Dear health and safety professional,

I’m so excited: My husband and I will be taking my son to Cirque Du Soleil on Wednesday. He’s only two, but I’m hoping he’ll remember some of it when he’s older!

I often wonder about health and safety in a circus – is it possible to implement comprehensive safety measures in a business that by definition defies the regular laws we live by?

For example, are their first aid measures the same as your or mine? I know yours must be pretty strict.

Let’s do a comparison…

Do you employ five or more employees? If so…

You will need a first aid box if you employ five or more employees. Remember, first aid is the first treatment an employee will receive when they suffer an injury. The aim must be a quick, prepared response to injuries.

Be reasonable: provide a first aid box for each department – this will ensure prompt first aid.

Important: The law lays down the minimum requirement. You can and should still provide a fully equipped first aid box if you have less than five employees.

If you subscribe to our Health & Safety Advisor then you'll find a full list of the contents in section F01 on page 4 and 6.

There are two content lists. One for:

Factories; and
Offices and shops (slightly less stocked).

Make sure you have enough first aiders

You must have a trained first aider if you employ ten or more employees. In factories you must have one first aider for every 50 employees.

In shops or offices you must have one first aider for every 100 employees.

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Did you know...
As an employer you have 4 duties towards your Health and Safety Committee.

Employers still have health and safety obligations when it comes to the Health and Safety Committee and its meetings. You must:

•    Decide on the number of Health and Safety Committee members;
•    Appoint committee members;
•    Attend every committee meeting; and
•    Ensure that committees meet at least once every three months (OHSA Section 19).

Stay safe, 

Rachel Paterson
Publisher

 
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