Updates to First Aid at Work Risk Categorisation
The old three risk categories have been reduced to twohazard categories: - Lower Hazard e.g. offices, shops , libraries.
- Higher Hazard e.g. light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments, construction, chemical manufacture.
The HSE believes that the identification of hazards in the workplace is a more useful method of deciding the level of first aid provision required.A Hazard is a specific type of accident or injury that can happen in your workplace.A Risk describes the likelihood of that accident or injury occurring.Employers are required to carry out an assessment of first aid needs. This involves consideration of: - workplace hazards
- number of employees
- history of accidents
- travelling, remote and lone workers
- work patterns (adequate cover must be provided when any member of the workforce is present)
- the distribution of the workforce
- the remoteness of the site from emergency medical services. Is additional training or equipment required?
- annual leave and other absences of first aiders and appointed persons
- first-aid provision for non-employees
Click here for more information about carrying out an assessment of first aid needs.The nature of the work and risks to health and safetyOne of the more complicated areas of the new first aid needs assessment is considering ‘the nature of the work'. You should consider the hazards and identify what possible injuries could occur in order to ensure sufficient first aid provision is available.The following table identifies some common workplace hazards and the possible injuries that could occur:
 This table is taken from the HSE's guidance document for employers, more detailed information about the important areas of consideration.
03 March 2010
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