1. OSH 1252
FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY PLANNING
CHAPTER 1:
FIRST AID AT THE
WORKPLACE
2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the topic, students should be able
to:
Define the terms ‘first aid’ and ‘first aider’
Identify the aims of first aid
Describe the duties of first aider
Describe 4 major components of workplace first aid
Explain the correct communication skills while treat the
casualty
Describe the principles of standard precautions
3. DEFINITION
• Immediate treatment or care given to a
victim of an accident or sudden illness
before qualified health personnel attend to
provide treatment.
First
aid
• A person who has successfully completed a
first-aid course and has been awarded with
a certificate of proficiency in first-aid by
nationally accredited institution
First
aider
4. AIMS OF FIRST AID
Preserve life
Prevent illness
or injury from
becoming worse
Reduce pain
Promote
recovery
Care of
unconscious
5. FIRST AID AT WORKPLACE
• First aid in the workplace includes the
provision of first-aid facilities, services and
personnel required for the initial treatment of
persons suffering from injury or illness at a
workplace.
6. First-aid facilities includes
• first-aid box
• first-aid room
• first-aid equipment, e.g. oxygen tanks and
stretchers
First-aid services means any procedure or method
associated with the provision of first-aid at the
workplace
7. LEGAL PROVISION
An employer has a duty to provide information,
instruction, training and supervision about first
aid facilities and services for employees.
The Factories and Machinery Act 1967
Section 25 of the Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(Act 139) and Regulation 38 of the Factories and
Machinery (Safety, Health and Welfare)
Regulations 1970 state the scope of responsibility
of an occupier with regards to first-aid provision.
8. The scope includes:
• providing and maintaining a first-aid box or
cupboard of such standard as may be prescribed and
ensuring the box is readily accessible at all times
• assigning the responsibility to upkeep a first-aid box
or cupboard to a responsible person, and for a
factory with more than 20 person employed,
specifying that the responsible person should be
proficient in first-aid treatment
• providing and maintaining a first-aid room in a
factory where more than 150 person are employed
9. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994
Section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act 1994 (Act 514) provides that every
employer and the self-employed person must
ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health
and welfare at work of all his employees.
11. FIRST AIDER
When deciding on the number of first-aiders, first-
aid box, first-aid room and first-aid equipment for
the workplace, the following factors should be
considered:
• type of industry
• number of workers
• number of work shifts
• location of workplace and status of infrastructure
in relation to the nearest medical clinic or
hospital
13. Provision of Information About First-Aiders
• An employer should display a notice, in a prominent
place in the work-site, of the names and locations of
first-aiders.
Selection
An employer shall recruit or select suitable persons to
go for first-aid training.
• physically fit
• free from blood borne infectious diseases, e.g.
Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS
• free to leave their work immediately to respond to an
emergency
14. Training
• Recognised Course
• The Need for Refresher Training
First-aiders need to undergo a recognized once
every three (3) years.
• Training Record
The employers should keep a record of the dates
on which first-aiders obtained their training and
the dates on which they received refresher
training.
15. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIRST AIDER
•Give immediate first-aid treatment
•Arrange without delay for the injured worker(s) to be sent to a
doctor, hospital or home, according to the seriousness of this
condition
•The first-aider’s responsibility ends when the casualties are handed
over to the care of health care personnel.
Management of
casualty
• A record of the casualty and treatment given by the
first-aider should be made and this record shall be
kept by the employer for a period of 5 years.
Maintenance of
Treatment Record
• To update first aid box.
Responsibilities for
Maintenance of First-
Aid Requirement –
first aid box
16. FIRST AID BOX
Design
made of sturdy material, portable & clearly marked
Location
placed in a clearly identifiable, well-illuminated and
accessible location
where a workplace covers a large area, an adequate
number of first-aid boxes should be provided
kept locked and the key kept by responsible person
available during all working hours
employees should be informed of the location of all
first aid boxes
17. Contents
• contain a sufficient quantity of suitable first-aid
materials
• should not contain oral medication of any kind
other than those required for first-aid treatment
18.
19. FIRST AID ROOM
A first-aid room should be provided where
there are more than 150 employees in the
workplace.
• should be large enough to hold a couch and
still have space for people to move about
• should have emergency lighting in the room
20. Location
• proximity to shower for cleaning or
decontamination purposes
• main passageways which are wide enough to
allow a stretcher or wheelchair through
• accessibility to work areas
• accessibility to car park, so as to facilitate
transfer of the injured person to an ambulance
21.
22. COMMUNICATION
• Communication and personal interaction with
the patient, bystanders, and co-workers is an
essential part of first aid. How the First Aider
communicates and interacts with the patient,
helpers, or medical aid may greatly determine
the effectiveness of first aid.
23. GOOD COMMUNICATION AND
PERSONAL INTERACTION SKILLS
Be calm and reassuring.
Use the patient’s name and
establish personal interaction
by looking him or her straight
in the eye.
Use language that the patient
can understand and always
speak clearly and slowly.
Explain what you are going to
do and reassure the patient
as you carry out each
procedure.
24. Providing there is no immediate
life-threatening condition, allow
enough time for the patient to
respond to your questions.
Use appropriate body language.
This includes good eye contact
and a non-threatening posture.
A reassuring pat on the hand or
shoulder will often go a long
way to calm the anxious patient.
Avoid being coldly detached or
becoming angry or irritated with
the patient. Keep own emotions
under control.
25. Communication With Patient
Getting permission to give care: People have the
legal right to accept or refuse emergency care.
Therefore, before giving care to an injured or ill
person, you must obtain the person’s permission.
• Expressed consent - conscious
• Implied consent - unconscious
26. Communication with Patient
Talk to the patient frequently, explaining
procedures in advance when the
patient’s help or co-operation is
required or movements are to be
avoided.
Tell the patient if a required procedure
may be painful (e.g., traction) and
explain why it is necessary. This can help
eliminate unpleasant surprises for the
patient and reduce aggravation of
existing injuries when moving parts of
the patient’s body where pain might be
felt or resistance met.
27. Communication with Helpers
• The scene of an accident is very stressful for helpers and
bystanders. A calm, reassuring, and positive attitude on the
part of the First Aider will help to relax helpers and gain their
co-operation.
• The First Aider must give clear and concise directions to the
helpers regarding:
Assisting in ongoing first aid procedures
Controlling the scene (e.g., traffic control, equipment safety)
Bringing required equipment
Summoning medical aid (e.g., an ambulance)
28. Communication with Medical Aid
• The Attendant will be required to transfer the
patient to the next level of medical care. This
could be ambulance attendants or medical
staff in hospital emergency departments.
29. • The Attendant must provide patient information to this
next level of care.
Description and time of the injury
Mechanism of injury
Patient’s chief complaint(s)
Associated symptoms
Initial patient vital signs
Patient’s past medical history, medications, allergies
Initial findings on physical examination
Suspected diagnoses
Treatment provided
Last set of vital signs and time
Last findings on physical examination and time
30. Standard Precautions
A set of guidelines that assist first aiders to
protect themselves from accidental
exposure to transmittal disease during the
provision of first aid.
• Wear gloves whenever there is the potential for
contact with blood or other body fluids.
• Wash hands or other skin surfaces thoroughly
with soap and water if they are contaminated
with blood or other body fluids.
31. • Wash eyes with running water if they are splashed with
blood or body fluids.
• Avoid accidental injuries, e.g. cuts from broken glass.
• Encourage the casualty to treat themselves where
possible. E.g. the casualty may be able to apply direct
pressure to their own bleeding wound.
• Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where
available, e.g. gloves, face shields, masks and goggles.
• Dispose of waste materials and sharps appropriately.
