How do I conduct a risk assessment to choose the correct first aid kit?
Short Answer: Conducting a risk assessment is an important step in determining the hazards and potential injuries workers and visitors can suffer in the workplace. Through the assessment, you need to identify the real and potential hazards of a workplace and the number of employees in the workplace, as well as the likelihood and severity of the injuries caused by these hazards. In fact, the findings of the risk assessment directly influence your choice of first aid kits.
When looking into how risk assessments influence the selection of first aid kits, you must also consider the following:
● What workplace hazards should be identified first?
● How do injury likelihood and severity affect kit contents?
● Should historical incident data influence my decision?
● Can suppliers help align kits to my risk profile?
What workplace hazards should be identified first?
When conducting risk assessments, priority should be given to workplace hazards that pose an immediate threat to life, health, and safety. The exact hazard can change depending on the workplace, but it will nonetheless most likely be one or more of the following hazards:
● Fire and emergency hazards - blocked exits, improper storage of flammable materials, and faulty wiring
● Safety hazards (slips, trips, and falls)- wet floors, confined spaces, loose cables, working from heights, and unguarded machinery.
● Electrical hazards - Frayed cords, high-voltage electricity outputs, overloaded circuits, missing ground pins, etc.
How do injury likelihood and severity affect kit contents?
The likelihood and severity of injuries have a direct impact on the contents of the first aid kits. Workplaces are classified as low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk work environments based on the likelihood and severity of injury. Workplaces such as offices and retail stores are considered low-risk work environments, while construction sites, machine shops, and mines are high-risk work environments.
In a low-risk work environment, since the likelihood of serious injuries is low, first aid kits are smaller and tend to focus on everyday injuries such as minor cuts and bruises. As such, supplies such as adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, basic dressings, and other basic medical supplies.
On the other hand, in high-risk work environments, first aid kits are more comprehensive and will contain specialised supplies that can be used to treat more serious injuries. These include trauma dressings, tourniquets, splints, and more.
Furthermore, when specific injuries are high in a particular location, the appropriate supplies must be present. For example, when the risk of eye injuries is high, the first aid kits should have more eye pads and eye wash solutions. Alternatively, if the risks of burns are high, supplies such as burn dressings and petroleum jelly must be present in abundance.
Should historical incident data influence my decision?
Yes, historical data should absolutely influence your decision when selecting first aid kits for your workplace. When you take a look at historical data and review the records, you can see which areas and which activities caused the most injuries in your workplace.
Based on this information, you can take steps to remove the hazards that contribute to the injuries. On the other hand, if the hazard cannot be easily removed, you can make sure that the workers have the first aid supplies they need to effectively respond to an emergency whenever it occurs.
Can suppliers help align kits to my risk profile?
Yes, professional first aid kit supplies can help align your first aid kits to match with your risk profile. You can work with your suppliers to analyse workplace hazards and recommend specialised kits and supplies. The suppliers may have pre-built kits to deal with particular emergencies, such as burns, trauma, marine situations, etc. Alternatively, you can work with the suppliers to custom-build first aid kits, specially designed to deal with the hazards of your workplace.
To maintain alignment with the appropriate WHS standards, you can call on the supplier to come regularly inspect, clean, and restock your first aid kits. The suppliers can help make sure you never run out or have to use expired supplies. At the same time, should there be any changes to the guidelines, they can make the necessary changes, keeping your first aid kits compliant.
Q: How often should a first aid risk assessment be reviewed?
A first aid risk assessment should be reviewed at least once a year. You may also need to remove the assessment after a workplace change, after an incident, or when new equipment and processes are introduced.
Q: Who should be involved in a workplace first aid assessment?
Managers, safety officers, supervisors, and workers who are familiar with the day-to-day running of the company and workplace hazards must be involved in the risk assessment.
Conducting a proper first-aid risk assessment is one of the smartest ways to make sure that you are prepared to deal with all the hazards of your workplace and your first aid kits are properly fit for purpose. In real-world situations, generic first aid kits will hardly cut it. Instead, focusing on practical, compliant, and purpose-built first aid solutions is the way to go. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone.
If you’re looking to take the guesswork out of first aid preparation, then SURVIVAL is the first-aid partner for you. All our kits are designed for Australian conditions and will help you respond to emergencies calmly and effectively in a wide range of environments. If you want to make your workplace safe and prepared, then choose SURVIVAL.