First aid policy |
Health and safety policy |
Incident reporting procedure
Occupational health
Policies: First aid policy
Purpose
To ensure that a minimum of 5% of UCT employees are trained as level 1 first aiders and that an adequate number of effective and trained first aiders are available to assist in emergency situations.
Scope
This standard applies to all University of Cape Town staff and students.
References
Definitions
- First Aider: An individual in possession of a current certificate of competency in first aid issued by the South African Red Cross Society, St John Ambulance, South African First Aid League or a person or organisation approved by the Chief Inspector, Department of Labour.
Requirements
Responsibilities
- It is the responsibility of the First Aid and Fire Prevention Officer to arrange and co-ordinate first aid and refresher training in liaison with the SHE manager.
- It is the responsibility of the heads of department to ensure that employees are trained in terms of the legal requirements (5% trained per annum).
- The heads of department are responsible for replenishing all first aid kits.
Implementation
- In liaison with the first aid training co-ordinator, a training needs analysis will be done and scheduled training will be worked out as per requirements. Only organisations approved by the Department of Labour, or those specified in the legislation, shall be utilised for training.
- All campus protection services and traffic officers shall be in possession of a valid first aid certificate.
- First aid training will be conducted annually to maintain the 5% first-aider-to-employee ratio as prescribed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- The Health, Safety and Environmental Officer in the building or department will conduct quarterly audits to ensure that all first aid boxes comply with legislated requirements. A copy of this audit will be forwarded to the First Aid and Fire Prevention Officer.
First aider
- The names of the first aiders for a specific area will be clearly indicated at the first aid box.
- Trained first aiders are to be available on each shift of security and traffic staff.
Demarcation
- The location of first aid boxes should be clearly indicated by symbolic signs and they should be accessible at all times.
Incentives
- The first aiders will receive a first aid certificate that is valid for three years. The Health and Safety department will keep a copy on file.
Minimum requirements for a first aid kit as per general safety regulations
- Click here to see the list of minimum requirements.
Universal blood precautions
Universal blood precautions are designed to protect persons from being exposed to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), which is the greater threat to people exposed to blood and other infective agents which may be present in blood.
Important
- Treat all persons, human blood or other blood containing body fluids and any other potentially infectious material as infectious.
- Adequate precautions must be taken to avoid direct contact with blood or body fluids from any person.
Procedure
- Wear gloves and goggles in the following situations:
- when touching blood and body fluids, mucous membranes or person with broken skin;
- when handling items or surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids;
- when in direct contact with infected material.
- If someone is bleeding, encourage the casualty to tend to his or her own injury under your supervision.
- Change gloves after contact with each person.
- When you are splashed or become contaminated with blood or body fluids:
- wash your hands and other skin surfaces immediately and thoroughly;
- wash affected area immediately with soap and water;
- rinse eyes, nose and mouth with huge amount of water;
- use disinfectants such as alcohol or iodine on skin only (external) and not on the wound itself.
- Wash your hands immediately after using gloves.
- Large quantities of contaminated materials are to be placed in a plastic bag with biohazard signage and sealed, to be disposed off via the hazardous waste services.
- Avoid contaminating the outside of the container.
- If the container is contaminated clean it with bleach.
- Sealed bags and disposal containers should be disposed of via hazardous and medical waste only.
Blood spills
- All blood spill incidences are to be properly reported to the safety officer or supervisor.
- Wear disposable gloves.
- Wipe the area using paper towel and remove as much blood as possible.
- Discard the paper towel into a plastic bag.
- Flood the paper and spill area with diluted household bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
- Beware of sharp objects, e.g. broken glass, knives and needles.
- Small amounts of soiled paper can be disposed of in a flush toilet or in a proper sanitary towel/tampon disposal container.
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