Posted By Brando
All,

I don't have a copy of the ACOP on this one and the free stuff on the HSE site is not helping.I know what I think but would appreciate some help...

My current site has a first aid room - well set up and stocked. You can reach the room from anywhere on site within say 4 mins maximum ( making it 8 mins if you need to go to the room grab some stuff and return to someone ).

There are no first aid kits - the previous manager had them withdrawn because of theft issues.

The site is a low risk warehouse environment - most injuries are minor cuts etc.

So my question - is a well stocked first aid room within easy reach a substitute for first aid boxes or are first aid boxes a legal must have?

Oh - by the way we have about 400 hundred people at any one time and the first aid room is locked with a key code!!!

Brando

Posted By Steve Derby
Brando

I also don't have my ACOP/guidance to hand, but I had exactly the same scenario at a previous Company.

We set up first aid stations, on them were a kitted first aid box with a seal on it and alongside we put some of those plasters that pull out without the backing. Each one was under the supervision of a named first aider.

It seemed to work well, the first aiders didn't like "their" kits being tampered with so a bit of peer pressure eliminated much of the thefts, along side the controls outlined above.

Unless you issue your first aiders with gloves and resuscitation aid to carry at all times, 8 minutes (4 there 4 back) is a huge time lapse before PPE arrives at scene if someone has a cardiac arrest (worst case scenario I know, but it happens).

Hope this is helpful

Steve