The first step, the Needs Assessment, must establish the hazards faced by an organisation and its staff, and identify the specific first training, equipment and SOPs required in order to provide appropriate first aid in case of need.
The responsibility to carry out such an assessment rests squarely on the shoulders of each company, club etc..
First Aid Needs Assessments are complex. Consider that for each location in which a company has operations it is necessary to map out:
- the size of the organisation
- the distribution of the workforce
- the nature of each workplace
- the nature of the work in each workplace and the resultant hazards and risks
- work patterns
- the remoteness of any site from emergency medical services
- annual leave and other absences of first aiders and appointed persons
- the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers
- employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites
- first-aid provision for non-employees
- the organisations accident history.
Sandstone has experienced operatives who are available to work with your H&S representative to assist them in carrying out your Needs Assessment exercise and prepare your written plan. If you are a large organisation which already has a First Aid Needs Assessment, we can work with you to develop the training, specify the kit and draft standard operating procedures (SOPs) required.
