We were thinking of having a stock of creams and tablets (all over the counter items) such as antihistamine cream/tablets, paracetamol, ibuprofen, cold and flu tablets/medicine, cough medicine.

The provision of these would be in a locked cupboard at the companies expense so they are not abused or taken home.

The first aiders would be told they do not administer any of these but if an employee would like them then they may open the cupboard allow the employee access and then re-lock it, each time the cupboard is accessed a log would be created.

My view is that these items are available from shops etc, without any medical advice being on hand. We are just providing them at our cost so an employee who may feel unwell can have access to these without keeping there own stock in there draw/locker or going off site to purchase them. So there is no real issue, I just wanted others opinion.

Thanks,

Richard

Tabs

The HSE discussion document would seam to raise a concern that first aiders are 'administrating' medication, while not objecting to employers providing the facility for employees to self administer.

I agree that first aiders should not administer medication, but they could be the custodian of they keys to a totally separate cabinet which they employee would then be able to self administer medication from. First Aiders often being the first point of call of an employee who feels unwell anyway.

The reasons are that on several occasions employees have been seen to go to the usual suspects to ask have you got this or that (medication wise) which was then shared out. I am not happy with this as it means employees having stocks of medication in draws which may be out of date and the giving this out to other employees.

Richard,

you will quickly find this is a very expensive option. Employees will will quickly realise they don't have to bother with the chemist as there is a stock on site and your paying for it. Add to this requirement to replace after it goes out of date and you are going to spend alot more than you may realise.

I have heard that on some work sites a coin operated dispensing machine had been installed (just like the cigarette machines in pubs).

Medicinal items were variously priced and no cost to the employer ensued because the machines were free from the supplier (the firm just had to buy the medicines from the supplier).

The first aider and diagnosis problems thus eliminated.

This is something to consider by all employers which is a very transparent and obvious way to show that the bosses take health (and safety) seriously.

Rich

Ok Richard - I like to go against the grain every once in a while so here goes.....

I think that as mature adults we have been applying nanny tactics on pharmaceuticals for too long. You indicate that controls to prevent rifling of the cupboard and OD on paracetomol would be reduced risk so it is a risk management question - why would you do this?

I live in an area where (thankfully) adders are found. I also suffer more than most from stings. Although I usually carry antihistamine but occasionally I forget. Your idea would assist me and save me from going to the local shops - and possibly worse.

I am sure that many others could suggest valid reasons why they take over the counter medicines and despite being aware and sensible - they occasionally forget to carry them.

There is nothing to force their 'self' application and a few simple checks would manage the risk of an incident properly (not eliminate I agree).

I'd be interested to hear some comments from this perspective - so we get a balanced view to judge.

Steve

If there is acknowledged as not involving risk as these are only things that we can all buy in the supermarket, then why do you consider it necessary to keep them in a locked cupboard?
Why not just offer them for sale in your canteen? These products do have shelf lives (fairly long) and keeping them locked out of sight won't make managing stock easy.
Just a little training required in the quantity allowed to be purchased by any one individual at any one time.

I don't see the difference between sale in a works canteen and sale in my local corner shop to be honest. We're talking GSL medicines here. "Serious Risk Assessment"? I think not.

That said, and to be clear, I wouldn't recommend to any employer that they would want to branch out into such 'corner shop' territory; not for any H&S concern, more on the basis that I just don't see the need.

The sale or supply of more than 100 tablets at any one time is restricted to prescription control. Therefore, the operator of a vending machine which allowed an individual to pay for and obtain more than 100 tablets in a single transaction would be in breach of the law".

The quote above [in brackets] was taken from that excellent link that Jay provided [thanks Jay] so I ask 'how do you control the situation noted above if people are allowed to be dispense their own amount noting that people sometimes do not use sound judgement?'

Apologies for not reading through all the responses so far but this has been dicussed before and I saved this link:

http://www.pharmweb.net/...armwebpicaworkplace.html

Very useful and worth a read.

Des

One of the key points here Steve is that the liabilities arising by way of sale (long established as a contract in law) are essentially more clearly defined than 'keeping and giving' as the OP suggests?