Imagine a business that has no health and safety precautions and regulations in place – the possibilities for workplace injuries and accidents are endless. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have some incredibly shocking statistics about injuries and fatalities in the workplace from 2015/16, and they reveal why first aid at work regulations are essential.
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 states that employers are required to provide adequate equipment and trained personnel in the workplace. This ensures that employees are given immediate attention should they fall ill or become ill at work. These regulations are relevant to each and every workplace, even those with less than five employees, and those who are self-employed.
Let’s take a look at the statistics that show the worth of First Aid at work:
Estimated 621,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury at work
Over 600,000 people became injured at work in just a year, First Aid exists to help save lives and inform people of what to do in an emergency. This proves there are many, many opportunities for First Aiders to help out fellow employees, until the emergency services take over (if needed).
Estimated 25,900,000 working days were lost due to work-related illness
An illness is typically harder to prevent than an injury at work, but First Aiders are made aware on how to treat illnesses such as allergic reactions, asthma attacks, fainting, seizures, and a stroke. Evidently, there’s plenty of opportunities to help a member of staff in the workplace.
Estimated 4,500,000 working days were lost due to workplace injuries
If injuries are treated in a timely manner by somebody with First Aid training, then employees could be in working order sooner and employers could get more hours out of their staff. It’s a win-win!
Estimated 119,000 slips, trips or falls at work led to an injury
Almost a fifth of the workers who become injured throughout the year are harmed by slipping, tripping or falling. The amount of time taken to treat such incidents may be drastically reduced if risk assessments are carried out, with potential risks being eliminated where possible. If First Aiders are readily prepared to react to such accidents, then the average working days lost per case could be fewer.
Average of 7.2 working days lost per case
Each time an employee is injured at work, they take an average of 7.2 days to heal and return. If First Aid procedures are put in place and followed, this number may be reduced as timely attention and treatment could be applied – thus reducing the time taken out of work.
The source for these statistics is the HSE link provided above and we feel that they act as a clear message to take health and safety and first aid in the workplace extremely seriously.
5 statistics that explain why we need First Aid at work regulations
