First aid policy | Health and safety policy | Incident reporting procedure
Occupational health
Policies: First aid policy
Purpose
To ensure that an adequate number of UCT employees are effectively trained in Level 1 First Aid and are available to assist in emergency situations at any time.
Scope
This standard applies to all University of Cape Town staff and students.
References
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 85/1993, General Safety Regulations.
- Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Section 13.9
- COID Act - Compensation for Occupational Injuries & Diseases
- UCT Needle Stick Injury Policy - UCTPEP Policy - UCT Post Exposure Prophylaxis
- UCT HIV/Aids Policy
Definitions
- First Aider: An individual in possession of a current certificate of competency in first aid issued by person/organization approved by the Health & Welfare SETA or Chief inspector, Dept of Labor.
- SHE: Safety, Health, Environment
Requirements
Responsibilities
- It is the responsibility of the UCT SHE Officer to arrange and Co-ordinate First Aid and refresher training in liaison with the SHE Manager.
- It is the responsibility of the Department Heads to ensure that employees are trained in terms of the UCT requirements i.e. 5% trained per annum.
- The Department Heads are responsible for the replenishing of all First Aid kits.
Implementation
- In liaison with the First Aid Training Coordinator, training needs analysis will be done and scheduled training will be worked out as per requirements. Only Department of Labor approved organizations shall be utilized for training or those specified in the legislation.
- All Campus Protection Officers 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 Safety Health and Environmental Representative in the building or Department will conduct quarterly audits to ensure that all first aid boxes comply with legislated requirements; this will be recorded in the quarterly inspection form as a "task completed". A copy of this audit will also be forwarded to the Occupational Health Nurse.
First aider
- The names of the First Aiders for a specific area must be clearly indicated at the first aid box.
- Trained First Aiders from security and traffic are to be available on each shift.
Incentives
- The First Aiders will receive a First Aid certificate that is valid for three years plus the appropriate life skills to help save a life.
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 Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or 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 wounds 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 and to be disposed off via the Hazardous Waste Services.
- Avoid contaminating the outside of the container,
- If container is contaminated clean with bleach.
- Sealed bags and disposal containers should be disposed of via Hazardous and Medical Waste only.
Blood spills
- All blood spill incidences to be properly reported to the Safety Representative 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 sharps viz. 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.
