Does your workplace have someone trained in first aid?

If you’re a business owner or employer, you have certain responsibilities when it comes to first aid in the workplace.

As Safe Work Australia reminds us, “incidents can happen without warning and in every type of workplace - it is critical you are prepared for any first aid emergencies that could happen in yours.”

No matter what industry you’re in, it’s important that employees know how to respond in the event of an emergency. You can help staff feel more prepared by providing regular workplace first aid training.

By complying with national first aid code of practice, and ensuring you have qualified, trained first aiders on hand, you can significantly reduce the impact of incidents at your workplace.  You’ll also be helping individual employees to develop the skills – and confidence – they need to make the right decisions in the event of a first aid emergency.

The Responsibility of Employers for First Aid

All Australian employers are responsible for providing staff with a safe workplace, free from hazards and health risks – and this includes having proper first aid procedures, facilities and equipment in place.

If you run a company or organisation, it’s important that your business is compliant with current workplace safety laws and regulations, to promote a safer workplace and ensure the safety and wellbeing of your employees.

Employers are legally responsible for providing first aid equipment in the workplace, in locations that all staff can easily access, and close to areas that present higher risk of accident or injury. If you’re a large worksite or organisation, spread out across a number of floors or buildings, this means providing multiple first aid kits. If employees travel for work, kits must also be present in all company vehicles.

Your business must also make sure there’s an adequate number of trained first aid providers that employees can go to for assistance. As a rule of thumb, Safe Work Australia advises that there should be one first aider for every:

• 50 workers in low-risk workplaces (an office)
• 25 workers in high-risk workplaces (a construction site)

These first aid officers must hold a current first aid certificate that is relevant to their state, and have the skills and knowledge to handle the situation until further medical assistance arrives, if necessary.

Helping Staff to Prepare for First Aid Incidents

Would your staff know what to do in the event of a first aid incident in the workplace?

Whether your workplace is considered high or low risk for first aid incidents, it pays to be prepared. It’s not just constructions sites or factories that present a risk to employees – team members can still experience serious cuts, burns or falls in an office environment.

The best way to help staff feel prepared is to provide workplace first aid training for all employees. Training modules should be repeated on a regular basis to make sure individuals can refresh their knowledge and skills from time to time.

While it’s important for all staff to attend first aid training, your designated first aiders will require more intensive additional training to be qualified to respond to incidents in the workplace.

Invest in First Aid Training for All Staff

So what’s the best way to deliver first aid training to staff across your organisation?

Through the use of workshops, online courses and eLearning training modules, you can make sure employees are properly engaged in workplace safety, while reducing the risk of accidents, injuries and hazards for your organisation.

If you’re an employer ready to invest in workplace first aid training, Go1 can make this process a whole lot easier for you and your staff.

You can make your training process quick and easy by enrolling your teams in accredited first aid courses through the Go1 platform. We provide the online courses that every Australian business needs, including first aid training.

By investing in first aid training for your staff, you’ll be making the safety of your workplace a top priority and showing your commitment to the safety and wellbeing of your employees. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that your business is compliant with Australian laws and regulations.

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