Guidance: First Aid Assessment
HSW-PR31-GU01 /
  1. Purpose

This guide assists with the undertaking of a first aid risk assessment in the workplace.

  1. First Aid Risk Assessment

A first aid risk assessment should be carried out to assist in the determination of the appropriate first aid facilities and the number of trained first aiders for a specific area.

By completing the First Aid Risk Assessment form, the recommendations for appropriate first aid facilities/ resources can be determined. Below are some instructions to assist with the interpretation of the risk assessment form and to assist in completing it.

  1. Distance and time to nearest medical center/hospital

If the time it takes to transport an injured person to a medical centre exceeds 30 minutes, a greater number of appropriately trained first aiders may be needed. This will depend on the hazards and associated level of risk at the workplace.

The time taken to reach the nearest hospital is very important. If the workplace is particularly remote additional first aid facilities and services are likely to be needed. If adverse weather conditions or poor roads are likely to be a problem planning should be completed for aerial evacuation of sick and injured when determining first aid requirements.

  1. Location of existing first aid kits

Are the current number of first aid kits and their locations suitable? Consider if the first aider will be required to leave the building or the floor to reach the first aid kits. Are the kits located where they are easily accessible and close to hazardous work areas?

  1. Incidents over last 12 months

Reviewing incident data can help identify problem areas and if specific first aid equipment is required (e.g. for burns). Incident data will not provide information on all hazards present in the workplace and shouldn’t be used as the only method of identifying potential risks.

  1. Potential hazards

There are a number of hazards which may be present in work places. The following list should be used for consideration only, it is not exhaustive:

  • Manual handling (pushing, pulling, carrying, restraining)
  • Plant and equipment (potential crushing, entanglement, cutting, striking, shearing, friction)
  • Electrical hazards
  • Chemical exposure
  • Radiation
  • Noise
  • Slip, trips & falls (uneven or slippery working surfaces)
  • Working at heights
  • Mobile equipment (forklifts, hand trucks, trolleys etc.)
  • Biological hazards
  • High / low temperatures
  1. Specific first aid requirements

All RMIT First aid kits are stocked with standard contents by first aid coordinators. The Safety Data Sheet of hazardous materials in your area may specify that additional first aid equipment should be available where the material is used. The contentsof all standard first aid kits are:

  • 3 Saline 30ml Ampule
  • 5 MEDI SWAB AS200 Alcohol Based (Each)
  • 1 Adhesive Strip Plastic 72x19mm (Pack 50)
  • 1 Crepe Bandage (50mmx4m)
  • 1 Crepe Bandage (100mmx4m)
  • 1 EZ Ban Cohesive Bandage (7.5cmx1m)
  • 1 Combine Dressing (9x20cm)
  • 4 Triangular Bandage (disposable)
  • 1 pack Cotton Swisspers tip dove (100)
  • 1 Eye Pad (Sterile)
  • 1 Gauze Swabs 5x5cm 100/box
  • 1 Water Bottle for Irrigation
  • 4 Non-Stick Dressing Poren-Lite (7.5cm x 10cm)
  • 1 pack Safety Pins assorted packet of 12/card
  • 1 Surg Scissors
  • 1 Disposable Resuscitation Shield
  • 1 roll Surg Tape 13mm x 9m
  • 1 pair Disposable Blue Nitrile Gloves (2/ bag)
  • 4 Surgipad Combine Dressing (9cm x 20cm – Sterile)
  • Resuscitation Chart A2
  • Empty Case Metal
  • (Label - White Cross – on Green Background)
  • First Aid treatment form (found on RMIT Website)
  • RMIT First Aid Procedure
  • First Aid Handbook (optional)

Drugs, for examplePanadol, should not be stored in the kits or administered by first aiders.

Automated External Defibrillators (AED)

AEDs at RMIT are managed and maintained by Property Services.

A first aid risk assessment is to be conducted in consultation with the respective Senior Adviser, Health and Safety to determine where automatic defibrillators are required. A number of AEDs have been installed at strategic locations across RMIT. Refer to AED Register.

A flowchart for requesting and obtaining an AED can be found in Appendix A- AED Life Cycle Process.

  1. Number of first aiders required

There is no simple formula for determining the number of first aiders required. The number of first aiders required depends on the outcome of the risk assessment, with high risk workplaces requiring more first aiders. According to the Victorian Compliance code - First aid in the workplace, a rough guide is one first aider for 10 to 50 employees for a low-risk workplace (for example office environments) or one first aider for up to 25 employees for a higher-risk workplace (for example laboratories or workshops).

Don’t forget to look at the hours the first aiders are on site. If your area operates outside of normal business hours try and make sure there are first aiders available at these times. Ideally first aiders should be those that are in the area and available all the time.

  1. Level of training required

As a first aid officer you must undertake training depending on time frames:

Year 1

If an individual’s previous Provide First Aid (HLTAID003) certification has lapsed three (3) years, you MUST undertake the full Provide First Aid (HLTAID003) course.

Year 2

An individual who has completed Provide First Aid (HLTAID003) and whose certification is within three (3) years from the date of completion, you MUST undertake Provide CPR (Refresher) HLTAID001 every twelve (12) months.

Year 3

An individual who has not undertaken Provide CPR (Refresher) HLTAID001 in the twelve (12) months prior, and whose Provide First Aid (HLTAID003) certification has lapsed, is recommended to undertake the full Provide First Aid (HLTAID003) training.

You are NOT a qualified first aider if your qualification has expired.

You are NOT a qualified first aider if you have only completed a CPR refresher.

The Provide First Aid (HLTAID003) certification is obtained by completing a 2 day course. The course is recommended for all staff and covers:

  • Learn First Aid – learn what to do, when and how
  • Covers a broad range of First Aid techniques
  • Includes CPR Certification

Covers Management of:

  • Unconscious breathing person
  • Unconscious non-breathing person (CPR)
  • Application of a Defibrillator
  • Review of First Aid kits

Recognition and management of:

  • Choking and Shock
  • Injuries from head to toe
  • Wounds and bleeding
  • Burns, poisons, bites and stings
  • Exposure to heat and cold
  • Medical emergencies: chest pain, asthma, anaphylaxis, stroke, seizures, fainting, diabetes
  • Head, neck and spinal injuries

Fractures, strains, sprains and dislocations

Advanced first aid training

Advanced first aid training enables the first aider to deal with a broader range of first aid and occupational health and safety issues in the workforce. This course is particularly useful for those first aiders who have responsibility for a first aid system in their workplace.

  1. Revision

Rev No. / Issue Date / Nature of Amendment / Page No(s) / Author / Department
1.0 / New Document / 4 / Andrea Dlouhy / HSW Team

Appendix A

Prepared by:
Health, Safety & Wellbeing / Printed copies are considered uncontrolled / Rev:1.0
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