EXAMPLE FIRST AID RISK ASSESSMENT

First aid risk assessment for the Department of XXXXXXXX, University of Sheffield.

The University of Sheffield, Department of XXXXXXXXis a diverse department containing office, laboratory and kitchen facilities for staff as well as open access areas for students, together with some rooms that are bookable across the University.

The building is multi-floored and shared with the Department of XXXXXXXX

The department is located within the city of Sheffield, in an area close to hospitals and medical assistance.

The nearest Accident and Emergency is located at the Northern General Hospital,Herries Rd, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S5 7AU, 3 miles away, there is an eye clinic at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and an NHS Walk in Centre on Broad Lane within a mile of the department.Rockingham House, 75 Broad Ln, Sheffield S1 3PB

The department has a staff of approximately XXXXX including academic, research and professional services staff. As well as this there are approximately XXX Postgraduate students that also have desk space in the building.

Working hours are classed as between 8.00am and 6.00pm although staff with Fire Training, Out of Hours training and access can work outside these hours.

Field trips are run by the department at all levels both in the UK and abroad some of which are in remote locations away from immediate medical assistance, these also need to be facilitated with First aid cover.

In addition to this the laboratory areas and especially the use of chemicals provide their own individual risks that need to be catered for.

The department has an excellent safety record with very few reported incidents in the past.

All incidents and near misses are reported on the university online accident reporting system.

First aid boxes –

First aid boxes are located in the following locations

FIRST AID BOX LOCATIONS (DATE)
XXX FLOOR / ENTRANCE LODGE
ROOM NO XXX / XXXXXXX LABORATORY (Includes HF First Aid Equipment)
XX / XXXXXXX LABORATORY (50 PERSON)
XX / XXXXXXXLABORATORY
XXXX / KITCHEN (50 PERSON)
XXXX / TOP OF BACK STAIRCASE

This level of provision is considered more than adequate for the size of building and the number of floors.

The contents of the boxes are stocked in line with university recommendations and are monitored and topped up/replaced as necessary

Each laboratory has its own First Aid Kit,which in the case of XXXX, is specialised owing to the use of HF.

Two laboratories XXXX and XXXX have emergency showers for immediate treatment in the event of an accident involving chemicals.

First aid kits are provided in the larger occupied spaces such as the Postgraduate rooms XXXX and the Post Doc room XXX.

As XX floor is likely to hold larger events often involving people from outside the department a 50 person First aid kit has been located in the Kitchen area XXXX and a further First Aid Kit is available in the General Office XXX.

First Aiders

At the time of writing (DATE) the department has XX staff that have completed the University of Sheffield First Aid at Work course.

NAME (EMAIL ADDRESS) / First Aid at Work / Valid until:
DATE
NAME (EMAIL ADDRESS) / First Aid at Work / Valid until:
DATE
NAME (EMAIL ADDRESS) / First Aid at Work / Valid until:
DATE

The First aiders are a combination of Professional Services Staff and Academic staff. This number of First aiders is considered sufficient to cover a multi floored building of the size of the XXXXXXXXXXXXX Building with the number of full time staff it contains and its potential occupation levels.

The Departmental Safety officer (DSO) NAMEmonitors expiry dates of qualifications along with a person’s willingness to continue in the role of First aider,working with Health & Safety in order that sufficient numbers are maintained.

Field work First aid

The department runs a number of field trips both in the UK and abroad and the department needs to provision these with First aid cover. At least one qualified First Aider will be on each field trip with more if possible.

To this end, and due to the remote location of some of the field trips run by the department, a number of staff have taken the High Peak First Aid Training’s courses Emergency First aid at work and Wilderness First Aid.

NAME / Wilderness/First Aid at Work / DATE / Valid until: DATE
NAME / Wilderness/First Aid at Work / DATE / valid until: DATE
NAME / Wilderness/First Aid at Work / DATE / valid until: DATE

First aid cover on field trips is monitored by a Field trip Committee which meets prior to the Field work season and also ensure that Risk assessments are in place.

The following table are a series of responses to questions posed in the HSE guidance: HSE, First Aid at Work, the Health and Safety (Fist Aid) Regulations 1981. Guidance notes.

CONSIDERATION / ACTION
Does your workplace have higher-level hazards such aschemicals or dangerous machinery? / Yes, the laboratory areas are well provisioned with personal protective equipment and there are first aid boxes in each of the laboratories. XXX,XXX, XXX, B11h andXXX. One of the Laboratory Staff has a current First Aid at Work qualification and another is registered to do the training in the near future.
Do your work activities involve special hazards such as hydrofluoric acid or confined spaces? / Yes, Hydrofluoric acid is used in XXX. There is an appropriate first aid kit in XXX which contains Calcium Glauconate gel and the appropriate PPE is available also. One of our First aiders (NAME) is currently qualified in “First Aid for Hydrofluoric acid casualties”, and other staff are aware of the emergency response procedures for HF casualties.
How many people are employed on site? / The department has a staff of approximatelyXX including academic, research and professional services staff. As well as this there are approximately XX Postgraduate students that also have desk space in the building. At busy times the population of the building will be higher due to students in the building and bookable spaces being occupied. The number of first aid boxes provided and the number of First Aiders reflect the maximum occupation of the building.
What is your record of accidents and ill health? What injuries and illness have occurred and where did they happen? / The department has an excellent safety record with very few reported incidents in the past. Recent incidents have tended to be out of the building on field trips. The department has a policy of having at least one trained First Aider on all field trips.
Do you have employees who travel a lot, work remotely orwork alone? / Field trips are run by the department at all levels both in the UK and abroad some of which are in remote locations away from immediate medical assistance, these are provided with an appropriate number of first aid kits and at least one qualified First Aider.
Staff doing individual field work are asked to do risk assessments.
Staff are discouraged from working completely alone except when absolutely necessary and then to have means of communication and carry a first aid kit. Mobile phones can be provided by the department and in more extreme situations a satellite phone is available.
Do any of youremployees work shiftsor out-of-hours? / There are staff and postgraduates that are permitted to work out of hours. All staff doing so have to pass Fire Training and Out of Hours Training in order to have their U card activated to access the building. The out of Hours course out- lines the procedures to follow in the case of an out of hours emergency.
Are the premises spread out, eg. are there several buildings on the site or multi floor buildings? / The building is a multi -floor building and there are at present other sites which belong to the department that contain First aid kits. E.g. XXXXXX and XXXXLabs.
Do you have sufficient provision to cover absences of first aiders or appointed persons? / The number of First aiders reflects the potential for some staff to be absent from the department
Do members of the public or nonemployees visit your
premises? / On occasions such as visit days, graduation and conferences, parents, prospective students or visitors from other institutions will be present in the building. Our First aid provision allows for these circumstances in the number of First aid boxes provided, their location and the number of First aid qualified staff in the building.
Other instances include work experience students

References: HSE, First Aid at Work, the Health and Safety (Fist Aid) Regulations 1981. Guidance notes.