It doesn’t matter if employees spend their day in high risk, or low risk environments, there’s always a risk of injury and accidents that need to be taken in to account, no matter what type of business you’re running. Although employers might assume that an office environment doesn’t pose significant risks or hazards to employee’s health and safety, there are still areas to consider, and obligations of the employer, that are recorded as law.

Every day, thousands of professionals around Bloemfontein can be put at risk of shocks, poisoning, physical injury, bleeding, stings, bites, and general medical emergencies. Your company, and your staff need to be ready to respond to an emergency or an event of any scale. So what are the actual responsibilities and obligations of the employer? Needs can differ in a low risk office environment when compared to higher risk industries like mining and production, where safety is a major concern.

We take a look at the key points set out by the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993, and the Draft General Health and Safety Regulations (28 October 2005, Gazette No. 28162), so you can be sure you’re covered to protect not only your staff, but your business operation too.

• Employers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that persons at work receive prompt first aid treatment in case of injury or emergency.
• Companies with more than ten employees must have a designated first aider on site during normal hours. In the case of larger business, there must be one first aider for every 100 employees.
• The designated first aider should possess a first aid certificate, awarded by an approved organization.
• First Aid facilities (e.g. a First Aid Box), should be available for workplaces of more than five employees, and should be clearly displayed, in a prominent location.
• Your First Aid Box must include the following equipment as a minimum requirement:
  – Wound Cleaner.
  – Swabs.
  – Cotton wool padding.
  – Sterile gauze
  – Pair of forceps.
  – Pair of scissors
  – Safety pins.
  – Triangular bandages.
  – Roller bandages.
  – Elastic adhesive.
  – Non allergenic adhesive strip.
  – Adhesive dressing strips.
  – First aid dressings.
  – 2 Straight splints.
  – Disposable latex gloves.
  – CPR mouth pieces.
  – Absorbent material for blood and other fluids.
  – Disinfectant for cleaning areas contaminated by blood or other fluids.
  – Rubber disposable household gloves.
  – Impervious bag for disposal of bio hazards.

The regulations are clear, and are easy to comply with. It’s not just good business sense to comply with laws and regulations, but making sure your employees are taken care of in the event of an emergency or medical need, means that your operation is safer overall, and has less risk for interruptions, allowing productivity to remain at normal levels.

The equipment required in your First Aid Box is easy to find in Bloemfontein, but you should ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable supplier, who can provide you with safety and medical equipment of the highest quality and safety standards. Kevcor is a company which provides this type of service, so if you want to deal with one South Africa’s trusted safety equipment specialists, visit us today at www.kevcor.co.za .