Firms warned to ensure they comply with new first aid legislation
A WARWICKSHIRE-based first aid training business is warning businesses that from New Year’s Day legal requirements surrounding on-site first aid requirements will change, leaving companies at risk of legal action if they fail to comply.
Martin Barry, founder of Recovery First Aid and an ex-Army medic, said businesses would be particularly vulnerable to ‘no-win no-fee’ style legal action surrounding injuries in the workplace if they did not ensure they were complaint with the new workplace standard first aid kit.
He said companies were leaving themselves vulnerable to legal action if they did not ensure the latest first aid kit was on site by January 1.
“We live in an increasingly litigious society. There are countless adverts on radio and TV now, and people are stopped in the street and in supermarkets by legal businesses offering no-win no-fee action on behalf of those who have suffered any kind of injury in the work-place or in a public place,” he said.
“The key difference with the latest BS first aid kit is that it has increased provisions to deal with burns. Should someone be burned at work – and it needn’t be as a result of fire; it could be an electrical burn, a steam burn, even a burn from very hot water – the latest kit has the equipment to treat and dress it effectively.
“Should any business not have those facilities in place from the first day of 2012 and an employee seeks legal action against them, it would be of huge detriment to the company; both in financial terms and in respect to its reputation.”
He said to avoid confusion, businesses should ensure they source and display the correct kit in the next few weeks.
“It is also advisable for any business to look into its first aid provision and provide expert training to key personnel for additional peace of mind,” he added.
