Complaint about Health & Safety in public places

What's the issue?

Required a first aider/box in a kids play centre and it took someone more than 5 minutes to find out who the first aider was (member of staff we asked didnt know and had to ask a number of other members of staff) and also first aid box was not to hand. I feel that the first member of staff we approached should have known the first aider and where the box is located, We will be complaining to management of the centre - just wanted to make the complaint more official.

You're right, they should have known. It's not really a public place, it's a private business and they're inviting you into it. That business is looking after children, so really they should be one of the main groups they're looking after.

How bad was the injury? I'm not dismissing your concerns as minor, I just think it might be worth allowing the centre management to respond first before shopping them to the enforcing authorities. (although if you feel that strongly, it'd be the H&S department of your local council)

The injury is quite bad. my son fell and split head open on a table. He requires stitches. Thank you for your help and advice

Blimey, that's more than first aid. Did they call an ambulance for you? (child, head injury) Call your local council's H&S dept then.

(just as an example, this is the one for Westminster )

how / where did the accident happen?

Yes they did call an ambulance. Its just the fact that no-one knew the first aider or where the box is located. I've looked on local council website but nothing really on there so will have to phone in morning.

Ok, well that's something. I'd also be asking lots of questions about how the accident happened in the first place and if there was anything in their control to prevent it, as well as how they reacted after.

They should have taken charge and found their first aider, rather than what sounds like you having to go track one down.

The HSE are really helpful and will point you in the right direction. Remember that it was a workplace, just not your workplace- the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 still applies. I think that's why the Etc is in there actually.