WITHh over 79 per cent of businesses admitting to First Aid failings¹, Scotland’s dedicated First Aid charity is urging organisations across the country to administer a vital check-up on their legal obligations.
St Andrew’s First Aid has created a quick and easy guide to First Aid in the workplace as part of its national awareness campaign, launched this week.
Highlighting the key legal duties of an employer, as stipulated in the HSE Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, the guide is designed to help companies – big and small – ensure a well-covered workplace and avoid hefty fines.
Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid, comments: “Failing to comply with these regulations is against the law. Last year, there were over 1,000 cases of businesses being taken to court for First Aid failings, resulting in fines for not having suitable First Aiders present².
“Employers need to consider a plethora of rules and regulations surrounding the workplace, along with the daily operations and business targets, and it’s easy to see how First Aid can end up near the lower end of the priority list.
“But this can come at a legal, financial and reputational cost. We have, therefore, created this easy-to-follow mini-guide to First Aid in the workplace to get employers thinking about their legal obligations.
“With an average 22,000 non-fatal workplace injuries recorded in Scotland each year³, it really is important that all businesses and organisations make sure that First Aid is suitably covered.”
Founded in 1882, St Andrew’s First Aid has been Scotland’s preferred first aid provider for over a century and trains over 20,000 people each year.
The new guide to first aid in the workplace is available at firstaid.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to editor
¹St John’s Ambulance survey, 2011
² St John’s Ambulance survey, 2011
³ Labour Force Survey, 2008/08 – 2009/10
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Contact: Debbie Standen
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Email: debbie.standen@porternovelli.co.uk
Website: http://www.firstaid.org.uk
