Re: First Aid use records Vs Accident records
Thanks very much. We have followed the Sec 45 and we have many trained people around, some who have training from the recognized centre and many others who have basic FA training provided by competent trainers. Their list and contact extension numbers are also displayed near the FA box.
In keeping with the spirit of FirstAid and not losing on time and to avoid other practical situations of immediate non availability of the authorized personnel and chances of missing key at the time of need (This believe me happend several times) ., we have resorted to keeping the FA box without lock. Even the outcome of our safety committee meetings suggested that it is better to have the FA box not locked for its better use at times of need for small causes like cuts, nics etc. (The Dettol, Cotton or Band-aid strip cases)
We never understood the act in this way that it implies must be kept locked.
So should we now go back to lock and key system ? Are there any other ways also ? Across the globe are FA box always kept locked ?
I had several of those big white First Aid boxes located throughout our facility, none locked. In our first years, we did have a lot of "shrinkage" of supplies and, of course, our service which kept the boxes supplied was extremely happy to keep refilling and billing us.
When the bill rose to a point that was noticeable, we managers became alarmed there were accidents, cuts, illnesses not being reported and that we needed to revamp our operation to identify and eliminate the causes. We implemented a report sheet system at each box, explaining to all staff our concern for their safety. The idea was for them to merely sign a name if they took supplies from the box and that we might interview them later to track down and mistake proof the process or activity which led to the need for the First Aid supplies. Miraculously, the "shrinkage" dropped by about 75% in the first full month. As we looked at the data, one of our managers first suspected we had been getting a short count from the service guy refilling the supplies and that, since we shared our concerns with him and his manager, telling them about the report system, we started getting an honest count. It was only in the second month or so we noticed during "management by walking around" that some employees were carrying their own aspirin or antacid tablets and we never did see Band Aids or some of the more specialized products which we had been paying for (ammonia inhalers, individual antibiotic creams, alcohol wipes, etc. Only then did it occur to us managers that the shrinkage was most likely in-house misunderstanding: that we were also stocking home medicine cabinets, it was not a safety issue, and not fraud by our refill service.
I might suggest that any effort at reform NOT stress the money or shrinkage aspect, but concentrate on concern for employee safety and potential improvements in processes to increase that safety. The sign out sheet and interview system might work for you as miraculously as it worked for us.