FIRST-AIDERS



Number Required
General Guide


Description
No. of Workers
No. of First-aiders
a
workplaces with low risk
hazards (e.g. office)
less than 20
21 - 150
more than 150
one (1)
two (2)
two(2) for every 150 workers or part thereof

b
workplaces with high risk
hazards (eg. chemical plant,
shipyards, construction
sites)
less than 20
20 or more
one (1)
one (1) for every 20 workers or part thereof
c
workplaces with more than
400 workers
more than 400
two (2) for every 150 workers or part thereof and in addition a state registered nurse or medical assistant must be employed on site

d
Logging

one for every "tree felling gang" **


** a tree-felling gang is a group of workers involved in tree felling operation which normally consists of a tree-feller, a tractor driver,a
wireman and the supervisor.
Table 1: General Guide Number Required of First-Aiders.

Shift Work

If there is a shift work schedule, there should be a sufficient number of first-aiders for each shift based on guideline in Table 1.

Work-Site With More Than One Employer

In a work-site (e.g. a construction site) where employees of different employers are working together, Act 514 requires the principal employer to provide and maintain safe systems of work which include provisions for adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, first-aid facilities and first-aid personnel.

However, the relevant employers may make arrangement whereby one of them agrees to provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel to comply with the above guideline. The agreement should be recorded in writing and a copy of the agreement should be kept by each employer concerned.

Provision of Information About First-Aiders

An employer should display a notice, in a prominent place in the work-site, of the names and locations of first-aiders. First-aiders should also be provided with a form of identification (e.g. badge, arm band) for easy recognition and spotting.

Selection
An employer may, from time to time, recruit or select suitable persons to go for first-aid training. The employer should consider persons with the following qualities to be trained in first-aid treatment:
* mature and responsible
* remain calm in emergency
* free to leave their work immediately to respond to an emergency
* physically fit

.Note: Carriers of blood borne infectious diseases, e.g. Hepatitis B, HIV, are to be discouraged..

Training

Recognised Course

A person is considered as being trained if he successfully completes a first-aid course conducted by an institution recognised by the Ministry of Health and awarded with a certificate of proficiency in first-aid treatment at the end of the course. Examples of training institutions providing this course and recognised by Ministry of Health are given in Table 2.


Organisation
Telephone number
FRLS Committee
c/o Emergency and Trauma Department Kuala Lumpur General Hospital
Jalan Pahang
50586 Kuala Lumpur
03-2905016
03-2905153

Malaysian Red Crescent Society
JKR 32
Jalan Nipah
Kuala Lumpur
03-4578122
St. John's Ambulance, Malaysia 03-9851576
41 Jalan Shelly
Kuala Lumpur
03-9851576


Table 2: First-Aid Training Centres Recognised by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia

The Need for Further Training

The need for further training may be necessary whenever change within the workplace is likely to alter the hazards and thus the type of potential injuries or occupational illnesses.

First-aid certificates are usually valid for three (3) years except for hazardous industries where the validity is for only one year. The validity of some first-aid certificates may be subject to specific requirements, for example:
* refresher training;
* evidence of proficiency in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Training Record

The employers should keep, for all his first-aiders, a written record of the dates on which they obtained their first-aid certificates and the dates on which they receive refresher training.
Responsibilities

Management of Casualty

The first-aider has an important role to play. In the management of an injured worker or in a case of sudden collapse, he should:

* assess the situation without endangering his own life;
* identify the injuries or recognise the sudden collapse;
* give immediate first-aid treatment, keeping in mind that a casualty may have more than one injury;
* for more than one casualty, recognise the priority of administration of first-aid treatment to the more seriously injured; and
* arrange without delay for the injured worker(s) to be sent to a doctor, hospital or home, according to the seriousness of his condition.

The first-aider.s responsibility ends when the casualties are handed over to the care of a doctor, nurse or other appropriate persons.

Maintenance of Treatment Record

A record of the casualty and treatment given by the first-aider should be made. These record must be kept by the employer for a period of five years.

A record may include information on:

* the immediate treatment;
* details about the incident/accident including information about the work process involved;
* details about the injury or work-related illness;
* any referral arrangements, for example, local medical service, ambulance or hospital; and
* subsequent casualty management.

Responsibilities for Maintenance of First-Aid Facilities

The first-aider is responsible for maintaining the first-aid box. He should ensure that only first-aid equipment is kept inside the box. He should check them periodically and ensure that the contents of the box are regularly replenished.

However, it must be remembered that the absolute responsibility for maintaining first-aid facilities lies with the employer. Hence, the employer must ensure that the first-aider carries out his assigned responsibility. In workplaces with less than 20 workers, the employer can assign this responsibility to one of his supervisors.

The Safety and Health Committee at the workplace should periodically review the first-aid facilities to ensure that the facilities are adequate at all times.

In places where a nurse registered with the Nursing Board of Malaysia is employed, he or she should be responsible for the supervision of the first-aiders and the responsibility for maintenance of the first-aid facilities.



Source: A Guide To First-Aid Facilities In The Workplace




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