First aid preparedness

The planning of first aid preparedness is based on the identification of workplace hazards, the risk assessment and the workplace survey. An appropriate degree of first aid preparedness (need for training and first aid equipment) is planned in cooperation with occupational safety and health personnel, occupational health care and, if necessary, representatives of civil defence and rescue services.

The need and number of employees to be trained as well as the content of the training (FA1, FA2, Emergency First Aid) should be specified in the occupational safety and health action programme and the occupational health care action plan. The person responsible for maintaining a register of those who have completed the training and for taking care of first aid equipment in the workplace should also be recorded in these documents.

The employer ensures that the staff receive sufficient training on first aid arrangements and instructions on how to call for help in the event of an emergency. Arranging first aid must also include the provision of necessary advice and guidance for managing any psychological reactions that may arise in the work or work situations.

First aid training can be provided by a person who has been appropriately trained to work as a first aid instructor. The staff’s first aid skills are maintained through regular training and exercises, and the appropriateness of the guidelines is reviewed in connection with these.

The employer can include the costs of organising first aid training in accordance with the occupational health care action plan in the claim for reimbursement for occupational health care costs from Kela.

When assessing the need for first aid training, other people in the workplace, such as customers, should be taken into account.