First Aider Hub - a collaborative solution
During an iSafety Risk Assessment and follow up report for a client’s office the question of First Aiders came into play.
The client was in a corporate office block with other offices on several floors.
Building management provided clear emergency exit plans, defibrillators in the hallways, fire extinguishers in place and our client had a First Aid Kit in a cupboard in the office - with a clear identifier.
BUT
There were no qualified First Aiders or Mental Health First Aiders noted in the management procedures, so we took our due diligence a step further.
We went to building management to discuss how these risks were being controlled for the tenants. The building manager indicated that First Aid responsibilities sat with the companies occupying the offices - that was in their tenancy agreement.
As each of the businesses appeared similar to our client in size, we considered some options to ensure they were meeting their obligations under WHS requirements.
We spoke to the office managers on the same floor as our client and discovered that two offices had qualified First Aiders, and one had a Mental Health First Aid Officer.
Returning to the review we made the following recommendations and facilitated an outcome which ensured:
1. the building management was engaged,
2. the offices across the floor worked collectively to support First Aid & Mental Health First Aid in the workplace
We achieved our goal to minimise risk and maximise success. Not by saving the client lots of dollars or providing a whizz bang solution but by taking a holistic approach to a low-risk environment and ramping up everyone’s accountability.
OUR RESPONSE PLAN
Developed a First Aid & CPR Policy for our client as part of the review report.
Committed the building supervisor to notify all tenants when the defibrillators and extinguishers were serviced so this could be added to the Risk Register of our client and, more importantly, as a flag if it hasn’t been done.
Created a First Aider Hub on the floor our client occupies. All tenants on the floor agreed to share the available qualified First Aiders if needed, and others, including our client, agreed to add to the pool. Found relevant training courses.
Mental Health First Aid Officers were included in the Hub and engaging an EAP was also suggested – this is still a work in progress.
Provided the following information to assist in their collaboration:
Certifications required for First Aid compliance:
HLTAID011 Provide First Aid: Covers CPR, wound treatment, and emergency response (valid 3 years).
HLTAID009 Provide CPR: Requires annual renewal.
Safe Work Australia minimum ratios for First Aid Officers:
Low risk 1 per 50 workers (white collar) - this worked for the tenants on this floor.
Developed a master contact list for emergency services.
Register for our webinar Safe Work: every job, every day every office to discover other live examples of office centric workplace risks. You might be surprised!