Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Azza  
#1 Posted : 24 September 2013 13:34:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Azza

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
gt  
#2 Posted : 24 September 2013 14:09:43(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
gt

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
andrewcl  
#3 Posted : 24 September 2013 14:26:35(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
andrewcl

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!
Melrose80086  
#4 Posted : 24 September 2013 14:33:47(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Melrose80086

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.
Ron Hunter  
#5 Posted : 24 September 2013 22:48:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

gt wrote:
I would expect the first aider to make comprehensive notes


Why?
Kate  
#6 Posted : 25 September 2013 06:03:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

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.
gt  
#7 Posted : 25 September 2013 13:31:54(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
gt

What Kate said.

Graham
SP900308  
#8 Posted : 25 September 2013 13:39:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SP900308

What First Aid (FA)? There is no mention of FA!
achrn  
#9 Posted : 25 September 2013 14:32:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

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.
SP900308  
#10 Posted : 25 September 2013 14:53:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SP900308

I was stating a fact and not making an assumption!
SP900308  
#11 Posted : 25 September 2013 14:55:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SP900308

..... a good starting place for said investigation.
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.