A DRAFT FIRST AID POLICY

………………………………………………LIMITED

First
Aid
Policy

Prepared by
P.B.S. KUMAR
MANAGER-HR

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 A DRAFT FIRST AID POLICY

INTRODUCTION

The First Aid policy has been developed in order to meet the requirements of
the “(Write Name of your Organisation)”, outlined in the Code of Practice –
First Aid in the Workplace , and to ensure that employees are provided with an
awareness of safety issues and first aid skills as part of their personality
development.

1. ALL EMPLOYEES

1.1 The Safety Committees' approach towards health and safety is primarily
one of prevention.

1.2 Adequate training and resources are to be provided to effectively deliver

first aid in the event of sudden illness or injury to employees.

1.3 Effective first aid should be available to all employees who need it.

1.4 First aid is to be a part of a comprehensive health education program for

employees as outlined in the Personality Development Framework: P-10

2. PURPOSE

2.1 To ensure that workplaces are supplied with the resources and training
necessary to provide effective initial treatment in the event of sudden
illness or injury to employees.

2.2 To encourage preventative measures which include the development of

procedures to minimise emergency situations and to promote safety
awareness.

2.3 To provide all employees with an awareness of safety issues and first aid
skills within the context of a comprehensive health education.

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3. DEFINITIONS

3.1 First aid is defined as emergency treatment and life support provided to
Employees, and visitors who suffer injury or illness while at workplace.

3.2 A comprehensive health education program is one which includes

individual issues such as first aid within the context of a broad health
framework. Such a program should empower employees by providing a
range of information and skills so that they may act in a considered and
responsible way in regard to their own and others’ health and safety.

4. PROCEDURES

4.1 Operations

This policy should be read in conjunction with the Future Reference to all
Employees .

> Employees Health covers the following:

• First Aid – Duty of Care

• First Aid Suggestions
• Contents of the First Aid Cabinet
• Portable First Aid Equipment
• First Aid Organisations
• Medical Services – General
• Medical Examinations
• Infectious Diseases in
• AIDS/HIV Infection
• Contagious Disorders
• Employees with Chronic Illnesses
• Medication
• Cleaning up Accidental Blood Spills

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5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

5.1 The Chairman of the Safety Committee is responsible for ensuring that:

(i) funding is made available for the training of first aiders according to the
formula in Appendix A.

(ii) all officially designated first aiders are provided with immunisation
against Hepatitis B as requested.

5.2 The Safety Committee Members and Managers shall ensure that: -

5.2.1 There is a minimum of one first aider available to assist injured or

ill persons. This person shall be trained to a competent level that
covers all first aid requirements (see Appendix B).

5.2.2 A first-aider shall be available:

(i) At the workplace during normal working hours (shift wise)

(ii) At other times when authorised programs are being conducted unless
appropriate safety requirements are provided as detailed in the -
Appendix B.
5.2.3 Appropriate first aid kits, supplies and equipment are provided.
5.2.4 All staff are aware of the first aid procedures and location of resources.
5.2.5 Adequate hygiene practices are used.
5.2.6 Means are available to contact emergency services in the event of sole
occupancy, for example a cleaner or staff member working late.
5.2.7 The need for a time allowance for first-aiders to perform their duties be
addressed by the Personnel Manager.

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5.3 The Family members are to ensure that they:-

5.3.1 keep the information of current medical contact details concerning

employee
5.3.2 keep the information of current medical condition and
appropriate history of employee.
5.3.3 inform in by phone or through messenger of any prescribed medication
that employees need to take in working hours. Where medication is
required in spontaneous situations, detailed administration instructions
should be provided as per the instruction of the Medical Professional.

5.4 First Aiders

5.4.1 Notwithstanding the duty of care of first aiders, the treatment of illness
and/or injury should be limited to those areas in which the person has
received recognised training.

5.4.2 Designated first aiders shall be responsible for: -

• administering the sick bay and its contents;

• monitoring patients according to their condition;
• recording all first aid treatment. A copy of treatment provided shall
be forwarded with the patient where further assistance is sought. The
firstaider should respect the confidential nature of any information
given.
• reporting any considered hazard to the appropriate workplace
Occupational Health and Safety representative and Manager;
• ensuring that the first aid resource poster is clearly displayed and
updated regularly (Appendix C).

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6 FIRST AID FACILITIES

6.1 First Aid Room

6.1.1 Where the workplaces have a first aid room it should be located to
provide easy access to injured persons. It should be well illuminated,
ventilated and clearly identified (see appendix C).

6.1.2 The following items are the minimum requirements when establishing
a first aid room:

• easy access for a stretcher or wheelchair

• access to a sink or washbasin
• electric power points
• couch or bed with blankets and pillows
• arm chair
• stretcher
• telephone access
• red light above the outside door
• an emergency bell

6.1.3 Workplaces with more than 100 employees will have a first aid room.

6.1.4 Workplaces without a first aid room should provide a first aid area
(‘sick bay’) for ill or injured people to rest. These areas should meet as
many as possible of the minimum requirements for first aid rooms.

6.1.4 All employees should be advised of the location of the first aid
room/area.

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6.2 First Aid Kits

6.2.1 Minimum requirements for First Aid Kits are: -

One major First Aid Kit at the sick bay.

6.2.2 The location, content and number of other First Aid Kits shall be
determined having regard to: -

• Number of Departments / Sections

• The number of Employees using the area
• The nature of hazards
• The frequency and types of accidents
• Authorised after hours programs or shift work

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A Establishing the number of First Aiders required

APPENDIX B Guidelines for First Aid Training

APPENDIX C Resource List

APPENDIX D First Aid Poster

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APPENDIX A

ESTABLISHING THE NUMBER OF FIRST AIDERS REQUIRED

The Safety Committee should aim to provide a minimum number of First
Aiders trained to a competent level according to the following table for the total
employees population.

TOTAL POPULATION
(Staff , Workers and Contractors workmen)

NUMBER OF FIRST - AIDERS

The number of First-Aiders shall be provide according strength of manpower

in the Departments / Sections.

The First-aid boxes or cupboards shall be distinctly marked with red cross on
white back-ground and shall contain the medicines and other equipment as
prescribe in the Rule 63 of the (Indian) Factories Rules.

APPENDIX B

GUIDELINES FOR FIRST AID TRAINING COURSES

1. Aim

These Guidelines are intended to summarise the key areas of training needed to
supplement knowledge and skills of employees required to undertake general
first aid duties in factory environment.

The Guidelines have been developed to assist Chairmen of the Safety

Committee in formulating the basis of a first Aid Program customised to meet
needs in the factory. A number of First Aid Providers (Subject to the strength of
employees) have agreed to conduct courses customised to Factory needs.

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2. Range of First Aid Duties

General First Aid duties may include the following:

• participating in the risk management process within the Factory as part of

the OHS leadership team. This may include contributing to risk
management solutions and providing feedback on injury reports and first
aid register data to identify persistent or serious hazards.

• providing first aid emergency awareness training for staff and workers
including emergency notification processes, a list of responsible Statutory
officers and provision of emergency phone numbers.

• coordinating first aid duty rosters and maintaining first aid room and first
aid kits.

• providing first aid services commensurate with competency and training.

This may include all or some of emergency life support including response
to life threatening conditions which may occur in the school (Eg cardiac
arrest or respiratory difficulties associated with Asthma), management of
severe bleeding, basic wound care, fractures, soft tissue injury.

• providing input on first aid requirements for excursions.

The OHSA need to determine how first aid duties are best implemented
in the each department / sections. In some cases duties may be shared
across a number of staff. Staff should be competent in the areas they are
expected to perform and training should be adapted to meet identified needs.

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3. Guidelines

The following Guidelines are indicative and should not be seen as a substitute
for a detailed assessment of the schools actual first aid training needs. For
example insect or animal bite may be a rare occurrence in the factory premises,
the system but a particular department / section may have a higher incidence of
some insects warranting more comprehensive coverage in training. Courses
covering all of the following are typically aspects in length. Shorter basic
courses covering some modules. To fulfill some or all of the first aid duties,
training programs should address the following areas:

A. overview of the role of the first aider and first aid duties

• summaries major first aid duties

• Training to provide medical services to few employees following specific

medical instruction on first aid. For example an integration aide may be
trained on how to catheterise an employee may be given instruction in
administering medication for an allergic response .

Shock:-

1. Lay the patient on his back.

2. Stop bleeding if any.
3. Relieve pain by supporting injured part.
4. Keep the patient comfortable, but not hot. Do not cause Sweating.
5. Fluids may be given in small amounts unless the patient is nauseated,
unconscious, likely to be operated on, or has an abdominal wound.
6. Reassure and cheer up the patient.

Wounds:-

1. Stop the bleeding, by any of the following methods :-

(a) Direct pressure ;
(b) Direct finger pressure into the wound in cases of large bleeding
wounds ;
(c) Tourniquet (seldom needed) use only as a last resort.

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2. Avoid touching the wound with hands or unsterile material.

3. Clear the wound with running water and surrounding area with soap
or spirit with clean gauze washing away from the wound. Apply
ready made adhesive gauze bandage or sterile gauze and roller
bandage as needed.
4. Keep the patient quiet : raising the extremely if it is the bleeding par,
give no stimulants.
5. Never apply anti-septic ointment, lotion or iodine or germicide tot eh
wound.

Abdominal wounds :-

1. No time must be lost in sending the patient to the hospital.

2. Keep the patient flat.
3. Give nothing by mouth
4. Maintain warmth.
5. If intestines protrude from the wound, do not attempt to touch or
replace them.
6. Apply sterile dressing and binder as for wounds.
7. Provide careful, immediate transportation to the hospital.

Eye-wounds :-

1. Removal may be attempted, if foreign body is not embedded.

2. Do not apply oil or ointment.
3. If there is foreign body embedded in the eye ball, send the worker
immediately to the doctor after applying pad and loose bandage.

Chemical Burns of the Eyes :-

1. Immediate washing of the eye at least for fifteen minutes if of great

importance.
2. Apply sterile bandage and send the worker immediately to the doctor.
3. Neutralizing agents or ointments should be used.

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Suffocation:-

1. Remove the patient from the source of danger.

2. Make a rapid examination to ensure that the air passages are free and
clean them, if necessary.
3. Restore natural breathing by artificial respiration, if breathing has
ceased.

Electric Shock :-

1. Remove the patient from the source of danger.

2. Make a rapid examination to ensure that the air passages are free and
clean them, if necessary.
3. Restore natural breathing by artificial respiration, if breathing has
ceased.

Insensibility:-

1. Send for doctor if possible ;

Pending his arrival -----
2. Where the patient’s face is pale, lay him flat and face downwards with
his head turned to one side. If his face blushed or blue, raise and
support the head and shoulders.
3. Control any serious bleeding
4. Loosen any tight clothing and let him have plenty of air.
5. Do not give anything by mouth.
6. If doctor is not available send the casualty to hospital.

Backbone (Spinal) Fracture :-

1. Transport on a rigid frame. This frame may be improvised by using

available board or a door.
2. The rigid frame may be placed on a stretcher for transportation.
3. If a frame cannot be improvised, transport patient on abdomen on
stretcher made of canvas or blanket.
4. In neck fracture cases it is much better to get a doctor to the scene for
danger to life is great.

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Bruises :-

1. Cold applications at first 24 – 48 hours.

2. Later heat – after 24 – 48 hours.

Burns :-

1. Act quickly
2. Put the affected part in cold water.
3. Pour water over burns that cannot be immersed (cold water relieves
pain, reduces fluid loss).
4. Cover affected area with a sterilized dressing.

Snake bite :-

Clam and reassure the patient, immobilize the bitten limb by splinting it.
Wash and cool the wound with soap water. Do not cut, rub, or suck the bite.
Take a doctor. Press hard over wound for 15 minutes. Do not remove cloth if it
has been placed.

B. participating in the risk management process

As part of the ….Limited, Occupational & Health leadership team including

contributing to risk management solutions and providing feedback on injury
reports and first aid register data to identify persistent or serious hazards.

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C. coordinating first aid duty rosters and maintaining emergency procedures,

first aid room and first aid kits

• cover information on first aid kit contents and first aid room design and
contents
• cover overview of first aid services required during specific times
• refer to Departments / sections about policy on first aid and how this applies
to the provision of first aid services
• provide information on first aid emergency awareness training for staff
including emergency notification processes, responsible officers and provision
of emergency phone numbers.
• cover how to provide staff and student awareness sessions in first aid and
emergency procedures

D. provide first aid services commensurate with competency and training (this
May include all or some of emergency life support including care of life
Threatening conditions. .

• provide opportunity for discussion on or investigation of employee's safety

issues. Adventure Activities are reference sources. The Safety Committee
Members will need to be a source of information on all elements directly
affecting first aid.
• provide information and practical exercises on range of first aid treatments of
commonly occurring first aid incidents - cuts, abrasions, contusions,
management of severe bleeding, basic wound care, fractures and soft tissue
injury
• provide information and practical exercises on emergency life support
including care of life threatening conditions possible. Eg. cardiac arrest etc.
• provide information and practical exercises on response to common health
issues requiring first aid eg Asthma, diabetes management.

This area will require the largest single time commitment of any first aid
training component. However some items covered in traditional or generic
programs could be covered but occupy less course time because of their rare
occurrence in education Eg emergency snake-bite treatment, wounds etc.

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APPENDIX C

RESOURCE LIST

1. Advice about the Code of Practice and First Aid Signage

All Department Heads

2. Information about Trained First Aiders

For approved training providers and having First aid Certificate holders.
Location in which department the first aid providers are working.

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Names of currently qualified first aiders:

……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………

Detailed information regarding first aid is available :

1.
2.
3.

Other first aid kits are located in the following Department / Sections
rooms:

Emergency Telephone Numbers out of factory for Emergency Medical Aid

Local E. S. I Dispensary :

Local Govt. General Hospital :

Local authorised company owned Pvt. Nursing Home :

Emergency Ambulance service :

Emergency Fire Services :

K KKKK
Emergency Blood Bank :

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