Employers in South Africa must ensure that they take the appropriate steps in the workplace to ensure that employees receive quick and efficient first aid emergency care, particularly in the event of an injury or medical work emergency. Through educating their workforce on what is first aid, the importance of first aid training, and selecting a designated first aider, employers can ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all.
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What is First Aid: An Introduction
First Aid is described as giving help in the form of basic medical assistance to someone who is injured or ill and taking care of them until professional medical help arrives. South Africa has limited resources when it comes to accessing emergency services. Attending a first aid course and being able to assist a casualty with first aid treatment or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving skill that can have a positive impact in someone’s life if they are taken ill or become injured.
First Aid is important in the workplace as, according to the South African Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993, an employer has a responsibility to their employees’ health and safety as well as ensuring a safe working environment. Injuries, illness and even deaths occur every day in workplaces across South Africa. Apart from the legal compliance, there are numerous benefits to both employers and employees in having a trained first aider in the workplace: deaths from a choking situation, heart attacks or severe allergic reactions can be minimized; the severity of an injury can be reduced; legal action and reputation damage for the company can be reduced and employee absenteeism or productivity loss will be minimised.
Who Should Attend First Aid Training for The Workplace?
No prior learning is required for the First Aid NQF Level 1 course so most people can attend either in a private or work capacity. The course covers subjects ranging from scene safety and primary surveys, to assisting someone who is having breathing problems or suffering from a minor illness.
The difference between an appointed person and the first aider is as follows:
An appointed person does not necessarily need to be trained in first aid. They could just be responsible for overseeing the first aid kit or box and making sure that it is always fully stocked. A first aider has done an accredited first aid course and they are qualified to deal with any first aid emergency procedures.
The number of first aiders an employer needs depends on the number of employees in the company. Accredited first aid training of employees within all workplace environments is a legal requirement, and as per the OHS Act, a ratio of 1 first aider to 50 employees is a minimum. A risk assessment can be conducted to find out a company’s specific health and safety needs, and this would include their first aid requirements as well.
First aid requirements of a company can be determined by assessing the following criteria:
- What is the nature of the work involved;
- What are the specific workplace hazards and risks;
- How big is the workforce;
- What are the office hours;
- Is there any remote working involved;
- Does your company have a history of accidents, and if so what are they?
- Are any of the locations remote and far away from the emergency medical services;
- Are any of the office locations in a shared building;
- Is there a need to provide first-aid provision for non-employees;
How to Choose a CPR, AED & First Aid Certification Course
Absolute Health Services (AHS) offers accredited Health and Safety (H&S) training, ensuring that our clients receive current, professional and quality training.
All our training instructors are paramedics registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. They have extensive practical operational experience and have specialised in First Aid, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Firefighting and H&S training. Our First Aid training courses contain the latest theoretical course content and extensive practical and scenario training, thereby ensuring both theoretical and practical exposure.
Absolute Health Services team is committed to offering a professional, client-focused, high quality and cost-effective service.