Do you have enough first aid officers?

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth), a person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid at the workplace or that workers have access to an adequate number of other people who have been trained to administer first aid. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? But what is enough? This is the question we are often asked.

The following ratios are recommended:

  • low risk workplaces – one first aider for every 50 workers; and
  • high risk workplaces – one first aider for every 25 workers.

First aid in the workplace can be provided in a number of ways:

  • training one or more of your own workers to administer first aid; or
  • arranging for a person who does not work for you to administer first aid to your workers provided they have been trained to do so.

With this last option, these may be first aiders of other businesses who share your workplace or other persons who are qualified to administer first aid.

If you have concerns relating to your workplace, please contact us for specific advice on your situation including training you need to provide your first aiders.

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