Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work. In reality, workers spend more than a third of their lives at work on average. Customers and other visitors spend a large amount of time at workplaces as well.
Given this, it is quite possible that a workplace health incident will occur at some point. In some situations, the occurrence may necessitate immediate lifesaving treatment, such as out-of-hospital abrupt cardiac arrest.
With more workers returning to offices, the time has come to focus on keeping people safe. First aid is an essential component of occupational safety.
Giving those who have been wounded or become ill in the workplace early and effective first aid may minimize the severity of the injury or illness and enhance recovery. In some circumstances, it might be the difference between life and death.
Here are the top five factors to consider when deciding what first aid procedures to employ in your workplace.
Evaluate the risk of first aid
First aid needs differ from workplace to workplace, and while there are recommendations, there are no hard and fast regulations. Thus, it is critical that you evaluate all relevant elements at your workplace when selecting what first aid procedures you need in place, including:
The nature of the work being done
workplace risks, such as machinery and equipment, dangerous chemicals, and severe temperatures.
The workplace’s size and location
The size and make-up of the workforce (employees, contractors, subcontractors, volunteers, and visitors)
A thorough first aid risk assessment that takes into account all of these considerations can assist you in determining what first aid solutions are required at your business. Even if you’ve done it before, with COVID-19 likely resulting in changes to personnel numbers and processes, risk assessments and occupational first aid services should be evaluated and redesigned.
We have enough first aiders in the workplace
The presence of an adequate number of firstaiders in each workplace is potentially the most critical measure (people who are trained to administer first aid).
Consider that some people are only in the workplace 2-3 days per week; therefore, on days when your designated first aiders are at home, an additional first aider is needed to cover, so you may need more first aiders than before the epidemic.
Do you need additional information about who should be the first responder and what their duty should be? Check out this helpful advice on being the office first aider.
Regular refresher training for first aiders
Regular training is required for first responders to renew their first aid knowledge and abilities and to certify their ability to deliver first aid. CPR refresher training should be done every year, and first aid certification should be renewed every three years.
Have the required first aid equipment
While having workplace first aiders is crucial, they must also have access to the necessary first aid equipment. If a health incident occurs without this equipment, the first aider may be rendered useless.
All workplaces should have:
- complete first-aid kit/s
- Recognizable first aid signs to aid in the easy location of first aid supplies
The contents of first aid kits should be determined using a risk assessment. In a workplace that involves equipment or chemicals, for example, there may be a greater danger of eye injuries and a need for extra eye pads.
Workers, especially those working night shifts or overtime, must have access to first aid equipment, facilities, and first aiders at all times.
Use an external defibrillator that is automated (AED)
The availability of an automated external defibrillator (AED) can greatly lower the risk of death from cardiac arrest, which has a 5% survival rate. This is due to the fact that defibrillation is the only means to return a heart with a deadly heart rhythm to a normal heart rhythm. If a person receives defibrillation within the first few minutes of having a cardiac arrest, their chances of survival climb to more than 70%.
AEDs should be kept in a prominent, accessible location that is not exposed to high temperatures. They must be clearly signed and kept in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Because determining the necessity of a defibrillator might be difficult, we have created a guide for you.
Your organization’s first aid requirements will change as it adapts to a post-pandemic world. This is why we propose that all organizations assess their first aid procedures on a regular basis to ensure they remain appropriate and effective.