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Employee with virus faints at work, is this an accident?
Rank: Forum user
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Scenario......
Employee at work faints while standing at her desk. Does not injure herself and reports immediately that there were no work related contributory factors. The next day she is diagnosed with a virus. Does this need to recorded as an accident? My opinion is legally it doesn't but company policy may state it needs to be?
Thoughts please
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Rank: Forum user
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It is an illness which isn't work related. I would expect the first aider to make comprehensive notes but not record it as an accident. Graham
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Rank: Forum user
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First off, as you say, check the company policy.
Secondly, I would class it as an accident/incident in that it was unplanned and had the potential to cause some harm, so I would put something in the accident book.
Pretty sure there's nothing in RIDDOR related to fainting, but then there have been a few changes to RIDDOR recently, so I may be wrong there!
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Rank: Forum user
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Agree you don't have to record as they didn't injure themselves but could be classed as a "near miss incident"
At the place I work we record ill health as a separate category on out incident form as we have a fair few members of the public feeling unwell either due to previous medical conditions or from drug or alcohol intake. It means we can keep note of the offices where additional security measures may be required (as people attending also tend to be quite volatile and, given the nature of the work undertaken by our staff can become aggressive). I do record if it's a staff member and if they are off for >7 days look at whether they will require any assistance when they return to work e.g. adaptation to their working environment or tasks undertaken but that's more for an occupational health point of view.
If in doubt, record and that way if it does come back at a later date you have something in writing at your end.
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Rank: Super forum user
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gt wrote: I would expect the first aider to make comprehensive notes Why?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Presumably because making such notes is something first aiders are advised to do during their training. The reason given for this is so they can justify what they did if there are any complaints afterwards.
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Rank: Forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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What First Aid (FA)? There is no mention of FA!
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Rank: Super forum user
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SP900308 wrote:What First Aid (FA)? There is no mention of FA! So someone collapses at work and you think no first-aider was involved? If that's really the case, I think that needs investigating. If anyone collapsed unconscious in my workplace I would expect first-aider involvement. If it didn't happen, I'd be investigating that at least as seriously as investigating whatever led to the collapse.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I was stating a fact and not making an assumption!
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Rank: Super forum user
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..... a good starting place for said investigation.
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Employee with virus faints at work, is this an accident?
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