Posted By Is Kismet Could somebody provide a reference for guidance for first aid facilities in small/medium size retail premises please. It is not for the staff, I'm looking for guidance on first aid provision for retail customers. If you must comment on other topics related to this please, please, please; could you keep it practical, of common sense, pragmatic, and taking into account most small businesses do NOT have unlimited resources. Thank you.

Posted By DP I have e mailed you direct. Regards.

Posted By Ron Hunter Are you a member of a local trade organisation/association and are you in an area with multiple retail outlets? If so, I suggest that there is increased opportunity for a collaborative approach to resource a range of 'First Aid' responses, up to and including defibrillator kits (with people trained to use them). Otherwise, my 'take' on this is that your obligation is moral as opposed to legal, and that anything over and above providing sticking plasters to 'joe public'(and yes, we have to ask if they're allergic) will involve you in some expense in providing training (e.g. via St Andrews Ambulance Service), even if it's only paid time off for staff to attend. You seem like the kind of person who will not be infuenced by the sorry-minded 'litigation avoidance' approach and I applaud you for considering making some investment in perhaps keeping one of your customers alive until such time as professional help arrives - this is after all the reason for First Aid.

Posted By Safetynut as far as i am aware there are no legal responsibilities to non – employees, such as customers, however it is recommended that you include them within your first aid provision. consider moral duty of care owed to the customer.

Posted By JF Whatever happpened to duty of care, and those that may be affected by your business ?

Posted By Safetynut i have emailed you direct some info that maybe of some use to you

Posted By Is Kismet Many thanks Safetynut. I didn't know that document existed and it answers the legal questions very nicely. The next 'specifically related' question is does anybody know of any guidance for first aid provision in small to medium size retail premises?

Posted By garyOrange Is We have numerous stores located across the country and you are correct that the legislation covering first aid extends to the employer/employee relationship. There is no legislation that requires retail stores to provide fist aid to customers. However, from a local policy point of view we as an organisation understand that customers may have an accident in our retail stores and that the accident may be due to our undertaking. We therefore instruct our first aid trained staff to offer first aid assistance to members of the public or call an ambulance if requested and a record is made on our electronic reporting system. We insist that a minimum of two members of staff are first aid trained unless we are located in a shopping centre or similar building and the centre provides a first aid facility such as security guards etc. Although you are not legally required to provide first aid any EHO will expect that you have a plan in place to deal with emergencies and that staff have receieved some induction in how to implement it. That may extend to only calling an ambulance. Hope this helps Gary

Posted By Is Kismet Thank you Gary & John, for your responses, both accord with my feelings on the provisions required. Reference on the document is: www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/live.htm I have enough information to work on now, many thanks for all the inputs.

Posted By Is Kismet This is a better reference. http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/disdocs/dde21.pdf