The Organization of First Aid in the Workplace (ILO, 1999, 70 p.): 3. Responsibilities and participation: 3.2. Workers’ participation

The Organization of First Aid in the Workplace (ILO, 1999, 70 p.)

(introduction...)

Preface

1. Why first aid and the organization of first aid?

1.1. What is first aid?

1.2. The need to prevent accidents

1.3. If an accident occurs

1.4. An organized approach to first aid

2. What first aid must do

3. Responsibilities and participation

3.1. Responsibilities of the employer

(introduction...)

3.1.1. Equipment, supplies and facilities

3.1.2. Human resources

3.1.3. Other

3.2. Workers’ participation

4. How first aid is organized

4.1. Variables to be considered in the assessment of first-aid requirements

(introduction...)

4.1.1. Type of work and associated risks

4.1.2. Size and layout of the enterprise

4.1.3. Other enterprise characteristics

4.1.4. Availability of other health services

4.2. First aid in the context of the general organization of safety and health in the enterprise

(introduction...)

4.2.1. Occupational health services

4.2.2. Safety and health committees and safety delegates

4.2.3. The labour inspectorate

4.2.4. Other institutions

4.3. First-aid personnel

(introduction...)

4.3.1. Functional tasks

4.3.2. Type and number of first-aid personnel required

4.3.3. Advice to, and supervision of, first-aid personnel

4.4. The role of the occupational health physician or nurse

4.5. Equipment, supplies and facilities for first aid

(introduction...)

4.5.1. Rescue equipment

4.5.2. First-aid boxes, first-aid kits and similar containers

4.5.3. Specialized equipment and supplies

4.5.4. The first-aid room

4.5.5. Means for communicating the alert

4.6. Planning for access to additional care

4.7. Records

5. The training of first-aid personnel

5.1. General considerations

5.2. Basic training

(introduction...)

5.2.1. General

5.2.2. Delivery of first aid

5.3. Advanced training

5.4. Training material and institutions

5.5. Certification

6. Relation to other health-related services

Annexes

Annex I. Examples of first-aid legislation

1. New Zealand

2. United Kingdom

3. Federal Republic of Germany

Annex II. Be ready for emergencies1

Annex III. Rescue equipment: An example

Annex IV. First-aid boxes

1. Belgium

2. India

3. New Zealand

4. United Kingdom

Annex V. Antidotes: Some useful examples

Occupational Safety and Health Series

Back cover

3.2. Workers’ participation

Without full participation of the workers, first aid cannot be effective. Workers’ participation can take many forms, some of which are as follows:

Workers may need to cooperate in rescue and first-aid operations, if this is demanded by rescue or first-aid personnel or by occupational safety and health staff. They should, in particular, assist in transporting victims as required. Workers do not usually consider that such participation is beyond their duty.

All workers should be informed about first-aid arrangements. The employer should organize briefings for all workers. The following are essential parts of the briefing:

- the organization of first aid in the enterprise;
- colleagues who have been appointed as first-aid personnel;
- ways in which information about an accident should be communicated, and to whom;
- location of the first-aid box;
- location of the first-aid room;
- location of the rescue equipment;
- what the workers must do in case of an accident;
- location of the escape routes;
- workers’ actions following an accident;
- ways of supporting first-aid personnel in their task.

Written instructions about first aid, preferably in the form of posters, should be displayed by the employer at strategic places within the enterprise. Workers should read these instructions carefully and seek clarification if the information provided is unclear or seemingly inadequate. They should make suggestions, based on their knowledge of the workplace, as to what additional information may usefully be communicated to all workers.

Usually many workers are willing to be trained in first aid and to be registered or appointed as first-aid personnel. However, some have reasons not to do so because of their own health, or because of emotional problems when dealing with the casualty of an accident. The employer should explain to the workers the reasons why they are being selected for first aid. Persons selected have a right to insist that, if they are appointed, the employer must do whatever necessary to protect their health and safety from any hazards to which they may be exposed as first-aid personnel under conditions of higher, unusual or special risks.²

Workers should report any accident to which they are exposed, irrespective of how serious the injury seems to be at first sight. All employees should adopt safe behaviour standards at work, and make use of the information provided to them by the employer on occupational safety and health, including first aid, with a view to contributing to the prevention of future accidents.

Notes

¹ P. Barr“Le secourisme en milieu de travail”, in Cahiers de Notes Documentaires - Sritt hygi du travail (Paris), No. 96, 1979.

² For example, guidelines for AIDS and first aid in the workplace are being prepared by the World Health Organization in cooperation with the ILO. Editor’s note: Guidelines on AIDS and first aid in the workplace, WHO AIDS Series No. 7 (Geneva, WHO, 1990) has since been published.