7Newswire
16 Sep 2021, 19:12 GMT+10
Accidents don't give a warning before they happen, so it's always a good idea to be prepared in the event of a minor emergency with all the tools that could be required.
Having a dedicated workplace first aid cabinet is a great way to do this and ensures your business is compliant with all the relevant health and safety legislation.
What is the importance of a first aid cabinet?
Legal duty
It is a legal duty of employers to have arrangements in place for administering first aid to staff. The Health and Safety Regulations 1981 require all employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment to ensure that employees receive immediate attention if they are taken ill or are injured at work - preventing minor injuries from becoming major ones and possibly saving lives.
To find out which kind of equipment you should keep on site, you will need to carry out a first aid assessment. This should take into account the type and level of hazards, the workplace environment and the number of employees.
Better workplace environment
Creating a healthy workplace atmosphere is also important, no matter which business you are in. Providing first aid training courses and a fully stocked first aid cabinet to your employees shows that you care.
Not to mention that employees trained in first aid would understand the steps to take during an emergency and respond quickly. This faster response is key in an emergency and can help to save lives.
Security
Keeping your dedicated first aid cabinet well-stocked and within accessible reach to workers can help them feel safe and secure when working.
Training in first aid will also teach workers how to use first aid kits properly and to remain calm during an emergency. These abilities are necessary for providing first aid to others and could also help buy time before help arrives for workers who work alone or in small groups.
Reducing the severity of injuries
Even for non-fatal injuries, the severity and recovery period can be reduced by administering first aid and this can only be done with the correct equipment.
There are many instances where a fast response could make the difference between life and death - such as a severe allergic reaction - and so having a dedicated workplace first aid cabinet with an epi-pen could save someone's life while the emergency services arrive.
What should a first cabinet include?
Your work's first aid cabinet's contents should be guided by your assessment of the potential risks in your particular working environment. But it should contain all the basic, necessary equipment needed to treat superficial injuries that don't require emergency attention and to provide initial care for more serious incidents while you wait for emergency assistance. This includes:
Of course, the list of items that you could include in your first aid kit is endless, especially taking into account the type of workplace where the kit will be stored and the age range of people most likely to use it.
You could even purchase a basic first aid kit from a chemist and add personal items to it as you wish from prescription medication to anti-allergy shots. This way you can create your own specialised first cabinet that is tailored to your workplace.
Author Bio: First Mats started life as safety matting specialists, but have since expanded to become a complete industrial and commercial supplies company. The focus of First Mats is to provide safety-focused products that improve the wellbeing of staff through quality approved products, backed up by extensive knowledge. www.firstmats.co.uk
Get a daily dose of Austin Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Austin Globe.
More InformationLONDON, U.K.: This week, BP appointed Simon Henry, former Shell finance chief, to its board as a non-executive director effective September...
OTTAWA, Canada: With Canada Post struggling to maintain operations amid labour unrest, rivals like FedEx and UPS are stepping in to...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. and global markets showed a mixed performance in Tuesday's trading session, with some indices edging higher...
PARIS, France: French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a covert campaign to damage the reputation...
NEW DELHI, India: Birkenstock is stepping up its efforts to protect its iconic sandals in India, as local legal representatives conducted...
HONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Elon Musk's entry into the political arena is drawing pushback from top U.S. officials and investors, as his decision...
(Photo credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) After a week of angst that saw them fall out of first place in the American League East,...
Grand Prairie [Texas], July 9 (ANI): In an unfortunate turn of events, Qualifier 1 of the 2025 edition of Major League Cricket (MLC)...
(Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and two RBIs, Davis Schneider homered and Chris...
(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images) Washington and Kelly Olynyk barely got to know one another, as the Wizards dealt the newly...
(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images) Los Angeles FC has played just 17 matches this season while all six teams ahead of...