*Climbs on soapbox*
And now the British standard institute are getting involved in First Aid, The BSI have issued a new british standard for First Aid kits, this removes some equipment that was in the old kits and adds extra equipment, now don't get me wrong, some of this new equipment was needed and in fact a lot of it I have been adding to Standard First Aid kits for years, such as Tuff cut scissors and Resuscitation shields, plus a lot more that was deemed necessary not by the First Aid risk assessment but by common sense.
The Problem is I am now getting calls to the effect of "We have to change our First Aid kits they don't match the British Standard" and am constantly having to point out that this is not necessarily the right kit to have in the First Aid box as the BSI are not the regulating body in First Aid but The Health and Safety executive are.
Currently the HSE has the following information on their site:
There is a British Standard BS 8599 for first aid kits, it is not a regulatory requirement under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 to purchase kits that comply with this standard. Instead the contents of a first aid box is dependent on an employers first aid needs assessment. This means for employers following a needs assessment the options are:
1. Within your workplace you have access to a first aid kit whose contents complies with BS 8599 and matches your needs assessment; or
2. Within your workplace you have access to a first aid kit whose contents matches your needs assessment but does not comply with the requirements of BS 8599.
I am now looking forward to having many an argument with people that think that British Standards are the be all and end all of supposed perfection. Yet soon the only "Standard" first aid kits we will be able to purchase will all be BS......... *Not sure if I want that to stand for British Standard or the other meaning.*
On a related matter I am also fed up with First Aid suppliers who are supplying kits where everything is packed tightly in a partitioned box with no room for any extra equipment to fit that is required by the First Aid risk assessment.....
*Rant over, gets off soap box.*
Any one else?