SAFETY TIPS
FIRST AID IN THE WORKPLACE
Employers must have a workplace first aid program as part of their comprehensive safety and health management system that includes the following:
Management leadership and employee involvement
Worksite Analysis
Hazard Prevention and control
Safety and Health Training
The basic elements of a first-aid program includes:
- Identifying and assessing workplace risks;
- Complying with OSHA requirements relating to first aid;
- Sufficient quantities of appropriate and readily accessible first-aid supplies and first-aid equipment, such as bandages and AED’s (should be customized to anticipated needs);
- Assigning and training first-aid providers who receive first-aid training suitable to the specific workplace and receive periodic refresher courses on first-aid skills and knowledge.
- Instructing all workers about the first-aid program, and putting the policies and program in writing;
- Scheduling evaluations of the program
OSHA requires trained first-aid providers at all workplaces of any size if there is no “infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity…” The following is taken from an interpretation dated February 5, 2007. “OSHA has consistently taken the view that the reasonable availability of a trained emergency service provider, such as fire department paramedics or EMS responders, would be equivalent to the "infirmary, clinic, or hospital" specified by the literal wording of the standard. Emergency medical services can be provided either onsite or by evacuating the employee to an off-site facility in cases where that can be done safely.
An employer who contemplates relying on assistance from outside emergency responders as an alternative to providing a first-aid trained employee must take a number of factors into account. The employer must take appropriate steps prior to any accident (such as making arrangements with the service provider) to ascertain that emergency medical assistance will be promptly available when an injury occurs. While the standard does not prescribe a number of minutes, OSHA has long interpreted the term "near proximity" to mean that emergency care must be available within no more than 3-4 minutes from the workplace. This interpretation generally has been upheld by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent tribunal that decides OSHA cases, and by federal courts.
Medical literature establishes that for serious injuries, such as those involving stopped breathing, cardiac arrest, or uncontrolled bleeding, first aid treatment must be provided within the first few minutes to avoid permanent medical impairment or death. Accordingly, in workplaces where serious accidents, such as those involving falls, suffocation, electrocution, or amputation are possible, emergency medical services must be available within 3-4 minutes if there is no employee on the site who is trained to render first aid.”
Most first aid kits that are purchased from safety supply companies are nothing more than band aid boxes with a little antiseptic thrown in. It’s okay to have those band aid boxes for small cuts, but when first-responder teams are trained, it is preferred that they have their own expanded kits separate from the general kits, and they are knowledgeable about their kits.
Also, we recommend that the first responder teams receive additional training in Personal Protective Equipment, Hazard Communications, Bloodborne Pathogens and Hep. B vaccines. The vaccines are optional, depending on the anticipated exposure and if the company wants to rely on post-exposure coverage. This is another topic in and of itself that we’ll save for another day!
Submitted by
Sharon Roman
Regulatory Compliance Consultants, Inc.
OSHA Outreach Instructor
American Heart Association Instructor Trainer
For more information or questions concerning this article, contact our office at 419-882-9224.
Previous Tips
- December 2008 - UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
- August 2008 - Preventing Heat Stress
- July 2008 - OSHA Beefs-Up Electrical Standard Requirements for General Industry
- March 2008 - OSHA’s Proposed Budget For FY 2009
- January 2008 - Revised Personal Protective Equipment Standard
- November 2007 - Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking changes
- October 2007 - APPENDIX A. Practice Recommendations for Health-Care Facilities Implementing the U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for Management of Occupational Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens
- September 2007 - Changes to the Personal Protective Equipment Standards
- August 2007 - Heat Stress Guidance
- July 2007 - HAS YOUR COMPANY BEEN TARGETED?
- June 2007 - OSHA’s Revised Electrical Standards To Take Effect August 13 - expanded
- May 2007 - OSHA’s Revised Electrical Standards To Take Effect August 13
- April 2007 - WORKPLACE EMERGENCIES
- December 2006 - TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES – WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
- November 2006 - New OSHA Regulations Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) Employee Workplace Exposure, 1910.1026
- October 2006 - ARE YOU SAFE FROM AN OSHA INSPECTION?