Skeleton Summer Staff

The British Red Cross is warning that low staffing levels over the summer period may lead to businesses falling foul of health and safety guidelines.

Many businesses operate on almost skeleton staffing levels over the summer period as employees' annual leave reaches its peak season. During this time, many businesses leave themselves at risk through lack of preparation and lack of awareness of health and safety regulations stating that somebody responsible for first aid arrangements must be on site at all times.

A business needs to be aware of what its first aid requirements are. The number of first aiders depends on the circumstances of each particular organisation or work site. The HSE guidelines, shown in the table below, suggest the level of cover needed according to risk and the number of employees within the organisation but it is important to remember that accidents can happen at any time.

Category of risk

Numbers employed at any location

Suggested number of first aid personnel

Lower risk

eg shops and offices, libraries

Fewer than 50

50-10

More than 100

At least one appointed person

At least one first aider

One additional first aider for every 100 employed

Medium risk

eg light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing

Fewer than 20

20-100

More than 100

At least one appointed person

At least one first aider for every 50 employed (or part therof)

One additional first aider for every 100 employed

Higher risk

eg most construction, slaughterhouses, chemical manufacture, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instrument

Fewer than 5

5-50

More than 50

At least one appointed person

At least one first aider

One additional first aider for every 50 employed

If you believe that your business needs to have a first aider on site and does not have the relevant cover over the summer time, the Red Cross can help with fully comprehensive HSE compliant first aid at work courses available throughout the country. Places are also available at short notice, so there is still time to make sure that your business is fully covered for the summer. In addition, the Red Cross First Aid Training website provides an easy to understand explanation of the HSE guidelines and an online calculator which enables you to check that you are providing the correct level of provision.

For further information please contact:
Lydia Mottershead
Tel: 0161 888 8952
Email: lmottershead@redcross.org.uk

-ENDS-
_{Notes to editors
British Red Cross First Aid Training website can be viewed at www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk

The British Red Cross First Aid Training iBrochure is available at: http://redcross.trainingcourses.ibrochures.co.uk/

Course bookings can be made by calling 0844 871 8000}

_{The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies.}

_{We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.}

Issuers of news releases, not Targetwire, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

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Skeleton Summer Staff