Safety Tip of the Week – First Aid Awareness

The OSHA First Aid standard requires trained first-aid providers at all workplaces of any size, if there is no “infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees.”

If an employee is expected to render first aid as part of his or her job duties, the employee is covered by the requirements of the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens standard.

Before Injuries Occur:

There are multiple things every worker should be aware of when it comes to providing first aid even if they are not one of the employees directly responsible for responding to injuries. Some key points every worker should be aware of:

Understand what is expected if you come upon an injured worker. (Discuss your company’s policies/procedures.)

• Understand what actions you would need to take if you are injured yourself.
• Know who to call and how you can reach them in every type of emergency situation. (Radio/ phone/ voice, etc.)
• Ensure you know a secondary person to contact in case the primary contact is not around.
• Ensure you are able to explain your location when you call for help so assistance is not delayed.
• Know where emergency equipment is located in your work area.

   

The First Rule:

Whenever you encounter a first aid situation the first step is to get control of yourself so you can calmly assess the situation, provide direction, and make decisions with a cool head. If the injured person is conscious, help keep him or her calm with reassurance that he or she will be all right and that help is on the way. If you provide any first aid, tell the injured person what you are going to do and why.

YOUR BEST FIRST AID IS JOB SAFETY!!