Department of Biology
General Considerations
- The suggested level of first aid provision for work environments presenting a medium risk is two First Aiders (FAs) for the first 100 employees, and one additional FA for every further 100 employed. In contrast, for high risk areas, one FA is required for the first 50 employed, and one additional FA is required for every further 50 employed.
- The Department of Biology is regarded as a medium – high risk work environment. Although there are some specific work activities which could present a high risk without appropriate controls, the majority of activities involve routine, well practiced procedures presenting a low risk. However, for the purposes of estimating FA requirements for this department, a worst case is assumed i.e. the work environment is high risk.
- There are approximately 550 ‘employees’ working in the Department (400 staff and about 150 Post Graduate students). Based on the suggested levels of FAs (see above), a provisional estimate of FA needs indicates that the department requires a minimum of 11 FAs for staff and Postgraduate students working in the Biology buildings.