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UNSW First Aid Policy
Mission Statement
Policy Aims and Objectives
Responsibilities
First Aid Kits
First Aid Rooms
First Aid Personnel
Risk Assessment & Identification
First Aid Response & Standard Precautions
First Aid Treatment Reporting Form
Mission Statement
The University of New South Wales is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for its employees, students and visitors. This is/will be achieved through a systematic identification and assessment of risks and the identifications of hazards. The University of New South Wales not only has moral, but legal obligations in providing first aid services. UNSW will minimize the effects of accidents that may occur by providing first aid resources and a supporting network of WorkCover accredited trained First Aid Officers (FAO).
This policy is in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, under the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000.
Policy Aim & Objectives
To ensure that UNSW has an effective, prompt, and a coordinated approach to the provisions of First Aid to UNSW staff, students and visitors, and to clearly define responsibilities of all parties concerned with First Aid.
- Ensure that the identification and assessment of potential first aid incidents is undertaken by unit managers relative to their operational activities
- Specify minimum requirements for the provision of first aid services, including FAOs and their training, first aid equipment and first aid facilities
- Coordinate the appointment, training and replacement of FAOs
- Advertise the location of, and the provision of appropriate first aid kits in accessible locations for staff and students
- Conduct regular auditing of first aid kits by FAOs
- Coordinate the provisions of FAOs allowances
- Provide and install signage for first aid kits and ensure it meets requirements of AS1319 (1994) Safety signs for the occupational environment
- Ensure first aid policy and procedures meet current legislative requirements
Responsibilities
The University
- Ensure there are sufficient funds for allocation and furnishing of first aid rooms
- Appoint sufficient, qualified first aid officers to meet the University's requirement 24-hour operational requirements
Deans and Directors of Divisions and Institutes
- Provide funds for the purchasing of first aid kits
- Provide funds for FAOs training, and their first aid allowance
- Identify and assess the type of potential first aid incidents taking into account the nature of work performed, the work environment and the hours worked
- Determine the number of first aid officers required for their faculty/division in consultation with Faculty/Divisional Occupational Health and Safety Program, Steering Committees
- Nominate appropriate personnel to be trained as FAOs who are willing and available in normal working hours
Risk Management
- Coordinate the implementation of UNSW First Aid Policy
- Develop and update policy and procedures on first aid
- Ensure first aid system complies with current legislation
First Aid - Emergency Management Unit
- Coordinate the initial and refresher training for FAOs
- Maintain a record of current FAOs and expiry dates of certificates
- Coordinate payment of FAO allowances
- Rgularly circulate an up to date list of FAOs to all schools/unit heads, Security personnel and Zone Managers
- Coordinate first aid service provisions in a campus emergency
- Audit faults/divisional first aid facilities and resources/signage to ensure compliance with the regulation
First Aid Officers
- Attend and pass the prescribed first aid training course
- Give basic first aid treatment to ill and injured persons as required
- Record all first aid treatements to ill and injured persons on the UNSW First Aid Register
- Ensure notices are displayed near first aid kits indicating name, location and extension number of nearest FAOs
- Regularly check the contents of first aid kits against the list supplied, ensuring kits are stocked with sufficient supplies
- Notify the First Aid Coordinator of any deficiencies in first aid facilities and equipment
- Notify their unit manager and the first aid training Coordinator of any changes in their employment, location or othr matter which may impact on their first aid duties
Emergency Management Unit
- Provide sufficient trained staff in first aid to support UNSW outside of business hours
- Report any incidents of first aid treatments to the First Aid Coordinator, and complete the appropriate First Aid Treatment Register Forms
- Advise the First Aid Coordinator of any insufficiencies of first aid response and equipment
UNSW Health Centre
- Provide back up advice and minor medical treatment for first aid incidents not requiring hospitalisation or x-rays
Contractors
- Provide first aid facilities sufficient for their contract employees' needs, in line with WorkCover standards and the OH&S Act/Regulations
Individual Staff/Students
- Contact their FAO as soon as a first aid incident occurs to themselves or a colleague
- Consider advising FAO of any medical condition which may impact on first aid treatment such as epilepsy, heart condition, diabetes, allergies etc
- Advise their FAOs of any insufficiencies on first aid in their workplace
First Aid Kits
The OH&S Regulation specifies the number, type and location of first aid kits. Three criteria need to be taken into account.
First Aid Kit Types
The first criterion is the employee numbers workin in a building or work site that determines the type of first aid kit (A, B or C).
- Type A Kit - is required where there is a construction site where 25 people or more work and in other places or work where more than 100 people work
- Type B Kit - is required where ther are between 10 and 100 people
- Type C Kit - is required where there are less than 10 people
The type of kit determines the contents required. Depending on manufacturer, this will vary.
Note: First aid kits are not to contain medicines such as panadol nor antiseptic creams as the sterility of these can not be guaranteed.
Location of First Aid Kits and First Aid Kits for Vehicles
The second criterion is the distance to the nearest first aid kit in a building. The regulation specifies that no work station should be more than 100 metres from or one floor above or below a first aid kit.
Consideration needs to be made for field trips first aid requirements by prior assessment of potential hazards and risks, and ensure that first aid supplies are kept waterproof and sterile.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations it is a requirement to supply a first aid kit for all workplace vehicles. It is the responsibility of the schools to supply their own, and other departments. The first aid kit should be similar to a Kit c type or purpose built from a legitimate supplier.
Determining Additional Requirements according to Level of Risk
The third criterion is determining the level of potential risk. Additional contents may be required in first aid kits located in high risk areas. Information on these special requirements can be obtained to clean up blood spills including disposable gloves, sharps containers, plastic bags and ties and 1% chlorine bleach. Each kit should be close to running water if possible.
Labelling and Stocking of First Aid Kits
The first aid kits are to be clearly marked with the words "FIRST AID", and with a white cross on a green background. Each kit will be assigned to the care of the nominated FAO, except in buildings with less than 25 emloyees where the unit manager is to nominate a person in charge of the first aid kit. It is the responsibility of this person to ensure that the first aid kit is adequately stocked at all times.
First Aid Rooms
Each site where more than 200 staff work is required under the regulation to provide a first aid room if medical services are more than 5 mintues distance from the work site. This means that University needs a first aid room located in both upper and lower campus, and the other remote locations.
The first aid room should be located close to toilet facilities and have access suitable for wheelchairs and stretchers. It needs to occupy a minimum area of 15 square metres and have a suitably constructed floor and be well lit and well ventilated. It requires fittings of a wash basin or sink, storage cupboard, means of boiling water, a stretcher, a couch with blankets and pillows, sharps disposal container, refrigerator (supply of ice/ice packs), and a telephone.
The UNSW Health Centre is located approximately mid point of the campus. However, it is only open in business hours from 8.30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. First aid room facilities located in the Security Services (The Red Centre) will provide urgent medical attention after hours.
First Aid Personnel
First Aid Personnel Categories
There are two levels of 'first aiders':
- First aid offiers who are trained to senior and advanced levels of St. John/Red Cross etc or equivalent
- Persons who are health professionals such as registered nurses, medical practitioners with relevant emergency experience, and people holding occupational first aid certificates
Selection of First Aid Personnel
To become a nominated first aid officer, staff will be proposed by his or her head of school or divisional unit, or institute director. Persons to be considered to act, as nominated first aid officers should have the following characteristics;
- Express willingness and enthusiasm
- Complete the relevant first aid training
- Show evidence of a compacity to deal with injury and illness
- Be able to relate well and show compassion to other staff
- Be accessible in terms of their hours of work
- Be able to be called away from their ordinary work at short notice
- Be able to act calmly and logically in an emergency
Determining First Aid Personnel Requirements
Heads of schools and divisional units need to undertake a risk assessment to determine the potential first aid incidents that might occur and allocate sufficient first aid personnel to meet on campus and on field excursions requirements. This can also be done in consultation with the Emergency Management Officer from the EMU.
First Aid Personnel Training
A person who is nominated should contact the Emergency Management Unit to arrange for their training from an accredited training provider. The cost of their training will be met by their Faculty/School or Division.
Risk Assessment and Identification
Methods of Identifying Sources of workplace Injury and Illness
- Review of near miss incidents/accidents and injury data
- Walk through surveys
- Work Process and tasks evaluations
- Employee and student consultation
- Material safety data sheets for hazardous substances used in the workplace
- Information from Occupational health, safety and environment and specialists, industry and government
Risk Assessment
- Assessing the probability of exposure to a particular work hazard
- Assessing the duration of staff and student exposure to a potential hazards
Assessing the potential severity of outcome if an incident occurred
First Aid Response & Standing Precautions
When a FAO is advised of a person's injury, or finds a person who is injured, these are the steps to take;
- Check for danger (toxic gases, live power lines, spilt chemicals etc)
- If possible send someone to raise the alam - Ring Ring Ext. 5666 (Security)
- Response (is the person conscious/unconscious - shake 'n' shout)
- If the person is conscious treat them for the know injury, and if required place them in the recovery position
- Remain with the victim until medical assistance arrives or takes over if warranted
- Complete the Injury/Accident Treatment form, and send original form to the Emergency Management Unit, The Golf House UNSW 2052
First Aid Treatment Reporting Form
If a FAO treats someone for first aid, they must complete a Incident and Work Related Illness/Injury Report form and fax this to the Emergency Management Unit, located at Risk Management on (02) 9385 1290 (fax). This form is downloaded from the Risk Management Unit webpage.
When a FAO treats a person they need to complete the form, by obtaining the victims name, address, and complete the rest of the form, what part of the body was injured, how it was injured, and what treatment was sort, and how it could have been avoided.
Each sheet when completed will be returned to the Emergency Management Unit for data entry, and if required will be referred to the Risk Management Unit for further investigation.
Please note: Emergency Management Unit direct phone line is: 9385 1980.
