First aid in the workplace

Code of Practice

July 2019

Disclaimer

Safe Work Australia is an Australian Government statutory body established in 2009. Safe Work Australia includes Members from the Commonwealth, and each state and territory, Members representing the interests of workers and Members representing the interests of employers.

Safe Work Australia works with the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to improve work health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements. Safe Work Australia is a national policy body, not a regulator of work health and safety. The Commonwealth, states and territories have responsibility for regulating and enforcing work health and safety laws in their jurisdiction.

ISBN 978-0-642-33347-6 (PDF)

ISBN 978-0-642-33348-3 (DOCX)

Creative Commons

This copyright work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org/licenses In essence, you are free to copy, communicate and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the work to Safe Work Australia and abide by the other licence terms.

Contact information

Safe Work Australia | info@swa.gov.au | www.swa.gov.au

Contents

Foreword. 4

1.    Introduction. 5

1.1.        Who has health and safety duties in relation to first aid?. 5

1.2.        What is required in providing first aid?. 7

2.    How to determine first aid requirements for your workplace. 9

2.1.        The nature of the work and workplace hazards. 9

2.2.        Size and location of the workplace. 10

2.3.        The number and composition of workers and others at the workplace. 11

3.    First aid equipment, facilities and training. 12

3.1.        First aid kits. 12

3.2.        First aid signs. 13

3.3.        Other first aid equipment 14

3.4.        First aid facilities. 15

3.5.        First aiders. 16

3.6.        First aid procedures. 19

3.7.        Providing first aid information. 20

3.8.        Reviewing your first aid requirements. 20

Appendix A–Glossary. 22

Appendix B—First aid and the risk management process. 25

Appendix C – Summary of recommended first aid requirements. 26

Appendix D—Example of a first aid assessment 27

Nature of the work being carried out and the nature of the  hazards at the workplace. 28

Appendix E—Example of contents for first aid kits. 30

Outdoor module. 32

Remote module. 32

Burn module. 32

Appendix F—Standard precautions for infection control 33

Providing first aid safely. 33

Contaminated items. 34

Cleaning spills. 34

Amendments. 35

Foreword

This Code of Practice on first aid in the workplace is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act).

An approved code of practice provides practical guidance on how to achieve the standards of work health and safety required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulations (the WHS Regulations) and effective ways to identify and manage risks.

A code of practice can assist anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code of practice. Following an approved code of practice will assist duty holders to achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act and WHS Regulations, in relation to the subject matter of the code of practice. Like regulations, codes of practice deal with particular issues and may not cover all relevant hazards or risks. The health and safety duties require duty holders to consider all risks associated with work, not only those for which regulations and codes of practice exist.

Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations. Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk, risk assessment or risk control and may rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code of practice relates. For further information see the Interpretive Guideline: The meaning of ‘reasonably practicable’.

Compliance with the WHS Act and WHS Regulations may be achieved by following another method if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code.

An inspector may refer to an approved code of practice when issuing an improvement or prohibition notice.

Scope and application

This Code is intended to be read by a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU). It provides practical guidance to PCBUs on how to effectively provide first aid in the workplace. It includes information on first aid kits, procedures, facilities and training for first aiders.

This Code may be a useful reference for other persons interested in the duties under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations.

This Code applies to all types of work and all workplaces covered by the WHS Act.

How to use this Code of Practice

This Code includes references to legal requirements under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations. These are included for convenience only and should not be relied on in place of the full text of the WHS Act or WHS Regulations. The words ‘must’, ‘requires’ or ‘mandatory’ indicate a legal requirement exists that must be complied with.

The word ‘should’ is used in this Code to indicate a recommended course of action, while ‘may’ is used to indicate an optional course of action.

Introduction

Providing immediate and effective first aid to workers or others who have been injured or become ill at the workplace may reduce the severity of the injury or illness. In some cases it could mean the difference between life and death.

Who has health and safety duties in relation to first aid?

Duty holders who have a role in first aid include:

• persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs)
• designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installers of plant, substances or structures, and
• officers.

Workers and other persons at the workplace also have duties under the WHS Act, such as the duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety at the workplace.

A person can have more than one duty and more than one person can have the same duty at the same time.

Early consultation and identification of risks can allow for more options to eliminate or minimise risks and reduce the associated costs.

Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)

PCBUs have the primary duty under the WHS Act. In general terms this duty requires PCBUs to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other persons are not exposed to health and safety risks arising from the business or undertaking.

WHS Regulation 42

Duty to provide first aid

A PCBU must ensure:

• provision of first aid equipment
• each worker at the workplace has access to the equipment
• access to facilities for administering first aid, and
• an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid, or workers have access to an adequate number of other people who have been trained to administer first aid (see section 3.5 of this Code).

A PCBU may not need to provide first aid equipment or facilities if these are already provided by another duty holder at the workplace and they are adequate and easily accessible at the times the workers carry out work.

Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant, substances or structures

WHS Act Part 2 Division 3

Further duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings

Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant or substances or structures used in the workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the plant, substance or structure they design, manufacture, import or supply is without risks to health and safety. This duty includes carrying out testing and analysis as well as providing specific information about the plant or substance.

To assist in meeting these duties, the WHS Regulations require:

• manufacturers to consult with designers of the plant
• importers to consult with designers and manufacturers of plant, and
• the person who commissions construction work to consult with the designer of the structure.

Officers

WHS Act section 27

Duty of officers

Officers, for example company directors, have a duty to exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU complies with the WHS Act and WHS Regulations. This includes taking reasonable steps to ensure the business or undertaking has and uses appropriate processes for complying with the duty to provide first aid. Further information on who is an officer and their duties is available in the Interpretive Guideline: The health and safety duty of an officer under section 27.

Workers

WHS Act section 28

Duties of workers

Workers have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and to not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons. Workers must comply with reasonable instructions, as far as they are reasonably able, and cooperate with reasonable health and safety policies or procedures, that have been notified to workers, for example procedures for first aid and for reporting injuries and illnesses.

Other persons in the workplace

WHS Act section 29

Duties of other persons at the workplace

Other persons at the workplace, like visitors, must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and must take care not to adversely affect other people’s health and safety. They must comply, so far as they are reasonably able, with reasonable instructions given by the PCBU to allow that person to comply with the WHS Act.

What is required in providing first aid?

First aid requirements will vary from one workplace to the next, depending on the nature of the work, the types of hazards, the workplace size and location, as well as the number of people at the workplace. These factors must be taken into account when deciding what first aid arrangements are provided.

This Code provides information on using a risk management approach to tailor first aid to suit the circumstances of your workplace, while also providing guidance on the number of first aid kits, their contents and the number of trained first aiders appropriate for some types of workplaces.

The risk management approach involves the following four steps, summarised in Appendix B:

identifying hazards that could result in work-related injury or illness

assessing the type, severity and likelihood of injuries and illness

providing the appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and training, and

reviewing your first aid requirements on a regular basis or as circumstances change.

Guidance on the general risk management process is available in the Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.

Consulting workers

WHS Act section 47

Duty to consult workers

A PCBU must consult, so far as is reasonably practicable, with workers who carry out work for the business or undertaking and who are (or are likely to be) directly affected by a health and safety matter.

This duty to consult is based on the recognition that worker input and participation improves decision-making about health and safety matters.

The broad definition of a ‘worker’ under the WHS Act means a PCBU must consult, so far as is reasonably practicable, with contractors and subcontractors and their employees, on-hire workers, outworkers, apprentices, trainees, work experience students, volunteers and other people who are working for the PCBU and who are, or are likely to be, directly affected by a health and safety matter.

Workers are entitled to take part in consultations and to be represented in consultations by a health and safety representative who has been elected to represent their work group.

WHS Act section 48

Nature of consultation

If the workers are represented by a health and safety representative, the consultation must involve that representative.

You must consult your workers when making decisions about what equipment and facilities are needed for administering first aid. Consultation should include:

the number, location and contents of first aid kits and other equipment

the type of first aid facilities that may be needed

first aid procedures, and

the number of first aiders.

Consulting, cooperating and coordinating activities with other duty holders

WHS Act section 46

Duty to consult with other duty holders

The WHS Act requires a PCBU to consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other persons who have a work health or safety duty in relation to the same matter, so far as is reasonably practicable.

There is often more than one business or undertaking with responsibility for the same health and safety matters, either because they are involved in the same activities or share the same workplace.

In these situations, each duty holder should exchange information to find out who is doing what and work together in a cooperative and coordinated way.

For example, if a PCBU provides labour hire workers as part of its business, both it and the host business have a duty of care. In these situations, the duty holder must discuss the hazards and risks associated with the work and ensure the host business has appropriate first aid arrangements the workers can access.

If the workplace is shared with other businesses that have first aiders, the PCBU may be able to ensure its workers have access to these first aiders instead of training their own workers. In these circumstances, it will be necessary to:

• consult the other business operators to work out what first aid arrangements are needed
• cooperate with each other in sharing first aid equipment and facilities, and
• coordinate access to the first aiders.

Further guidance on consultation is available in the Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination.

How to determine first aid requirements for your workplace

WHS Regulation 42(3)

Duty to provide first aid

To meet your duty as a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to provide access to first aid equipment, facilities and trained first aiders you must have regard to all relevant matters, including the following:

• the nature of the work being carried out at the workplace
• the nature of the hazards at the workplace
• the size and location of the workplace, and
• the number and composition of the workers and other persons at the workplace.

Appendix C summarises the requirements for first aid kits, first aiders and first aid rooms.

The nature of the work and workplace hazards

Certain work environments have greater risk of injury and illness due to the nature of work being carried out and the nature of the hazards at the workplace. For example, workers in factories, motor vehicle workshops and forestry operations are at greater risk of injury requiring immediate medical treatment than workers in offices or libraries. These workplaces will therefore require different first aid arrangements.

Table 1 Injuries associated with common workplace hazards that may require first aid

Records of injuries, illnesses, ‘near miss’ incidents and other information will be useful when making decisions about first aid requirements.

You should check the safety data sheets (SDS) for hazardous chemicals handled, used or stored at your workplace. The SDS provides information about the chemical, possible health effects, controls that may be used to reduce exposure and first aid requirements.

Under the WHS Regulations suppliers of hazardous chemicals must provide the current SDS to a person at the workplace if the person asks for it.

Size and location of the workplace

In relation to the size and location of the workplace, you should take into account:

• the distance between different work areas, and
• the response times for emergency services.

First aid equipment and facilities should be located at convenient points and in areas where there is a higher risk of an injury or illness occurring.

A large workplace may require first aid to be available in more than one location if:

• work is being carried out a long distance from emergency services
• workers are dispersed over a wide area
• access to a part of the workplace is difficult, or
• the workplace has more than one floor level.

Where there are separate work areas, for example multiple buildings on a site or multiple floors in an office building, it may be appropriate to locate first aid facilities centrally and provide first aid kits in each work area. This may include portable first aid kits in motor vehicles and other separate work areas.

The distance of the workplace from ambulance services, hospital and medical centres should be taken into account when determining your first aid requirements. For example, if life-threatening injuries or illnesses could occur and timely access to emergency services cannot be assured, a person trained in more advanced first aid techniques, for example providing oxygen, should be considered.

Extra first aid considerations may be necessary for workers in remote or isolated areas. For example, where access is difficult due to travel time, poor roads or weather conditions, arrangements should include aerial evacuation.

In minimising the risks to health and safety associated with remote or isolated work, you must provide a safe system of work including effective communication with the worker. This will assist in enabling an immediate response in an emergency. Further guidance about working in remote or isolated areas is available in the Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities.

The number and composition of workers and others at the workplace

When considering the size of your workforce, you should include contractors, subcontractors and volunteers you engage. This may mean the size of your workforce may vary over time. For the purposes of deciding who requires access to first aid, you should consider the maximum number of workers you may engage at one time. Generally, a larger workforce requires more first aid resources.

You should also consider:

• the particular needs of workers who have a disability or a known health concern for example asthma or allergies, and
• others at your workplace who are not your workers, for example:
• students in schools and education facilities
• clients under care, and
• members of the public in places involving exercise, leisure and entertainment for example gyms, cinemas, fairgrounds and shopping centres.

Appendix D provides an example of how to determine first aid requirements.

First aid equipment, facilities and training

The information provided in this chapter may be used as a guide to determine the first aid equipment, facilities, first aiders and procedures that you as a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), need to provide in various workplaces.

First aid equipment, facilities and first aiders must be accessible to workers whenever they work including those working night shifts or overtime.

Appendix C summarises the requirements for first aiders, first aid kits and first aid rooms.

First aid kits

All workers must be able to access a first aid kit. This will require at least one first aid kit to be provided at their workplace.

Contents

The first aid kit should provide basic equipment for administering first aid for injuries including:

• cuts, scratches, punctures, grazes and splinters
• muscular sprains and strains
• minor burns
• amputations and/or major bleeding wounds
• broken bones
• eye injuries, and
• shock.

The contents of first aid kits should be based on a risk assessment. For example, there may be higher risk of eye injuries and a need for more eye pads in a workplace in which work involves machinery or chemicals. For example, where:

• chemical liquids or powders are handled in open containers
• spraying, hosing or abrasive blasting operations are carried out
• there is a possibility of flying particles causing eye injuries
• there is a risk of splashing or spraying of infectious materials, or
• welding, cutting or machining operations are carried out.

Extra equipment may be needed in remote workplaces, for example for serious burns, breathing difficulties or allergic reactions.

The recommended contents of a typical first aid kit and information on extra equipment is provided in Appendix E.

Design of kits

First aid kits can be any size, shape or type to suit your workplace, but each kit should:

• be large enough to contain the necessary items
• be immediately identifiable with a white cross on green background prominently displayed on the outside
• contain a list of the contents for that kit, and
• be made of material that will protect the contents from dust, moisture and contamination.

Location

In the event of a serious injury or illness, quick access to the kit is vital. First aid kits should be kept in a prominent, accessible location where they can be retrieved quickly. All workers must have access to first aid equipment including in security-controlled workplaces.

First aid kits should be located close to areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness. For example, a school with a science laboratory or carpentry workshop should have first aid kits located in these areas. If the workplace occupies several floors in a multistorey building, at least one kit should be located on every second floor. Emergency floor plans displayed in the workplace should include the location of first aid kits.

A portable first aid kit should be provided in the vehicles of mobile workers if that is their workplace, for example couriers, taxi drivers, sales representatives, bus drivers and inspectors. These kits should be safely located so as not to become a projectile in a collision.

Restocking and maintaining kits

A person in the workplace, usually a first aider, should be nominated to maintain the first aid kit and should:

• monitor usage of the first aid kit and ensure items used are replaced as soon as practicable after use
• carry out regular checks, after each use or, if the kit is not used, at least once every 12 months, to ensure the kit contains a complete set of the required items. An inventory list in the kit should be signed and dated after each check, and
• ensure items are in working order, have not deteriorated, are within their expiry dates and sterile products are sealed and have not been tampered with.

First aid signs

Displaying well-recognised first aid signs will assist in easily locating first aid equipment and facilities (see Figure 1 below). Further information on the design and use of signs is available in AS 1319–1994: Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment.

Figure 1 First aid signs

Other first aid equipment

In addition to first aid kits, you should consider whether other first aid equipment is necessary to treat the injuries or illnesses that could occur as a result of a hazard at your workplace.

Automated external defibrillators

Providing an automated external defibrillator (AED) can reduce the risk of fatality from cardiac arrest. While cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can prolong life, defibrillation is the only way to restore a heart with a fatal heart rhythm back to a normal heart rhythm.

You should consider providing an AED if there is a risk to workers at your workplace from electrocution, if there would be a delay in ambulance services arriving at the workplace, or where there are large numbers of members of the public.

AEDs are designed to be used by trained or untrained people. They provide audible step-by-step instruction on how to use them and how to perform CPR. They can detect whether they have been applied correctly and will instruct whether defibrillation is appropriate. Most AEDs will also keep records once they are activated including some vital signs and whether shocks have been recommended and administered.

They should be located in an area clearly visible, accessible and not exposed to extreme temperatures. They should be clearly signed and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Eye wash and shower equipment

Emergency eye wash equipment should be provided where there is a risk of hazardous chemicals or infectious substances causing eye injuries.

Immediate access should be provided to emergency shower equipment in workplaces where there is a risk of:

• exposure to hazardous chemicals resulting in skin absorption or contamination from infectious substances, or
• serious burns to a large area of the face or body, including chemical or electrical burns or burns that are deep, in sensitive areas or larger than a 20 cent piece.

Shower facilities can consist of:

• a deluge facility
• a permanently rigged hand-held shower hose, or
• a portable plastic or rubber shower hose designed to be easily attached to a tap spout—for small, relatively low risk workplaces where a fixed deluge facility would not be reasonably practicable, but the risk of serious burns is still foreseeable, for example a fish and chip shop.

Eye wash and shower equipment may be permanently fixed or portable, depending on the workplace. Portable, self-contained eye wash or shower units have their own flushing fluid to flush chemicals, foreign objects or substances from the eyes or body. They need to be refilled or replaced after use.

Further guidance is available in AS 4775–2007: Emergency eyewash and shower equipment.

First aid facilities

A risk assessment will help determine the type of first aid facilities needed. For example, a clean, quiet area within the workplace affording privacy to an injured or ill person may be suitable and practicable for some workplaces.

Access to a telephone for contacting emergency services or an emergency call system should be provided as part of first aid facilities.

First aid rooms

A first aid room should be established at the workplace if a risk assessment indicates it would be difficult to administer first aid unless a first aid room is provided.

For example, workplaces where there is a higher risk of serious injury or illness occurring, requiring immediate first aid and possible further treatment by an emergency service, may benefit from having access to a dedicated first aid room.

A first aid room is recommended for:

• low risk workplaces with 200 workers or more, or
• high risk workplaces with 100 workers or more.

The contents of a first aid room should suit the hazards specific to the workplace. The location and size of the room should allow easy access and movement of injured people, noting they may need to be supported or moved by stretcher or wheelchair.

The following items should be provided in the room:

• a first aid kit appropriate for the workplace
• hygienic hand cleanser and disposable paper towels
• an examination couch with waterproof surface and disposable sheets
• an examination lamp with magnifier
• a cupboard for storage
• a container with disposable lining for soiled waste
• a container for the safe disposal of sharps
• a bowl or bucket, minimum 2 litres capacity
• electric power points
• a chair and a table or desk
• a telephone and/or emergency call system, and
• the names and contact details of first aiders and emergency organisations.

A first aid room should:

• be located within easy access to a sink with hot and cold water (where this is not provided in the room) and toilet facilities
• offer privacy via screening or a door
• be easily accessible to emergency services, with a minimum door width of 1 metre for stretcher access
• be well lit and ventilated
• have an appropriate floor area, 14 square metres as a guide, and
• have an entrance that is clearly marked with first aid signage (see part 3.2 of this Code).

Maintaining a first aid room should be allocated to a trained first aider, except where this room is part of a health centre or hospital.

Health centres

Health centres staffed by a registered health practitioner (a doctor or nurse) or paramedic can provide emergency medical treatment and cater to the types of hazards in high risk workplaces. A health centre may be established in the workplace, for example at a large mine site, or, if readily available, external emergency services may be used.

If a health centre is located at the workplace, the facility should:

• be self-contained
• be located at ground level where possible in a quiet, clean area, a safe distance from hazardous operations and clear of general thoroughfares
• be convenient and accessible to workers at the times they work and have an entrance clearly marked with health centre signage
• have walls, floors and ceilings made of easy-to-clean impervious materials, and
• have enough space to accommodate first aid equipment.

First aiders

WHS Regulation 42(2)

Duty to provide first aid

As a PCBU you must ensure an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid at the workplace or workers have access to an adequate number of other people who have been trained to administer first aid.

First aid in the workplace can be provided in two ways:

• training one or more of your own workers to administer first aid, or
• arranging for a person who does not work for you to administer first aid to your workers provided they have been trained to do so.

Through consultation with other duty holders, you may identify there are trained first aiders of other businesses who share your workplace, or other people who are qualified to administer first aid. You could seek to cooperate and coordinate with these other duty holders to ensure your workers have access to first aiders at the times when your workers carry out work, for example taking into account shiftwork and overtime.

If your first aiders move around the workplace during their shift you should ensure they are easy to locate and identify—for example on a construction site your first aiders could be identified by a high visibility vest of a particular colour or you could display a contact number for first aid in prominent locations.

Types of first aid training

As a minimum first aiders should hold nationally recognised Statement/s of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for the nationally endorsed first aid unit of competency Provide First Aid or a course providing equivalent skills. A higher level or additional training may be required to ensure your first aiders have appropriate skills for the risks you have identified in your workplace.

For example, additional training may be required where:

• work is remote or isolated
• there are risks from dangerous substances such as cyanide or arsenic
• specialist first aid equipment or first aid room is installed in the workplace
• children are present in the workplace
• you have identified psychological risks, or
• workers have existing medical conditions which may require first aid.

Where workers or others at the workplace have known existing medical conditions, first aiders should be trained to respond to these conditions if the topic has not been covered in previous first aid training.

Frequency of training for first aiders

First aiders should attend training on a regular basis to refresh their first aid knowledge and skills and to confirm their competence to provide first aid. Refresher training in CPR should be carried out annually and first aid qualifications should be renewed every three years.

Number of trained first aiders

The following ratios are recommended:

• low risk workplaces—one first aider for every 50 workers
• high risk workplaces—one first aider for every 25 workers
• remote high risk workplaces—one first aider for every 10 workers.

The number and type of trained first aiders can be further refined by following the five-step guide below.

Step 1:

Identify the maximum number of workers at the workplace at one time.

Step 2:

Consider the nature of the work being carried out at the workplace and determine if your workers are at high risk of being exposed to hazards requiring immediate first aid treatment.

Step 3:

Determine if the workplace is remote or if access to emergency services is difficult. High risk workplaces that do not have timely access to medical and ambulance services should have at least one first aider for every 10 workers.

Step 4:

Consider the variety of ways your workers carry out work. For example, a worker may:

• spend most, if not all, of their time working alone or in transit, for example couriers, taxi drivers, sales representatives, door-to-door charity collectors and inspectors
• work in a variety of locations on a regular basis and often work without supervision, for example tradespeople, construction workers in the housing industry, farmhands and cleaners
• sometimes work alone for relatively short periods of time, for example when opening or closing a business for trade or working back late to meet a deadline.

In these situations it may not be practicable to have a first aider available at all times at the workplace. However, these workers must be able to access first aid assistance, for example by ensuring they are provided with:

• an effective means of accessing emergency services or first aiders, and
• information, instruction and training on how to respond if a serious injury or illness occurs.

Step 5:

Before finalising the number of first aiders your workers require access to, consider if there are other factors indicating your workplace needs more first aiders, for example:

• work arrangements, for example shiftwork or overtime
• seasonal work, where there may be a sudden and significant increase or decrease in the number of workers
• where there are large numbers of other people present on a regular basis, for example schools, shopping centres, hotels and function centres
• workplaces with unique hazards, for example fitness centres, amusement rides and dive schools, and
• access during times when a first aider is absent, for example on annual leave.

First aid procedures

You should develop and implement first aid procedures to ensure workers have a clear understanding of first aid in their workplace. The procedure should cover:

• the work areas and shifts allocated to each first aider, their names and contact details
• the types of first aid kits and where they are located
• the location of first aid facilities like first aid rooms
• who is responsible for the first aid kits and facilities and how frequently they should be checked and maintained
• how to establish and maintain communication systems, including equipment and procedures, to ensure rapid emergency communication with first aiders and emergency services
• the communication equipment and systems to be used when first aid is required, especially for remote and isolated workers. These procedures should contain information about how to locate the communication equipment, who is responsible for the equipment and how it should be maintained
• arrangements to ensure first aiders receive appropriate training
• arrangements for ensuring workers receive information, instruction and training for first aid
• seeking information when a worker starts work about first aid needs requiring specific treatment in a medical emergency, for example asthma, diabetes, heart conditions or severe allergies. Information about a worker’s health must be kept confidential and only provided to first aiders with the worker’s consent
• how to report injuries and illnesses occurring in the workplace
• precautions to avoid exposure to blood and body substances. Refer to Appendix F
• what to do when a worker or other person is too injured or ill to stay at work, for example if they require assistance with transport to a medical service, home or somewhere else where they can rest and recover, and
• access to debriefing or counselling services to support first aiders and workers after a serious workplace incident.

Record-keeping

A record of first aid treatment given should be kept by the first aider and reported to managers on a regular basis to assist reviewing first aid arrangements. First aid treatment records are subject to requirements under Health Records legislation. Further information is available from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Procedures and plans for managing an emergency

WHS Regulation 43(1)

Duty to prepare, maintain and implement emergency plan

You must ensure an emergency plan is prepared for the workplace, including:

• an effective response to an emergency
• evacuation procedures
• notifying emergency service organisations at the earliest opportunity
• medical treatment and assistance, and
• effective communication between the person you have authorised to coordinate the emergency response and all persons at the workplace.

You may incorporate your first aid procedures into your emergency planning procedures.

Emergency procedures should specify the role of first aiders according to their level of qualification and competence. In particular, first aiders should be instructed not to exceed their training and expertise in first aid. Other staff including supervisors should be instructed not to direct first aiders to exceed their first aid training and expertise.

Further guidance on emergency plans and preparing emergency procedures is available in the Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities.

Providing first aid information

You must provide your workers with any information necessary to protect their health and safety while carrying out work. This should include information about where and how to access first aid so they know what to do and who to contact if they are sick or injured.

Information should be easy to understand, accessible and should take into account the language and literacy levels of your workers. Information may be given using verbal methods, for example explanations and demonstrations or visual methods, for example videos and posters.

The information and instruction on first aid should include:

• the location of first aid equipment and facilities
• the names and location of people trained to administer first aid, and
• the procedures to be followed when first aid is required.

The information and instruction should be provided as part of workers’ induction training and when there are changes, for example in the location of first aid facilities or in the names, locations or contact details of first aiders.

Reviewing your first aid requirements

As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you should regularly review your first aid arrangements in consultation with your workers to ensure they remain adequate and effective.

Check the people who have responsibilities under your first aid procedures are familiar with them.

If the way work is performed is changed, or new work practices introduced, review your first aid against the new risk assessment to ensure the arrangements are still adequate.

Organise a mock first aid emergency to confirm first aid procedures are effective. Check kits and first aid rooms are easily accessible and suit the hazards unique to your workplace.

If an incident has occurred requiring first aid, evaluate the effectiveness of the first aid provided and make changes if necessary.

If new information is obtained about a previously unidentified hazard, review the first aid measures you have in place.

The questions in Table 2 can assist you to review first aid and assess whether improvement is needed.

Table 2 Questions to assist in reviewing first aid

Appendix A–Glossary

Appendix B—First aid and the risk management process

Figure 2 First aid and the risk management process

Appendix C – Summary of recommended first aid requirements

Appendix D—Example of a first aid assessment

This assessment of first aid requirements is included as an example only. It does not reflect the consultative processes that must occur or detail the assessment of each identified hazard.

Nature of the work being carried out and the nature of the
hazards at the workplace

Appendix E—Example of contents for first aid kits

For most workplaces, a first aid kit should include the following items.

Medication including analgesics like paracetamol and aspirin should not be included in first aid kits because of their potential to cause adverse health effects in some people including pregnant women and people with medical conditions like asthma. The supply of these medications may also be controlled by drugs and poisons laws. Workers requiring prescribed and over-the-counter medications should carry their own medication for their personal use as necessary.

However, workplaces may consider including an asthma-relieving inhaler and a spacer to treat asthma attacks and epinephrine auto-injector for the treatment of anaphylaxis or severe allergies. These should be stored according to the manufacturers’ instructions and first aiders should be provided with appropriate training.

Some types of workplaces may require extra items to treat specific types of injuries or illnesses. These may also require your first aiders to have additional training.

Outdoor module

If work is performed outside and there is a risk of insect or plant stings or snake bites, assess whether a first aid kit should include:

• a heavy duty 10 cm crepe bandage for snake bites
• sting relief cream, gel or spray.

Remote module

Where people work in remote locations, a first aid kit should include:

• a heavy duty 10 cm crepe bandage for snake bites
• large clean sheeting, for covering burns
• thermal blanket, for treating shock
• whistle, for attracting attention, and
• torch/flashlight.

The appropriate contents will vary according to the nature of the work and its associated risks.

Burn module

If workers are at risk of receiving burns, a first aid kit should include:

• burn treatment instructions on two waterproof instruction cards: one for the first aid kit and the other to be located on the wall next to the emergency shower or water supply
• hydrogel, 8 x 3.5 gram sachets
• hydrogel dressings
• clean polythene sheets, small, medium and large, and
• 7.5 cm cotton conforming bandage.

Appendix F—Standard precautions for infection control

When providing first aid to an injured or ill person, first aiders could come into contact with blood or body substances. These can transfer infections to the first aider or other people they treat.

First aiders should assume they could be exposed to infection and take standard precautions when exposed to blood and body substances to protect themselves and others from infection risk. Standard precautions are work practices applied to all patients and their blood and body substances, regardless of their infectious status, to ensure a basic level of infection prevention and control. Standard precautions include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), handling and disposal of sharps and waste, cleaning techniques and managing spills of blood and body substances.

Providing first aid safely

First aiders should wash their hands with soap and water or apply alcohol-based hand rub before and after administering first aid. First aiders should also wear PPE, including disposable gloves, to prevent contact with blood and body substances . Eye protection, a mask and protective clothing may also be necessary if splashes of blood or body substances are likely to occur.

You should establish procedures to protect first aiders and others from infection risk from the provision of first aid and contact with blood or body substances. Procedures could include:

• proper hand hygiene practices
• how to handle and dispose of sharps
• how to clean surfaces and reusable equipment
• how to manage spills and soiled laundry
• how to handle and dispose of waste, and
• when to use PPE, for example using resuscitation masks for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

First aiders should be aware of what to do if they have accidental contact with blood or body substances, a sharps injury or contact with a person known to have a contagious illness. Any part of the body that comes in contact with blood or body substances should be washed with soap and water immediately. Prompt medical advice should be obtained.

Where there is a risk of disease, first aiders should be offered vaccinations in line with the Department of Health Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Contaminated items

Items soiled with blood or body substances should be placed in plastic bags and tied securely. Waste disposal must comply with state or local government requirements.

Sharps including needles, syringes and disposable probes should be disposed of in a rigid-walled, puncture-resistant sharps container by the person who used them. Guidance on the design, construction, colour and markings of sharps containers is provided in:

• AS 4031–1992: Non-reusable containers for the collection of sharp medical items used in health care areas
• AS/NZS 4261–1994: Reusable containers for the collection of sharp items used in human and animal medical applications.

Reusable items contaminated with blood and body substances should be washed and disinfected by a competent person or disposed of safely.

If a first aider sustains a sharps injury or thinks they are at risk of infection from blood or body substances, they should seek prompt medical advice.

Cleaning spills

Cleaning should start as soon as possible after an incident involving blood or body substances. First aiders should wear disposable gloves when cleaning spills and if splashes of blood or body substances may occur, extra protective equipment like eye protection, plastic aprons and masks should be worn. Surfaces contaminated with blood or body substances should be wiped with paper towelling and cleaned with warm soapy water. It is generally unnecessary to use sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) for managing spills but it may be used in specific circumstances, for example if the surface is hard to clean.

Amendments

This model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace was first published in July 2012. This Code has since been amended to include:

• Technical and usability amendments.
• Updated guidance on selecting first aid courses in part 3.5.

The current version, dated July 2019, incorporates all of those amendments.