breakdown.
ASM also delivers Mental Health courses which aim to support organisations and their staff in this area. Organisations that take care of their staff and provide support for mental health and wellbeing as well as physical health see many benefits, including staff loyalty and productivity throughout every level of their business. Your staff are your most important resource, and protecting their physical and mental health should always be a priority.
Extensive Health and Safety Training at ASM
At ASM, we have an experienced team of health and safety experts offering health and safety services across all sectors. We work to ensure legal compliance for our clients, and to drive up safety standards across Ireland, reducing the risk of accidents in the workplace.
We offer First Aid training courses and refresher training to organisations in Ireland, and we offer specialist instruction for high-risk roles, such as working at height, working in confined spaces and abrasive wheel training. We work with large and small organisations, and we can work with you to deliver the essential training your teams need. We have many years of expertise in the health and safety industry, and we will be happy to discuss the options with you.
