The Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace requires employers to ensure that workplaces are safe and that employees have access to adequate first aid facilities and trained personnel.

If you aren’t maintaining your workplace First Aid compliance, you might be at risk of a penalty of up to $3M.

Keep reading to discover if your workplace is meeting First Aid compliance, and what you can do if it’s not.

1) Your workplace must meet the minimum number of First Aiders

Each workplace is legally required to have a minimum number of First Aiders, and this number depends on the size and risk of the workplace:

• Low-risk workplaces require one first aider for every 50 workers (First aid in the workplace Page 17 of 35 Code of Practice)
• High-risk workplaces require one first aider for every 25 workers (First aid in the workplace Page 17 of 35 Code of Practice)
• Remote high-risk workplaces require one first aider for every 10 workers.

2) Nominated first aiders must renew their training yearly

If you have nominated First Aiders in your workplace, they need to regularly attend training to ensure currency.

Even though HLTAID011 Provide First Aid and CPR only requires renewal every three (3) years, HLTAID009 Provide CPR only must be renewed annually (every 12 months), making annual refresher courses essential.

This is a big trap many workplaces fall into because people don’t tend to renew their CPR Training yearly, only their First Aid Training every three years or so, resulting in workplaces that are no longer First Aid compliant.

3) Growing workplaces require more First Aiders

As workplaces grow bigger, more First Aiders need to be nominated to ensure compliance (which is important to note for fast-growing startups and consultancy firms).

If you’re not monitoring how fast your company is growing, you may run into the risk of not meeting the minimum threshold. This issue can be easily fixed by organising a corporate or group booking each year and encouraging all staff to get certified.

Is your workplace meeting First Aid compliance?

The number of First Aiders your workplace requires depends on the size and risk.

• Low Risk: Workplaces such as office environments, retail stores, libraries, schools and consulting firms tend to be low-risk workplaces, so less First Aiders are required.
• High Risk: If you work in construction, manufacturing, a warehouse, hospitality, or even a childcare centre, these are considered higher risk and therefore require more First Aiders.

If you are responsible for managing a high risk workplace and don’t already have an annual booking for First Aid training, get in touch today to organise a corporate or group booking for our single day certification.

We’ll come to you and can provide both First Aid Training and CPR Renewal Training for up to 15 people per session, making it easy and accessible to maintain workplace First Aid compliance.

Providing First Aid Kits

Each workplace must provide First Aid kits that are appropriate to the level of risk and accessible to all employees.

This means that for higher risk workplaces, more First Aid kits must be provided in more locations (for example, multiple kits for multiple building levels) and each kit must contain the right supplies for the work environment’s level of risk, based on a conducted risk assessment.

First Aider Certifications

Nominated First Aiders need to hold their First Aid certification from a nationally accredited First Aid provider.

Additionally, higher risk workplaces may require more advanced certifications.

For example, our certification HLTAID011 Provide First Aid and CPR is suitable for most community and workplace settings.

However, if you work in childcare or aged care, you will need HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in Education and Care Settings which covers more tailored and specific topics (coming soon to AITS).

Other advanced certifications include:

• Advanced First Aid (Provide Advanced First Aid – HLTAID014)
• Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy (Provide Advanced Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy – HLTAID015)
• Remote First Aid (Provide First Aid in Remote or Isolated Site – HLTAID013)
• Occupational First Aid (Manage First Aid Services and Resources – HLTAID016)

Communicating First Aid Practices

Each workplace should ensure that they clearly communicate:

• The locations of First Aid kits and facilities
• The procedures for managing First Aid emergencies

A great opportunity to do this is once or twice a year, during a group First Aid training session where nominated First Aiders are able to refresh their training and knowledge.

The First Aid Officer is also responsible for ensuring First Aid supplies that require restocking, or supplies with an expiry date (such as medical items or defibrillator batteries) are replenished and in working order. Having a scheduled First Aid training session provides this opportunity to ensure compliance.

Following the session, each nominated First Aider can ensure their teams or departments are up-to-date on company-wide practices and information, should an emergency occur.

Keep your training up to date

The points covered in this article are all great reasons to keep your First Aid training up to date, as you never know when you might be asked to become a nominated First Aider.

Plus, maintaining First Aid training can help your entire team stay confident and knowledgeable for any emergency situation.

To remain compliant, nominated First Aiders must renew their CPR Training (HLTAID009 Provide CPR only) every 12 months, and their First Aid and CPR Training (HLTAID011 Provide First Aid and CPR) every 3 years.

Not to mention, if your company is growing quickly, you may need to nominate more First Aiders.

If you need to book some First Aid Training for your staff,  speak to your employer about organising a corporate or group booking which allows a full group to renew their training through our single day certification (we’ll come to you!)

This cost-effective solution minimises any accessibility hurdles for employees and ensures each workplace is meeting First Aid compliance. Contact us today to learn more.