Medical Box at work

Hi All

I would like to find out if there are any laws or regulations about the medical box that companies are supposed to keep.

I am feeling sick as a dog due to a problem called cellulitus, I haven't been to the doc about it yet as im broke even tho if i dont get it sorted it could be life threatening but thats not the point of this. My companies med box has no damn pain killers or anything for a headache (side affect of cellulitus), I'm trying to see if they are supposed to keep by law or something cos im fed up with this place and would love to get a health and safety inspector out here just to check things out, maybe give them a fine or something so they actually get their ducks in a row here.

/rant off... guess let me go buy my own pain medication.

m4dh4tt3r said:

Hi All

I would like to find out if there are any laws or regulations about the medical box that companies are supposed to keep.

I am feeling sick as a dog due to a problem called cellulitus, I haven't been to the doc about it yet as im broke even tho if i dont get it sorted it could be life threatening but thats not the point of this. My companies med box has no damn pain killers or anything for a headache (side affect of cellulitus), I'm trying to see if they are supposed to keep by law or something cos im fed up with this place and would love to get a health and safety inspector out here just to check things out, maybe give them a fine or something so they actually get their ducks in a row here.

/rant off... guess let me go buy my own pain medication.

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Off the top of my head... no.

Their required to keep disinfectant, bandages, plasters etc.
If you can't afford a doctor - go to a clinic/public hospital and try your luck?

thanks was just wondering about what is supposed to be kept in the medical box, usually they have panado's or disprin but lately they seem to have not bothered about getting again, so perhaps im feeling entitled to something that isn't required by law. if so ignore my rant, guess im just a miserable sod cos of being down .. will probably try the clinic or something tomorrow if its not feeling any better. thanks for the response, really appreciated

No problem

I did level 1 first aid training about a year ago and was one of the health & safety members at my previous company. By law, the medical box doesn't need to carry any pain killers, it only contains things like bandages, antiseptic, gauze, scissors, cpr mouth pieces etc. Only the first aid representative may have access to the box, and may not under any circumstance give out medication except if they have (*as far as I can remember*) a level 3 certification.

May the employer keep any other articles or substances like painkillers in the firth aid box?




Regulation 7 states that the employer must ensure that only articles and equipment as mentioned above or other similar equipment or medicine is kept in the first aid box or boxes. According to the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act 101 of 1965, no person is allowed to dispense a medicine (ie: headache tablets, cough mixture, any other oral medicine) unless authorized to do so under the Pharmacy Act.

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http://www.labourguide.co.za/health-and-safety/update-first-aid-and-aid-boxes-720

Minimum contents of a First Aid Box




In the case of shops and offices, the quantities stated under items 1, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, and 18 may be reduced by half.



Item 1
Wound cleaner / antiseptic (100ml)

Item 2
Swabs for cleaning wounds

Item 3
Cotton wool for padding (100g)

Item 4
Sterile gauze (minimum quantity 10)

Item 5
1 pair of forceps (for splinters)

Item 6
1 pair of scissors (minimum size 100mm)

Item 7
1 set of safety pins

Item 8
4 triangular bandages

Item 9
4 roller bandages (75mm x 5m)

Item 10
4 roller bandages (100mm x 5m)

Item 11
1 roll of elastic adhesive (25mm x 3m)

Item 12
1 Non-allergenic adhesive strip (25mm x 3m)

Item 13
1 Packet of adhesive dressing strips (minimum quantity 10 assorted sizes)

Item 14
4 First aid dressings (75mm x 100mm)

Item 15
4 First aid dressings (150mm x 200mm)

Item 16
2 Straight splints

Item 17
2 Pairs large and 2 pairs medium disposable latex gloves

Item 18
2 CPR mouth pieces or similar devices




Item 19
An adequate supply of absorbent material for the absorption of blood and other body fluids spilled




Item 20
Disinfectant to disinfect the area after cleaning up blood and other body fluids spilled.

Item 21
2 Pairs large and 2 pairs medium disposable rubber household gloves.

Item 22
A suitable sized impervious bag for the safe disposal of blood and other body fluid contaminated biohazard materials

Cellulitis is a killer... if its on a limb watch out you may get it amputated if you leave it. If you are running a fever its serious.

smallearth said:

Cellulitis is a killer... if its on a limb watch out you may get it amputated if you leave it. If you are running a fever its serious.

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0ooo0oo - i have suffered from cellulitus before that is why the pain i got feels very similar. I never knew it could get that serious though, and yes fever is definitely there, I've been having hot/cold flushes for the past 2 days, when some people are sitting here going man its hot in this office im freezing up.. Guess i better get this looked at sooner than later.

again, thanks for the responses, guess ill just have to ask nicely and beg and plead for them to get us some painkillers here then

I asked our Health and Safety representative. He said that in general you will find they wont have any sort of medication as they are unable to know if you will have an allergic reaction if they treat you.

You have cellulite?


j/k

No, you can't have any medication because you might have an allergic reaction. Only a Health Care Practitioner may administer medication, although you are allowed to have Schedule 0 medication.

Ask the ladies in your office as they usually carry emergency-busting stuff in their handbags.

I had a bad headache before last week and got some tablet off one of the girls, went from ouch ouch to 'oh look at all the pretty colors' in 15 minutes flat.