If you’re thinking of volunteering to become a First Aider at your workplace, you’re probably keen to understand exactly what the health and safety duties of a First Aider entail. You may be worried that joining your workplace health and safety team will require you to work overtime (don’t worry, it won’t!) or put you under extra stress. Actually, being a First Aider at work can be a rewarding and gratifying experience, especially if the idea of being a vital element of ‘safety at work’ sparks your interest.
In this article, we’ll outline a First Aider’s responsibilities as laid out by the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and provide additional insights into what you can expect on a day-to-day basis when you don the fluorescent First Aider bib.
What does the OHS Act say?
According to the OHS Act, any workplace employing more than 10 people is required to have a trained First Aider available on site during normal working hours. Thereafter, employers must appoint one First Aider per 100 employees in low-risk environments like offices and shops, and one First Aider per 50 employees in all other environments (factories, warehouses, construction, etc.). This means that, depending on the size and risk-profile of your organisation, you might be the sole First Aider on the team, or one of several.
The Act further stipulates that First Aiders must hold a valid certificate in first aid from an accredited occupational health and safety training provider approved by the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL).
First Aiders are legally required to attend accredited first aid training.
To comply with the requirements of the OHS Act, a First Aider must attend a first aid course run by a DoEL-approved provider like First Aid, Fire, and Safety Training. Our two-day First Aid NQF Level 1 course is a comprehensive, hands-on course suitable for First Aiders across all industries. The course includes theoretical and practical elements, and covers the following:
- Principles of first aid
- Legal aspects of first aid
- Scene safety
- Positioning, anatomy, and physiology
- Scene survey and casualty assessment
- CPR and choking
- Shock and fainting
- Bleeding, wounds, and burns
- Fractures, sprains, and strains
- Head, spinal, chest, and abdominal injuries
- Environmental emergencies, bites, stings, and poisoning
- Medical emergencies (heart attack, stroke, diabetes, epilepsy)
- Triage and record keeping
What are the key First Aider responsibilities?
As a First Aider, your health and safety duties should include the following:
- Attending first aid training
- Being prepared to administer first aid during normal working hours
- Ensuring that first aid boxes are available on site and properly safeguarded
- Ensuring that the locations of first aid boxes are clearly demarcated with conspicuous health and safety signage
- Regularly checking the contents of first aid boxes against a regulation inventory list and restocking/replacing items when necessary
- Ensuring that your name and contact details, as well as the names and contact details of other First Aiders, are displayed on first aid boxes
- Assisting with completing incident and accident reports and records
- Participating in fire and evacuation drills as part of the wider Health & Safety Team
- Attending quarterly Health & Safety Committee meetings
- Ensuring that your first aid certificate remains valid and notifying the Health & Safety Officer/HR Manager when you need to refresh your certification by attending additional training
It’s important to note that none of the abovementioned health and safety duties and responsibilities may be performed outside of normal working hours, including attending first aid training. Becoming a First Aider will not require you to work overtime.
Are First Aiders legally required to act in an emergency?
There is no actual legal obligation for an individual to render first aid to another individual. However, if you are formally appointed as a First Aider at work, and hold a signed appointment letter to that effect, you may have a legal duty to act should an emergency take place at your workplace.
It’s also worth mentioning the ‘Good Samaritan Law’. This principle protects individuals who voluntarily assist others in emergency situations from being sued or held legally liable for unintentional harm they may cause while helping.
Is becoming a First Aider right for you?
If you care about workplace health and safety and enjoy helping others, then volunteering to become a First Aider at work could be an excellent choice. Anyone can learn first aid — although it helps if you aren’t squeamish around blood and have the ability to stay calm during emergencies.
At the end of the day, first aid is an invaluable life skill that everyone should have. After all, medical emergencies and accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone, including to your friends, family, or even a complete stranger in public. Research shows that receiving quality first aid significantly improves a casualty’s chances of survival and making a full recovery. In short, first aid really does save lives.
Want to find out more about first aid training? Take a look at our First Aid NQF Level 1 course or contact us to make a booking.
