All companies must have first aid locker – Serbia gets new work safety regulations, deadline period for full compliance two years

Employers in Serbia have been given a deadline period of two years to train their employees to provide first aid, and first aid lockers need to be acquired without delay. These are just some of the provisions of the regulations of the manner of providing first aid in the work place, which has recently come into effect.

The new regulations specify that companies are obliged to enable the provision of first aid, train an adequate number of employees to provide first aid and secure means and equipment for the provision of first aid, taking into account the risks, technological process, organization, nature and scope of the work process, the number of employees involved in the work process, the number of work shifts, the number of units in remote locations, frequency of work place injury and the remoteness of the closest medical institution.

First aid must be available to each employee during work hours, in all shifts and in all locations. Calling for medical help mustn't delay the provision of first aid in any way.

Managers, as well as at least 2% of the total number of employees in a work shift or a unit in a remote location, must be trained to provide first aid. The employee must secure that at least one employee trained in basics of first aid provision is present in each work shift and unit in a remote location, as well as in a work place with increased risk.

Employees must know who is designated and trained to provide first aid. Means and equipment for providing first aid are gauze compress, sterile gauze, calico bandages, adhesive bandage rolls, adhesive bandages, triangular bandage, safety needle, curved-tip scissors, single-use gloves, cotton balls, non-iodine antiseptic for skin and a specification of contents. The entire equipment, in the prescribed amounts, should be located within a single wall locker or a portable bag (for outdoor interventions). A single locker or a portable bag for the provision of first aid are sufficient for the needs of up to 20 employees.

A number of 20 to 100 employees requires another locker or a bag, and further, each additional 100 employees require an additional locker or a bag.

In addition to the said equipment, lockers and portable bags must contain a manual of first aid procedures, which must also be displayed prominently in the company's premises. The backside of the locker must feature a red cross sign and addresses and phone numbers of the nearest emergency services and health institutions and health institutions providing specific services for certain injuries (for example, Poison Control Center, Burn Center etc.), the nearest police stations and fire departments. Furthermore, the locker must display the names of employees designated and trained for providing first aid.

All employees in work places with increased risk must be trained to provide self-aid if their condition allows for it.

Training employees to provide first aid

Employees selected to provide first aid will have to go through a theoretical and practical program in line with estimated work place risks.

The program entails basic first aid training for all work places in the work environment (6 school hours) and advanced first aid training for work places with increased risk (12 school hours).

First aid training of employees will be carried out each five years. Employees who have completed first aid training and persons who have passed the first aid exam in line with other regulations are exempt from the obligation of basic training until the expiration of the five-year period.

The regulations have been adopted in line with the Law on Safety and Health at Work. Health workers are exempt from first aid training obligations, and the regulations do not apply to inland waterway boats and sea boats.

regulations of the manner of providing first aid in the work place

first aid at work

providing first aid at work

first aid regulations

training employees to provide first aid

means and equipment fro first aid

basic training for providing first aid

gauze compress

sterile gauze

calico bandages

adhesive bandage rolls

adhesive bandages

triangular bandage

safety needle

curved tip scissors

single use gloves

cotton balls

non iodine antiseptic for skin

portable first aid bag

first aid locker

Law on Safety and Health at Work