A framework set by the Code on Well-being at Work
In Belgium, the organisation of first aid at work is governed by Book I, Title 5 « First aid » of the Code on Well-being at Work. The employer must be able to provide prompt first aid to any worker who has an accident or feels unwell, alert the specialised emergency services where needed, and arrange transport of the casualty.
The employer's obligations
Beyond the first-aiders themselves, the employer must organise the contacts with the urgent medical assistance services and care establishments, and ensure that the relevant telephone numbers and addresses are directly accessible. These measures must also benefit other people present at the workplace: contractors, subcontractors, students, visitors, clients or patients. Responsibility for organising first aid lies with the employer; the first-aider acts in the capacity of a worker.
How many first-aiders? The risk assessment decides
The Code no longer sets a fixed number of first-aiders. In group A, B and C undertakings, the employer determines the number and qualification of the people in charge of first aid, after advice from the prevention adviser-occupational physician and the Committee, taking into account:
- the number of workers employed;
- the characteristics of the activities;
- the results of the risk assessment.
These may be trained first-aiders, nursing staff or designated workers. In group D undertakings (limited risks), the employer designates one or more workers who need not complete the full training but receive the information needed to use the first-aid kit and alert the emergency services. First aid must remain available throughout working time, including at night and in shifts.
The first-aider's basic training
A first-aider is a worker who has successfully completed a basic training course and refresher training. Under the Code, the basic training comprises at least 15 hours, with a maximum of 15 participants per instructor, and ends with a certificate after assessment. It pursues three aims: mastering the basic principles, supporting vital functions, and responding to other conditions (bleeding, burns, poisoning).
Refresher training is in principle annual (at least 4 hours). It may become biennial where a risk assessment and the advice of the occupational physician and the Committee justify it. The certificate remains valid for as long as refresher training is followed.
Where to train?
Training must be delivered by an organisation on the list kept by the FPS Employment. The underlying requirements are set out in full in the official regulatory text (Code, Book I, Title 5), which employers and prevention services can consult.
This article is for general information and does not replace the legal texts or the advice of your prevention service.