DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. KWAZULU/NATAL

1 DEPARTMENT OF health . KWAZULU/NATAL . HEAD OFFICE. OCCUPATIONAL health AND SAFETY GUIDE NO 02 OF 2003. THE DISTRICT MANAGERS. HOSPITAL MANAGERS. INSTITUITIONS MANAGERS. ANY INTERESTED PARTIES. ATTENTION: OCCUPATIONAL health NURSES. SAFETY OFFICERS. INTERESTED health CARE WORKERS. OCCUPATIONAL health AND SAFETY ACT, ACT 85 OF 1993. GENERAL SAFETY REGULATION 3(4)(d): APPROVED FIRST AID ORGANISATIONS. 1. NATIONAL STANDARDISATION OF FIRST AID TRAINING. The National First Aid and Emergency Care Training Standards Committee has been formed under the auspices of the health Professions Council of South Africa , in order to establish and maintain standardisation in first aid and emergency training, particularly at the lower levels, which has been a major problem in the past.

2 The existing first aid and emergency care training courses were divided into eight levels, categorised as: Levels 1 3: Basic Life Support 2. Levels 4 6: Intermediate Life Support Levels 7 8: Advanced Life Support All organisations involved in first aid and emergency care training are now able to place their existing courses under the appropriate level. Courses offered by different organisations are now comparable, with national recognition, and provision is made for advancement to higher levels of training if desired. For purposes of General Safety Regulation 3(4)(d) only training courses, which comply with at least a level one standard and listed as such will be approved by the Chief Inspector. The DEPARTMENT of Labour is responsible for inspecting and maintaining the standards of Basic Life Support training (Levels 1, 2 and 3).

3 Intermediate and Advanced Life Support (Levels 4 to 8) will be certified by the health Professions Council of South Africa due to the legal and ethical considerations involved in the scope of practice of such personnel. 2. APPROVAL OF FIRST AID ORGANISATIONS. In terms of General Safety Regulation 3(4)(d) the Chief Inspector can approve any person or organisation to issue a valid certificate of competency in first aid. PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL. For approval candidates must submit to the Head Office, comprehensive details of each first aid training course (only levels 1 to 3) they wish to present, which must include the following: Full name of person / Hospital /Instituition etc. (a) Contact person(s).

4 (b) Physical and postal address (c) Telephone and facsimile number(s). (d) The details in (a) (c) must also include all branches, if applicable. Example of certificate(s) to be issued to candidates. Control measures over certificates to be issued ( numbering, record keeping, etc.). Content of the course (complete course to be submitted and not a summary). The levels must be indicated. Duration of the course (excluding evaluation). A breakdown of the time allocated to theoretical and practical training and to theoretical and practical evaluation. 3. Available training aids. Certified copies of qualifications of instructors. Maximum number of students per instructor during practical training. EVALUATION OF APPLICATION.

5 On receipt of the application Head Office will ensure that all the required information has been submitted and that the courses comply with the following minimum standards issued by the National First Aid and Emergency Care Training Standards Committee: If the Head Office is satisfied that the application complies with the minimum requirements, a recommendation together with the application will be forwarded to the Provincial Office of DEPARTMENT of Labour or the nearest Labour Centre . The recommendation will contain a statement that all the minimum requirements are complied with. It will also contain the details as required in items , and the levels for which approval is recommended. A Photostat copy of the application will be retained at Head Office for future use ( complaints, queries, inspections, etc.)

6 3. APPROVAL CERTIFICATES. On receipt of a recommendation and an application from the Head Office the Chief Inspector from DEPARTMENT Of Labour may issue an approval certificate to the applicant. The certificate will reflect an approval number (CI ) as well as the levels approved for. A copy of the certificate will be forwarded to Head Office. CONDITIONS. The approval is granted subject to the following conditions: In the case of local authorities approved as a first aid organisation, they may only issue first aid certificates to: Employees of the local authority. Reserve force members (Fire Protection Services Act, 1987). Persons who actively take part in disaster management. Civil protection members/volunteers.

7 Scholars. In the case of state departments or state subsidised organisations approved as a first aid organisation, they may only issue certificates to employees of such state DEPARTMENT or state subsidised organisations. 4. The minimum requirements and standards for the presentation of first aid and emergency care courses must be complied with at all times. Training must be done by qualified instructors. The validity of the certificates issued may not exceed 3 years from the date of issue. Certificates must indicate the level of the course. Any other condition as determined by the Chief Inspector. The certificates of approval can be withdrawn at the discretion of the Chief Inspector. 4. INSTRUCTORS.

8 First aid training may only be done by instructors who are in possession of at least a valid level 3 first-aid certificate as well as a valid instructor's certificate recognised by the DEPARTMENT of Labour. Head Offices may only accept an instructors' certificate that included at least the following subjects: Principles of training and learning. Setting objectives. Motivation. Communication. Problem solving. Instructional methods. The course must include practical and theoretical training. The minimum duration (including evaluation) should not be less than 38 hours. 5. CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY APPROVED FIRST AID ORGANISATIONS / PERSONS. An approved training organisation may issue a certificate to a candidate who successfully completes an approved course.

9 The certificate must reflect the following: Name of the training individual. Name of the course successfully completed. Date of issue of the certificate. Level of the course (as determined by the DEPARTMENT of Labour). Name and signature of the training or designated officer. 5. Name and signature of the head of the organisation or designated person. Address of the etc All certificates to be numbered individually. Expiry date of the certificate. DEPARTMENT of Labour approval number (CI ) of the organisation. All organisations offering training are to maintain a register of all courses offered, candidates trained and their results. 6. INSPECTIONS. On receipt of an application for approval the Provincial office of DEPARTMENT of Labour or Labour Centre will come and inspect the facilities of the applicant to establish if the applicant is in possession of the prescribed training aids.

10 The Provincial Office of DEPARTMENT of Labour is responsible for ensuring that the minimum standards are maintained by the approved first aid organizations/Hospital/Instituition etc through regular inspections. Any deviations from the minimum standards must be resolved at provincial level. Should any problems occur requiring possible withdrawal of the approval, recommendations in this regard will be forwarded to the Chief Inspector for his/her decision. 7. LIST OF APPROVED FIRST AID ORGANISATIONS. A list of all approved first aid organisations will be maintained and updated by Head Office and will be distributed to all Hospitals/Instituitions/Accredited individuals. SUPERINTENDENT GENERAL. DEPARTMENT OF health .