Postal
New code forces update of Post’s first aid policy
(17 February, 2010) With the introduction of the federal government’s new OHS Code of Practice – First Aid Australia Post is required to update its first aid policy to reflect the standards of the new Code of Practice for First Aid.
The new Code of Practice for First Aid differs from the earlier approved code in a number of important areas. The key changes include:
- an increase in the number of first aid officers in specified situations;
- an increase in the number of first aid kits and their location to meet the standard that an employee will take no longer than 2 minutes to reach a kit, contents of kit also changed;
- the provision of first aid kits for personal protection to employees such as PDOs performing bicycle and walk rounds;
- the requirement for a first aid room in high risk workplace workplaces with more than 25 employees;
- the provision of automatic electric defibrillators and oxygen in certain circumstances.
While the updated draft Post policy on First Aid is better than the current policy it is clear that Post still wants to minimise the changes it needs to make in order to reflect the new First Aid Code. The CEPU has raised concerns about the number and level of training of First Aid Officers, provision of first aid rooms and equipment and consultation with first aid officers, HSRs employees and their union.
The situation at the Port Melbourne Delivery Centre, a facility with about 150 people on night-shift and about the same on day shift with forklifts, two dangerous docks, motor-bikes, ULDs, Post and other contractors in vans, high-risk in anyone’s book except Post’s, and still no first aid room demonstrates why Post needs to embrace the new code and implement changes to its current policy accordingly without the nonsense aimed at avoiding its responsibilities.
For more information, contact the CEPU via feedback@cepu.asn.au