DEFINITIONS

First-aid in the workplace includes the provision of first-aid facilities, servicesand personnel required for the initial treatment of persons suffering from injuryor illness at a workplace. It is the immediate treatment or care given to a victim ofan accident or sudden illness before qualified health personnel attend to providetreatment.

The aims of first aid are to:• Preserve life;• Prevent illness or injury from becoming worse;• Reduce pain;• Promote recovery; and• Care of unconscious.

First-aid facilities includes• first-aid box;• first-aid room; and• first-aid equipment, e.g. oxygen tanks and stretchers.

First-aid requirement means the requirements for first aid facilities, servicesand personnel at a workplace;First-aid services means any procedure or method associated with the provisionof first-aid at the workplace;

First-aider means a person who has successfully completed a first-aid courseand has been awarded with a certificate of proficiency in first-aid by aninstitution listed in Appendix 1.

Risk means the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm.

Universal Precautions means a set of precautions designed to preventtransmission of blood-borne pathogens when providing first aid or health care.

LEGAL PROVISION

-An employer has a duty to provide information, instruction, training and supervisionabout first aid facilities and services for employees

The Factories and Machinery Act 1967

Section 25 of the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (Act 139) and Regulation 38of the Factories and Machinery (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations 1970state the scope of responsibility of an occupier with regards to first-aid provision.The scope includes:• providing and maintaining a first-aid box or cupboard of such standard asmay be prescribed and ensuring the box is readily accessible at all times;

• assigning the responsibility to upkeep a first-aid box or cupboard to aresponsible person, and for a factory with more than 20 person employed,specifying that the responsible person should be proficient in first-aidtreatment; and• providing and maintaining a first-aid room in a factory where more than 150person are employed.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994

Section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) providesthat every employer and the self-employed person must ensure, so far as ispracticable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees. Theprovision of first-aid facilities and first-aiders is in compliance with the welfarecomponent of this general duty of employers and self-employed persons.

Components Of First-Aid Facilities In Workplace

Major Components

There are three major components of workplace first-aid facilities:

first-aider

first-aid box/first aid room

first-aid equipment/manual

Factors to Consider

When deciding on the number of first-aiders, equipment and facilities for the

workplace, the following factors should be considered:

type of industry

number of workers

number of workshifts

physical layout of workplace

location of workplace and status of infra-structure in relation to the

nearest medical clinic or hospital

First-Aider

NUMBER REQUIRED

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 paragraph above.

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

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 show in attachment 1.

The Neeed 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

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

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 faciliites.

First aid need and interest

First aid, the act of giving immediate treatment to people with injuries or illnesses can help preserve life and promote recovery. For these reasons, you should learn how to administer first aid promptly. But, what would this kind of training do for you?First, it gives you the ability to respond to emergencies such as natural disasters, accidents, ingestion of hazardous substances, and health-related issues like heart attacks. In any of these area’s you can immediately provide relief until the paramedics arrive.Second, it enables you to learn the right methods of administering first aid. You will be able to save a life regardless of the time and place. So long as you have passed the course, then you can counter any life-threatening crisis that may come your way at home, at work, or even in public places.Finally, the knowledge you gain will be beneficial for you especially if the emergency affects you or your loved ones directly. Remember that it only takes six minutes before the brain dies due to lack of oxygen, which means that immediate care should be given right away. With that said, you should start training for first aid right away

First aid is usually meant for minor cuts and scrapes or is in reference to the first response to any kind of medical emergency. Administering first aid quickly and accurately in a traumatic injury situation can make the difference between life and death. You never know when you may be called upon to act quickly on the behalf of someone else. Many people take basic first aid courses so that they can be better prepared for an emergency. People who care for the elderly or small children should attend these classes.Being on the spot and responding quickly and effectively when faced with an emergency situation at work such as heart attacks, choking, drowning or electrocution makes First Aiders the heroes.For the accident victim, having someone nearby who is expertly trained to administer basic first aid is not only a legal requirement for businesses of all kinds and sizes; it also makes good community and commercial sense.Accidents happen, and having trained staff on hand and a first aid kit means enhanced safety for all.First aid classes will teach you everything you need to know, resulting in official certification when all is said and done. Whether you need to become certified in emergency techniques as a part of your job, because you’re about to become a new parent or simply because you’d like to be of assistance to others, you should have no problem accomplishing your goal.

Tel : 09-7889126/7889344/7889641 Faks : 09-7888739E-mail : ptkkb @ po.jaring.my

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH 1

AW101First aid

PREPARED BY:

MUHAMAD KHAIRUL HAKAM BIN ISMAIL

04DKA12F1021

LECTURER NAME:

PN. SYAHIRAH IZZATI BINTI ZAKARIA