What are my WHS obligations regarding first aid in the workplace?
Short Answer: Safe Work Australia is the entity responsible for developing workplace health and safety regulations in Australia. According to them, “As a person conducting a business of undertaking (PCBU), you have specific obligations relating to the provision of first aid at your workplace.” As such, Safe Work Australia has introduced various WHS regulations relating to first aid kits, first aid facilities, and first aiders.
To learn more about the WHS first aid requirements in Australia, we need to look at the following:
● Which WHS laws apply in my state or territory?
● How do I determine if my workplace is low or high risk?
● Are first aid officers mandatory under WHS?
● What documentation proves compliance during an inspection?
Which WHS laws apply in my state or territory?
In Australia, most states and territories have adopted the harmonised Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws based on the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The states and territories that have adopted the model laws are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory. However, Victoria is an exception, as it operates its own WHS system under the state Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
How do I determine if my workplace is low or high risk?
A first-aid risk assessment is needed to determine whether a workplace is a low-risk or high-risk work environment. According to Safe Work Australia, “A risk assessment will help you work out your first aid needs, like equipment, facilities and training.”
Under a first aid risk assessment, you must consider the type of work done in the workplace, as well as the hazards, size, and location of the workplace. Furthermore, your first aid needs can be influenced by the number of people in the workplace, including workers, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, and visitors.
Based on first aid risk assessments, offices, retail shops, libraries, educational facilities, and light-assembly areas are considered low-risk workplaces. On the other hand, construction sites, mining operations, logging sites, agriculture services, manufacturing, and emergency services are considered high-risk workplaces.
Are first aid officers mandatory under WHS?
Yes, first aid officers are mandatory in Australian workplaces under WHS regulations. According to Safe Work Australia, the first aid officers can be your own workers or other trained people.
Your first aiders must hold a nationally recognised certification awarded by a registered training organisation. These first aiders must attend regular training to keep their knowledge up to date. It also mentions that first aiders may need extra training when the following occurs:
● The workplace is remote or isolated.
● There are risks from dangerous substances like arsenic and cyanide.
● Specialist first aid equipment or a first aid room is needed.
● There are children in the workplace.
● There are identified psychological risks.
● The workers have pre-existing medical conditions that may need first aid.
The guidelines also call for first-aid officers at workplaces to wear high-visibility vests of a certain colour or display a first-aid contact number around the workplace to promote timely response and greater accessibility.
Safe Work Australia also specifies how many first aid officers a workplace may need. Accordingly, a workplace needs one first aid officer for:
● Every 50 workers in a low-risk workplace (e.g.,office)
● Every 25 workers in a high-risk workplace (e.g., construction site)
● Every 10 workers in a remote, high-risk workplace (e.g., mine)
What documentation proves compliance during an inspection?
The following documents can help prove your compliance during a first aid safety inspection:
● First aid risk assessment
● Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)
● Training and induction records
● Policies and procedures
● Incident reports and investigations
● Consultation records
● Maintenance and inspection records
● Licenses and certifications
These documents can be collectively used to show that your workplace has conducted a proper first aid risk assessment and has taken the proper steps to ensure proper workplace health and safety standards.
Related Questions
Q: How many first aid kits should your workplace have?
According to Safe Work Australia, you must have at least one first aid kit in your workplace. You need to consider having more if your workplace is spread out to ensure easy access. The first aid kits should be kept in locations that all workers can see and easily access, locations where the risk of injury is high, and inside work vehicles if workers have to travel for their jobs.
Q: How often should workplace first aid kits be checked?
Workplace first aid kits must be checked regularly (e.g., monthly or quarterly) to ensure that they are fully stocked, clean, and that the supplies have not been damaged or expired.
Conclusion
WHS regulations are put in place to ensure a safe work environment for all. From having the right equipment and supplies to trained professionals, each requirement helps reduce workplace risks and improve response time when an emergency occurs.
The quality of your first-aid kits and supplies is an important part of WHS regulations. If you want workplace first-aid kits that help you stay compliant, then SURVIVAL is your best friend. We’ve been building high-quality first-aid kits since 1988 as part of our mission to make safety simple, powerful, and accessible. Today, we are a global brand that people from all walks of life trust and rely on.
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