Emergency medical care in the workplace — are you prepared?

Many people make the mistake of assuming that if they work in a low-risk office environment, serious workplace accidents and injuries are unlikely to affect them. In reality, there’s still a very good chance of a medical emergency taking place, even in a low-risk setting. Choking, a heart attack, stroke, or slipping and falling on a wet staircase can happen to anyone, anywhere. That’s why having qualified First Aiders on site to provide emergency medical care when needed is essential for every workplace – and a legal requirement.

In this article, we’ll clarify what the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993 and its Regulations require employers to provide in terms of emergency medical care in the workplace. We’ll also highlight some of the most common medical emergency preparedness mistakes we see companies making and provide guidance on what training and certification First Aiders need to achieve compliance.

What is emergency medical care in the workplace?

The ability and readiness to provide emergency medical care, or first aid, forms an essential aspect of your greater emergency response plan. For minor injuries, administering first aid on the spot might be all that’s required to patch up bruises, bumps, or scrapes. But in more serious scenarios – a heart attack or heavy bleeding, for example – first aid is a critical element in the chain of survival that can mean the difference between life, disability, and death.

In emergency medicine, we often talk about the concept of the ‘Golden Hour’. The Golden Hour principle states that the treatment a casualty receives in the first hour after sustaining an injury has a profound impact on their chances of survival and recovery. This means that administering lifesaving first aid while you wait for the emergency medical services to arrive is crucial.

To drive home just how important having trained First Aiders on site is, consider this example. One of your colleagues collapses at work. You can’t find a pulse – they’re in cardiac arrest. You immediately call an ambulance, but they’re going to take at least 30 minutes to arrive. Once a casualty’s heart stops beating, it only takes between six to ten minutes for irreversible brain damage to begin taking place. That means that you need to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within four to six minutes to prevent permanent disability, or worse, death. Without a trained First Aider on hand, your colleague’s chances of survival are slim.

What are the legal duties of employers in South Africa?

In South Africa, legal requirements relating to emergency response planning, evacuation planning, fire safety, and first aid are enforced by the OHS Act, local municipality bylaws, and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

General Safety Regulation 3 of the OHS Act stipulates that workplaces employing 10 or more people must have at least one qualified First Aider on staff for every group of 50 employees (that is, one First Aider if you have 10-50 employees, two if you have 51-100 employees, three if you have 101-150 employees, and so on). General Safety Regulation 3 also states that workplaces employing five or more people must have an easily accessible regulation first aid box on site (check the contents of your first aid kit against our First Aid Box Essentials Checklist) and display prominent signage indicating the location of the first aid box.

To satisfy OHS Act requirements, First Aiders need to carry a valid certificate in emergency medical care equal to the First Aid NQF Level 1 certificate. This certificate must be obtained from an accredited training provider that has been approved by the Chief Inspector, such as Absolute Health Services, and be renewed every three years.

Many employers don’t realise that the risks of failing to comply with the above OHS Act requirements aren’t limited to Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) fines or temporary business closure; employers can actually be held criminally liable and face prison time for non-compliance.

What training and certifications do First Aiders need?

To comply with the requirements set out in the OHS Act and the General Safety Regulations, First Aiders need to attend a First Aid NQF Level 1 course. This two-day course is the Gold Standard in first aid training and covers a broad base of emergency medical care, including performing CPR and treating choking, bleeding, burns, fractures, head injuries, spinal injuries, and more. Anyone can do a First Aid NQF Level 1 course, there are no entry requirements. 

Your first aid certification is valid for a period of three years. After that time, First Aiders need to renew their certificate by repeating the course. However, instead of simply repeating the same course, First Aiders have the option to progress to First Aid Level 1, 2 & 3 instead. This five-day course is more detailed and covers additional material like childbirth, triage, and drowning. First Aid Level 1, 2 & 3 is considered an exit-level first aid course and should be offered to Team Leaders, First Aid Co-ordinators, or any First Aider showing interest in expanding their skillset.

Common first aid emergency response planning mistakes.

Avoid falling prey to the following first aid-related mistakes when implementing your emergency response plan:

• Not understanding the legal requirements of the OHS Act: Employers must ensure that they meet the requirements of the OHS Act and its Regulations; ensuring that they have enough First Aiders on staff and the correct first aid equipment.

• Selecting the wrong people for first aid training: One of the biggest reasons that emergency response plans fail is that the wrong people have been put in health and safety roles. Don’t rush the selection process; ask interested employees to volunteer for first aid training and spend time with HR and Operations to determine who the right people for the role are. 

• Forgetting to renew first aid certifications: First aid certificates are only valid for a period of three years. Thereafter, First Aiders need to refresh their certification by re-attending the First Aid NQF Level 1 course (or up-skilling to First Aid Level 1, 2 & 3).

• Not ensuring even First Aider distribution: When employees move from one department to another, some buildings or areas of your organisation may suddenly find themselves without a First Aider, putting employees in these areas at higher risk. The health and safety team structure needs to be reviewed frequently to ensure even distribution across the entire organisation.

• Failing to affix prominent signage above first aid boxes: The best-stocked first aid box is useless if no one can find it during an emergency. Your first aid kit must have signage above it showing a green cross and a green arrow pointing downwards.

• Not using first aid box seals: Your first aid box should have a seal that gets broken when the first aid box is opened. When the Health and Safety Rep is completing their quarterly checks, they’re able to immediately see if the first aid box has been used or tampered with. They can then check the contents and restock the kit if necessary. 

• Locking the first aid box: Don’t ever put your first aid kit under lock and key, as someone who doesn’t know where the key is won’t be able to use the first aid box in an emergency.

• Fixing your first aid box to the wall: While first aid boxes should be mounted on a wall, they must also be easily removable and portable so that a First Aider can easily take the entire kit to the emergency scene or casualty.

• Failing to display First Aiders’ names and contact numbers on the first aid box: Always provide the name, extension number, and if possible, mobile number of the First Aider(s) in charge. In a medical emergency, the sooner a First Aider can be summoned, the sooner lifesaving emergency medical care can be administered.

• Not checking first aid boxes for expired supplies: Some first aid kit supplies, like ceramide solution and burnshields, carry expiry dates. It’s important to regularly check expiry dates and replace items where necessary.

Take the next steps to ensure that you’re prepared for a medical emergency at work.

Having a robust emergency response plan in place is both a moral and legal requirement for businesses in South Africa. If you’re concerned that your emergency readiness isn’t up to standard, don’t wait for a disaster to happen. Contact Absolute Health Services and let us help you identify and fill the gaps in your emergency response plan. 

Absolute Health Services is an accredited provider of legally mandated health and safety training, including First Aid NQF Level 1, First Aid Level 1, 2 & 3, Firefighting, Health & Safety Representative, Evacuation Planning, and more. Download our course schedule to check upcoming course dates and book your training.