Future Performance Training
To ensure legislation and safety on premises. Organisations are governed by the following legislation that covers First Aid:
- OHASA (National Occupational Health and Safety Act.)
- This outlines the standard of policy and procedures to be implemented to ensure safety of guests and employees. For example:
- It is expected that there should be one qualified First Aider on the premises for every 50 people in an area.
- Monthly inspections are done internally to ensure compliance to the Occupational Health and Safety Act in terms of first aid, fire safety and equipment, etc.
Local council annually do inspection to ensure compliance
Suggested
practices It is
recommended that all staff are trained in basic First Aid. If this is not possible at least some staff
should be identified in accordance with legislation to be trained as First
Aid representatives. First Aid
programmes Follow the
guidelines below to develop a First Aid programme: Step Action 1. Take all
reasonable steps that are necessary under the circumstances, to ensure that
persons at work receive prompt first aid treatment in case of injury or
emergency. 2. Where more
than five employees are employed at a workplace, provide a first aid box or
boxes at or near the workplace, which must be available and accessible for
the treatment of injured persons at that workplace. (Refer to section 4.3) 3. Taking into
account the type of injuries that are likely to occur at a workplace, the
nature of the activities performed and the number of employees employed at
such workplace, the employer shall make sure that the first aid box or boxes
contemplated in subregulation contain suitable first aid equipment. 4. Where more
than 10 employees are employed at a workplace, take steps to ensure that for
every group of up to 50, a minimum of one qualified first aid representative
is available at that workplace, or shop / office as documented in the basic
Conditions of Employment Act, 1983 (Act No. 3 of 1983). For every group of up to 100 employees
ensure that at least one person is readily available during normal working
hours, and in possession of a valid certificate of competency in fist aid,
issued by – the SA Red
Cross Society the St John
Ambulance Foundation the SA
First Aid League any other
registered organization 5. At a
workplace where a high-risk substance or toxic, corrosive or similar
hazardous substances are used, handled, processed or manufactured ensure that
the first aid worker as documented in subregulation (4) is trained in the
first aid procedures that are necessary for the treatment of injuries that
may result from such activities including the acute detrimental effects of
exposure to such substances, and in the emergency procedures which are
necessary in the case of accidental leakage or dumping of such substances 6. Affix a
prominent notice or sign in a conspicuous place at a workplace, indicating
where the first aid box or boxes are kept as well as the name of the person
in charge of such first aid box or boxes. 7. An employee
with an open wound, cut, sore or any similar injury who works in a workplace
where a substance as documented in subregulation (5) is used, handled,
processed or manufactured, shall immediately report such injury to his
employer. The employee may not continue to work until the injury has been
cleaned with soap and water or with a diluted disinfectant and dressed. 8. Where an
employee is exposed or can be exposed to a potential hazards of injury to the
eye through contact with a biological or chemical substance, make sure that
there is an eye-wash fountain in the immediate vicinity of the workplace and
that employees are trained in the use thereof. 9. Where an
employee at a workplace is exposed or can be exposed to a potential hazard of
injury to or adsorption through the skin as a result of sudden contact with a
large amount of toxic, corrosive, high risk or similar hazardous substance,
make sure that there is a fast-reacting deluge-shower with clean water or a
similar facility in the immediate vicinity of the workplace and that the employee
is trained in the use thereof. Procedures It is
required in a organisation that all emergency situations must be reported and
documented as follows: Step Action 1. Once the
emergency is over, complete the “Accident Report” form and IOD with your Head
of Department / Personnel Manager / safety and Loss Control Manager. 2. Provide as
much detail as possible describing details such as: Importance The
following critical documentation is required for record purposes in the event
of legal implications and comebacks: Accident Report Forms and Injured on Duty Form (WCL 2)– both need
to be completed in the event of injury, etc and every detail must be recorded
i.e. the guest slipped and fell on the left hand side injuring the knee. Inspection Certificates of
internal and external inspection done on Safety and Security, Health and
Hygiene compliance’s. Schedules of First Aid representatives training and certification.