Having a first aid kit is important, but who will use it when an employee gets injured?
South African workplace safety requirements address more than first aid equipment. Employers also need to ensure trained first aid personnel are available where required.
Understanding how many first aiders your workplace needs is an important part of emergency preparedness.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞?
Under the General Safety Regulations, where more than 10 employees work at a workplace, the employer must ensure at least one person with a valid first aid competency certificate is readily available during normal working hours for every group of up to 50 employees.
For shops and offices, the regulation provides for at least one qualified first aider for every group of up to 100 employees.
In practical terms:
- 11 to 50 employees: at least 1 qualified first aider
- 51 to 100 employees: at least 2 qualified first aiders
- Shops and offices follow the separate ratio specified in the regulation.
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
Having the required number of trained people on your employee list does not automatically mean your workplace is prepared.
Your first aiders need to be readily available when employees are working.
Think about:
- Different shifts
- Employees working at separate locations
- Remote work areas
- Leave and absenteeism
- High-risk work activities
- The distance from emergency medical services
If your only first aider works the day shift, employees working at night might have no trained person available when an emergency occurs.
𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Where high-risk, toxic, corrosive or similar hazardous substances are used, handled or processed, the regulations require relevant first aid personnel to receive training appropriate to injuries and emergency situations associated with those substances.
Your first aid arrangements should therefore reflect your actual workplace risks, not only your employee numbers.
𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐢𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐱
Where more than five employees work at a workplace, the regulations require a first aid box or boxes to be available and accessible.
The employer also needs to display the location of the first aid box and the name of the person responsible for it.
A stocked first aid box and trained first aiders work together as part of your emergency preparedness.
𝐈𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝?
Do not wait for an accident to find out your first aid arrangements are inadequate.
Review your employee numbers, shifts, workplace risks, first aid supplies and the availability of trained personnel.
At ISIVIKO Health and Safety, we help businesses assess workplace risks, strengthen health and safety systems and improve emergency preparedness.
Contact ISIVIKO Health and Safety to review your workplace first aid and health and safety requirements.