South Australia: first aid across every prison shift
Scope and status
The June 2020 South Australian first-aid code commenced on 4 June 2020. It covers workplace equipment, facilities, trained assistance and procedures across work covered by the WHS Act.
What the code means
Provision must reflect hazards, location, workforce and other people present. First aid must remain accessible during night shifts and overtime, including in security-controlled workplaces. The code's staffing ratios are recommendations, not automatic proof that arrangements are adequate.
Approved codes can provide evidence about risks and precautions in WHS proceedings. Another method may be used if it achieves an equivalent or higher safety standard; underlying legal duties remain.
Practical corrections application
Test actual access through secure doors, not simply whether a kit appears on an inventory. Check coverage during leave, escorts and overtime; emergency-service access; equipment maintenance; and training appropriate to the hazards. Violence and exposure to blood or bodily substances should inform the assessment.
An advocacy file should connect shift coverage, response times, incident records and worker consultation to a specific proposed improvement. Do not treat this guide as clinical instruction or a substitute for trained emergency assistance.
Official source
Read the linked official PDF. Its non-commercial reproduction licence means this guide links to the original rather than reproducing it.
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