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Provision of First Aid - University Code of Practice
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Issued By |
Document No |
Date |
Issued |
Safety Office |
P 1/97A |
January 1997 |
This circular introduces a new University Code of Practice on the provision of first aid. It also announces a change in the arrangements paying the stipend to first aiders. From August 1997 these payments will be met from Departmental rather than central funds.
Departments are asked to notify their first aid arrangements to the Safety Office.
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Provision of First Aid - full text
Introductory memo
The Code has been produced by the Safety Committee and approved by Council. Consequently this document forms a part of the University Safety Policy.
The Code of Practice follows recent legislation which stresses the linkage between first aid provision and the other elements of health and safety management. In particular the Code contains guidance to assist Departments in establishing their first aid requirements in relation to the nature of their activities. The key aspects are as follows:
- Small, low risk Departments may only require an appointed person rather than a first aider if certain criteria are met. They may also share facilities. (See page 4 of Code).
- With regard to the number of first aiders trained and appointed due regard to staff absences will be needed to ensure that cover is maintained. (See page 4 of Code).
- Post-graduates would normally be treated as employees for the purpose of considering the first aid requirements. (See page 3 of Code and appendix 1).
Payment of first aiders
Whilst revising the Code of Practice the Safety Committee also approved modified arrangements in the mechanism for issuing the 25 stipend to first aiders. It has been agreed that all first aiders will now receive this stipend. The previous arrangement restricted this to a "complement" number with the result that some first aiders did not receive the stipend until a "vacancy" arose.
It has also been agreed that from 1st August 1997 the stipend will be met from Departmental rather than central funds. At present the stipend has been paid in April and all first aiders in post on 1st April 1997 will receive their stipend as usual, which will be met from central funds. As a consequence, the stipend for the majority of first aiders will need to be met from Departmental funds for the first time in April 1998.
As a further improvement in the mechanism for paying the stipend, it is intended that all new first aiders will in future receive this with the earliest possible salary payment after their appointment has been confirmed. There will however be a transitional period between 1st April and 31st July 1997 during which the first aiders appointed will receive their stipend with the August salary. Subsequent stipends for the duration of their appointment will be paid on the anniversary of their first payment.
Action
- Departments should evaluate their current level of provision in the light of this Code and inform the Safety Office of the number of appointed persons or first aiders assessed as being necessary and their number at present if different. Small, low risk Departments should notify any sharing arrangements in place or to be established. Departments will need to ensure that the assessed level of provision is achieved and maintained.
- Departments will need to nominate accounts to which the first aider stipend can be charged. In future all nominations for training as a first aider will need to be accompanied by the account code against which the stipend will subsequently be charged. The list of first aiders and account codes will be maintained by Occupational Health who will also be issuing lists of existing first aiders to Departments and requesting account codes to be specified.
- Departments will be responsible for informing Occupational Health when a first aider ceases in that capacity in order that the stipend may be terminated.
- A briefing on this Code can be provided dependant upon demand. Please contact the Safety Office if such a session would be useful.
Link to full text of the First Aid Code of Practice
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