THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (FIRST AID IN THE WORKPLACE) REGULATIONS, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE NO. 53
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT, 2007
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 127(2) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection in consultation with the National Council of Occupational Safety and Health, made the following Regulations:-
The provisions of these Regulations shall apply in all workplaces during all working hours.

Duties of an occupier.
For purposes of ensuring the provision of adequate first aid arrangements in a workplace, the occupier shall: –
(a) Ensure that a first aid audit is carried out annually by a competent person.
(b) Provide information to all workers on procedures of first aid at the workplace, location of first aid kits and information on every person trained on first aid at the workplace.
(c) Provide and maintain such appliances and services for rendering first aid to his employees in case of any accidents and emergencies.
(d) Ensure effective emergency procedures are in place to manage and facilitate the transfer of a casualty to an appropriate health facility.
(e) Appoint in writing, adequate number of persons who shall administer first aid and be in charge of the first aid box or cupboard.
(f) Ensure training for persons in charge of the first aid box or cupboard by first-aid training institutions approved and authorized by the Director.
(g) Ensure that the names and telephone numbers of persons in appointed under paragraph (e) are appropriately displayed conspicuously at all the times.
(h) Ensure all persons administering first aid services are vaccinated against highly infectious diseases including Hepatitis B and Corona Virus.

Duties of a person administering first aid.
A person appointed under regulation 3(e) to administer first aid shall: –
a) Ensure prompt response in all medical emergencies.
(b) Provide appropriate first aid management and transfer of a casualty when necessary.
(c) Notify the occupier and any emergency service provider of a medical emergency.
(d) Provide psychological care and support during an emergency and may accompany the casualty to the health care facility or until medical help arrives.
(e) Ensure infection control measures are taken to protect self, the casualties and others.
(f) Keep records of all injuries, sudden illnesses and medical emergencies including first aid treatment given at the workplace, in the manner set out in the First Schedule.
(g) Ensure proper medical waste disposal.
(h) In consultation with the occupier, ensure that the pre- requisites of the first aid box or cupboard are maintained.

Training of persons administering first aid.
A person shall not be allowed to administer first aid or to be in charge of a first aid box or cupboard unless he has received the adequate training in the application of first aid.

A person in appointed to administer first aid and to be in-charge of a first aid box or cupboard shall hold a valid certificate of competence issued by a training institution approved by the Director.
The certificate of competence issued in accordance with this regulation shall be valid for a period of one year and shall be renewed annually.
The Director shall approve first aid training institutions.

Required number of persons administering first aid
(1) For every work place with less than ten workers, at least one person appointed to administer first aid shall be available in the work place at all times during working hours.
(2) For every work place with ten to twenty workers at least two persons appointed to administer first aid shall be available in the work place at all times during working hours.
(3) For every work place with twenty-one to fifty workers, at least three persons appointed to administer first aid shall be available in the work place at all times during working hours.
(4) For every workplace with fifty-one to one hundred workers, at least five persons appointed to administer first aid shall be available in the workplace at all times during working hours.
(5) For every workplace where there are more than one hundred workers, there shall be at least five persons appointed to administer first aid and two additional first aiders for each extra 100 workers (or part thereof) available in the workplace at all times during working hours.

Marking of the First Aid box.
Every first Aid box, cupboard or room in a workplace shall be clearly marked on the outside with the words “FIRST AID”.

Minimum Contents of First Aid box.
(1) The occupier of every workplace shall provide and maintain a readily accessible first aid box or cupboard as required under section 95 of the Act, containing the minimum number of items
dependent on the number of workers in the workplace as set out in the Second Schedule.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), the contents of the first aid box or cupboard shall be based on the occupier’s risk assessment of the workplace.
(3) Medicine shall not be included in the first aid box or cupboard.
(4) All items kept in the first aid box or cupboard shall conform to the standards and specifications provided under the Standards Act. Cap 496.
(5) In these Regulations, a first aid box or cupboard includes any container that can be used to safely and adequately hold or contain all the first aid items.

First Aid room.
Every large workplace with more than five hundred workers shall have a first aid room managed by either a registered nurse, clinical officer or medical practitioner.

First Aid room.
The provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply in addition to the provisions of set out in regulation 6.
The first aid room shall be accessible during all working hours and shall be easily accessible to stretchers or any other equipment used or needed for the purposes of transporting patients in and out of the room.

Minimum requirements for a First Aid room
Every First Aid room shall contain: –
(a) A sink with running water and soap;
(b) Potable drinking water;
(c) A telephone;
(d) Electrical power points;
(e) A table and chair;
(f) An examination couch;
(g) A record book;
(h) A blood pressure machine;
(i) A stethoscope;
(j) A thermometer; and
(k) Any other first aid materials as set out in these Regulations.

Every occupier shall cause a first aid audit of the workplace to be undertaken at least once every twelve months by a first aid auditor.
The occupier shall pay any costs in relation to the first aid audit undertaken pursuant to these Regulations.
The first aid auditor shall prepare and submit an audit report of the workplace to the occupier and the Director, within fourteen days of the date of the audit.
The occupier shall maintain a record of any first aid audit undertaken pursuant to these Regulations.

Approval of auditors.
1) The Director may invite competent persons desirous of being first aid auditors for purposes of these Regulations, to submit applications for consideration.
(2) A competent person seeking to serve as a first aid auditor shall apply to the Director for approval.
(3) The Director shall, upon receipt of an application under this regulation, consider the application and
(a) Upon confirming that the applicant meets the requirements necessary for first aid audit, approve the application notify the applicant of the decision; or
(b) Reject the application and notify the applicant of the decision and reasons thereof.

(4) The Director shall, upon approval of an application under paragraph (3)(a), issue the applicant with a Certificate of First Aid Audit, upon payment of the fee provided under the Act.
(5) The Certificate issued under paragraph (5) shall be valid for a period of one year and renewed annually.
(6) The Cabinet Secretary may, on the advice of the Director, Gazette first aid auditors approved under these Regulations.
(7) The Director shall maintain a register of all auditors approved and gazette under these Regulations.

Duties of first aid auditors
A first aid auditor approved under these Regulations shall: –
(a) Carry out a first aid audit of a workplace, upon the request of an occupier;
(b) Advise the occupier and the members of the safety and health committee on the first aid matters arising out of a first aid audit report;
(c) Prepare and submit an audit report of a workplace to the occupier and the Director, within fourteen days of the date of the audit.

General penalty
A person who commits an offence under these Regulations, for where no penalty is provided, shall be liable upon conviction, to a penalty provided under section 109 of the Act and the proceedings set out in Part XIII of the Act shall apply.

REVOCATION
The Factories (First Aid) Rules, 1977, are revoked.

READ MORE
Follow The Author on Facebook
Safety Champions and Ambassadors
Safety Trainer
Workplace Safety Training Videos
Ambassador Of Safety
Building A Culture Of Safety
The Largest Safety Company in the region

Amb First Aid Training
Amb First Aid Training

CPR TRAINING
CPR TRAINING

Training
Training

FIRST AID TRAINING
FIRST AID TRAINING

Introducing Nairobi Safety Shop: Your One-Stop Destination for Safety Equipment
Introducing Nairobi Safety Shop: Your One-Stop Destination for Safety Equipment

Ambassador Of Safety
Ambassador Of Safety

First Aid For Bleeding
First Aid For Bleeding

AMBASSADOR STEVE MBUGUA CITIZEN TV
AMBASSADOR STEVE MBUGUA CITIZEN TV

Edified  by this?  share with your friends and loved ones

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

About the Author

AMB. STEVE MBUGUA

Amb. Steve Mbugua is an enthusiastic Ambassador of Safety and wellness with in-depth training, safety advisory and Workplace Safety Behavior Change Coaching experience. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Makinika Afrika Int’l , a Health and Safety Training Firm in Kenya  and Group CEO  Nairobi Safety Shop Limited, the largest Security, Safety and Health Store in the East and Central Africa and Managing Director, Stewa Safaris Kenya Limited a Premier  Tours and  Travels Company in Kenya.

Social Handles

4 3 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Omondi

Great work Mr.Steve

Explore More Blogs

1
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x