Posted By Adrian Watson Dear Allan, These regulations require that an employer shall provide or ensure that there is provided, such number of suitable persons as is adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for rendering first aid at work to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work. If your employer, ensures that provision is made through the client, - no problem; but if your men are working at night with only a security guard present and there is a risk of injury, etc, then you have a serious problem. I suggest that all persons who will work onsite are trained in the ABC of first aid and that you have a suitable number of fully trained first aiders for circumstances when the client has not made provision. Regards Adrian Watson.

Posted By Ken Taylor So what do you do where the client requires your company to provide it's own first-aid cover - turn down the contract? I don't know what services you provide, but we require contractors to make their own provision and record this fact.

Posted By Stuart Nagle Allan. 1) If your employees are injured at work, they do not need to be first aiders or appointed persons to administer first aid to themselves for any peronal injuries. 2) Are first aid kits carried on ALL of your vehicles. Is there an insurance requirement for this to be implemented? If so there may be an implicit training requirement also !! 3) What are the clients conditions of contract in respect of the operation and implementaion of health and safety by their contractors. I would would suspect that contractors have to complete a health and safety questionnaire and submit relevant details to the client. Does this include a section on first aid provision/arrangement by the contractor, or state that the client shall provide first aid to persons on thier sites, or is there a non-contractual agreement (not binding) that the client will do so as their discretion? 4) If mobile work is involved, as seems the case, are employees required to work on un-manned' sites, alone or where there is little or no provision for first aid cover? Again, here there may be a need for first aid kits to be available and again an implicit requirement for training... 5) How many persons does your organisation employ? is it necessary to have first aiders at your workplace? if so, why is cover not provided to ALL employees, as is their right!! Irrespective of whether they are working on other premises. Where there is no contractual agreement to provide first aid by the client, any discretionary agreement or no agreement at all would not I feel meet the duty of care incumbent on the employer to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all their employees!! What exactly are the first aid arrangements of the client. Have your staff been inducted/trained by the client in their system for dealijng with these issues?