First Aid at Work

Overview

First Aid at Work should be managed through a planned system of work: identify the task-specific hazards, eliminate exposure where practical, use engineered or collective controls before relying on PPE, verify critical safeguards before starting, and stop the task when controls are missing or conditions change. This guide applies those principles specifically to first-aid readiness, supplies, trained responders and rapid escalation.

Main Hazards

• • Delayed care where medical treatment is not immediately accessible
• • First-aid supplies missing, expired or unsuitable for site hazards
• • Uncontrolled changes, unclear responsibilities or missing communication
• • People entering hazards without adequate planning or verification
• • Delayed response to changing conditions, incidents or warning signs

Essential Controls

1. 1Provide readily available first-aid capability appropriate to site location and hazards.
2. 2Inspect kits, emergency washing and responder availability on a defined schedule.
3. 3Define responsibilities, critical controls and stop-work triggers before work begins.
4. 4Communicate the plan in a way workers can understand and verify understanding.
5. 5Use field verification, observations and supervision to confirm controls remain effective.
6. 6Learn from deviations, near misses and incidents and close corrective actions.

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