Despite every effort to minimise workplace hazards, accidents cannot be prevented entirely. Technical faults or even a single moment of carelessness can have unforeseen consequences and cause injuries of any severity. Employers must organise first-aid provision in the workplace. The number of first aiders required depends on the number of insured persons present and the type of workplace. If an accident or an acute medical emergency such as a stroke or heart attack occurs, help can be provided quickly. Prompt and appropriate first aid can be crucial in serious accidents or acute medical emergencies.
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First aid under applicable law
Under section 323c of the German Criminal Code (StGB), assistance must be provided in the event of an accident or emergency where it is necessary and can reasonably be expected. What is reasonable depends on the situation and the person’s knowledge and abilities. No one is required to expose themselves to significant danger or neglect other important duties.
Anyone unable to provide further assistance should at least call the emergency services on 112 and follow the control centre’s instructions. Employers should also ensure that workplace first-aid provision is organised reliably.
- The required number of workplace first aiders depends on the number of insured persons present and the type of workplace.
- A basic workplace first-aider course also provides training for dealing with occupational accidents.
- Do not merely provide first-aid courses; ensure that designated first aiders are properly trained as well.
Every employee should know the immediate actions to take
First-aid courses and the immediate actions they teach have long been considered general knowledge. However, many people quickly forget the techniques they once learnt, for example when obtaining a driving licence, because they lack regular practice. You can prevent this by providing refresher courses and repeated training.
The immediate actions everyone should be able to take include:
- Secure the scene of the accident
- Move people out of the danger zone
- Call the emergency services (dial 112)
- Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Stop severe bleeding
- Take appropriate action in the event of shock
- Place the person in the recovery position
Where necessary, these actions should also be carried out in the order listed.
The five Ws of an emergency call
- Where did the emergency occur? (Give the location, street and building number, the workplace building and access routes, and the floor. Do not hang up during the call; at most, put the phone on speaker and set it down.)
- Wait for questions from the emergency control centre, as its staff are in direct contact with the emergency team responding to the incident. The three usual questions are:
- What happened?
- How many people are affected?
- What injuries or medical conditions do they have?
These steps also help establish what is known as the chain of survival. Since 2005, this has consisted of four links rather than five:
- Secure the scene, protect yourself, call the emergency services and take immediate action
- Provide first aid until the emergency services arrive
- The emergency services arrive
- After receiving initial treatment, the affected person is taken to hospital
What on-site first-aid provision must include
You must meet certain requirements to ensure that initial assistance can be provided until the emergency services arrive.
First aiders
Trained first aiders or employees who have completed a first-aid course can take life-saving action.
Emergency communication equipment
You must not assume that every employee has a mobile phone and carries it at all times. Cordless or landline telephones must be available.
First-aid supplies
A first-aid kit containing all necessary supplies must be available at all times. It must be checked regularly to ensure that it is complete and that its contents remain usable.
Rescue equipment
Where necessary, rescue equipment must be available at all times. Examples include emergency showers or eyewash stations where hazardous substances are used, cutting equipment where there is a risk of a body part becoming trapped, and rescue cushions for high-rise building fires.
First-aid rooms
A first-aid room or comparable facility is required, among other cases, in workplaces with more than 1,000 insured persons. It is also required where there are more than 100 insured persons and the type, severity and number of accidents make such a room necessary, and on construction sites with more than 50 insured persons.
Emergency and escape plans
Employees must know exactly where the escape routes are, not only in the event of an accident but also in the event of a fire. In addition to the plans, these routes must be marked with appropriate emergency exit signs.
Organising first aid at work
As an employer, you must provide the organisational, personnel and material arrangements required for first aid. Easily accessible first-aid kits must therefore be available, and all employees must know where they are. Employees must be instructed on the location of important access points and how to behave in an emergency.
To help prevent panic among employees in an emergency, a basic course should be followed by refresher training and practical exercises after an appropriate period.
First aid under applicable law
Key legal bases for workplace first aid include section 10 of the German Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG) and DGUV Regulation 1. Employers must take the necessary first-aid measures and designate suitable employees. DGUV Regulation 1 sets out further requirements, including the required number of first aiders and their initial and refresher training.
Training for workplace first aiders comprises nine teaching units. To remain qualified as a first aider, refresher training of nine teaching units is generally required no later than two years after the previous course.
Statistics also indicate that workplace morale improves and mental strain is reduced when employees can clearly see that management cares about their well-being.
