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First Aid - Alsco Managed Training Services - First Aid State and Territory legislation overview

There is no national code of practice for First Aid in the Workplace in Australia. Each State and Territory maintains its own code and require different First Aid training.

The WorkCover Authority of NSW says: “If you employ more than 25 people at your workplace, you must have at least one person trained in first aid.” Beyond this all requirements are subject to further risk assessment.

The WorkSafe Victoria compliance code First Aid in the Workplace requires a clear distinction to be established between high-risk and low-risk workplaces. There is also the need to determine whether or not there is 'timely access' to appropriate medical and ambulance services before calculating the number of First Aiders required in the workplace in order to comply with the code.

SafeWork SA’s code of practice for First Aid in the workplace outlines a five step process to help establish the number and type of designated First Aiders who should be provided at a workplace. This code clearly defines factors such as remote workplaces, high risk workplaces and shift work. However, its Step 5 requires consideration for “other factors that may indicate the need for more than the minimum number cited”. Factors such as size of the workplace, distribution of people across the site, seasonal work, workplaces where large numbers of “other persons” (not employees) are present on a regular basis (e.g. shopping centres, hotels, function and convention halls and schools).

All of these isolated codes can be confusing, especially to businesses with premises in more than one state. Individuals responsible for the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) in their workplace may have difficulty comprehending all the different rules that apply to their workplaces. It also is difficult for them to stay informed on changes to individual codes of practice and legislation.

As stated in many of the different States' First Aid compliance codes, there is a fluctuating requirement for designated First Aid Officers depending on the type of workplace. A simple employee headcount will not suffice because many other factors need to be considered.

WorkCover NSW requires trained First Aiders' skills and competencies to be maintained and appropriate to the identified likely injuries/illnesses in any workplace. For example, First Aiders in foundries must be particularly skilled in treating burns, whereas First Aiders in the construction industry must be skilled in monitoring symptoms of employees who may be injured due to falls or laceration.

WorkCover NSW even outlines that there may be a need for further training whenever a change within the workplace alters hazards and the types of potential work-related injuries or illnesses.

As stated earlier, Safework SA’s code consideration must be given to the arrangement of work (i.e. shifts), the size of the workplace and distribution of people across the site. WorkSafe Victoria’s code takes this consideration one step further, requiring an assessment of actual time taken for medical aid to reach a person rather than distance. This includes taking into acount taller buildings, elevator access, security restrictions and other convoluted travel paths.

These factors - which can change and require continual monitoring - are a time-consuming process that many find difficult to include as part of their Occupational Health & Safety responsibilities.

In adition, the requirement for clear, consistent documentation is two-fold.

All the States' codes require designated First Aiders to attend training on a regular basis to refresh their first aid knowledge and skills. Worksafe Victoria, for example, makes the employer responsible for ensuring the qualifications of First Aiders are current. WorkCover NSW says refresher first aid training must be scheduled to ensure general skills are kept up to date.

WorkSafe Victoria also demands an employer ensures a record of any first aid treatment given is kept by the first aid officer and reported to managers on a regular basis.

Employers also need to take account of known occurrences of injuries, illnesses and incidents and review this and ‘near miss’ data for the workplace to identify problem areas.

Consistent documentation is necessary not only to maintain the current team of designated First Aiders, it also is essential in the perpetual assessment of a workplace and determines the timeliness and relevancy of any team of designated First Aiders, the team's size and certification requirements.

One important consideration outlined by WorkCover NSW, regarding documentation, is the need for confidentiality when recording personal information about the health of an employee. This information must be carefully integrated with other incident and accident reporting systems in the workplace, in particular with the register of injuries required by workers' compensation laws. It is vital information to have on record to help determine First Aid treatment if required, but it also is vital to maintain each individual employee's right to privacy.

All these factors highlight the importance of a 'smart' recording and administration system, such as the www.alscotraining.com.au managed training system.

Useful links:

http://www.registeredtrainingorganisation.com.au

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http://alscotraining.com.au

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