First Things First: Your Company’s First Aid Program
In the midst of your company trainings, seminars, or the typical workday routine, an occupational accident may occur. You or your employees cannot forecast when and where an emergency situation will actually take place. With this in mind, you have to ensure your employees are armed with the training and materials they need to face such an undesirable incident. And because safety should be your company’s top priority, you must prepare a well-planned first aid program.
First aid kits should be readily available and easily located in your workplace.
First aid is the initial quick remedy you can give your injured or ill employees. This may involve treating a wound or clearing an air passage. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the initial minutes after an injury are usually the most critical. Knowing how to administer first aid sometimes acts as the thin line separating life and death.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), under standard 29 CFR 1910.151(b), requires you to provide your employees with adequate first aid supplies. Here are several guidelines you should consider when designing your first aid program.
1. Look out for hazards.
A hazard can be any object that can harm your employees such as heavy objects, sharp tools, and corrosive chemicals.
2. Assess the risks.
Identify the employees in danger, the type of injuries they could get, and the likelihood that they would be hurt.
3. Evaluate the size and location of your facility.
You should consider the proximity of your building to hospitals and emergency facilities. If your company is far from any medical center, you need special first aid arrangements.
First aid kits should be readily available and easily located by your employees with the help of signs. The contents of the first aid kit depend on the type of hazards in your workplace. If your company is big, you should install first aid equipment in several areas, especially in high-risk zones.
A dedicated first aid station is ideal for offices, work sites or businesses.
4. Train your people.
Your employees should know what to do in case of emergency. Keep training booklets handy for your workers for quick reference.
For every 25 people in the workplace, Red Cross recommends having at least one employee trained in giving first aid. In addition, OSHA encourages refresher trainings at least every six months.
5. Set up a workplace clinic.
Your injured or sick employees should have a place for resting and recovering. The clinic should be open anytime, well-ventilated, well-lit, and stocked with first aid supplies. Moreover, it should be located near restrooms with a good supply of hot and cold water and proper drainage. It should also be accessible to vehicles in case the patient needs to be transferred to a medical facility.
Keep in mind that while an accident is unwanted, it still happens. Preparedness will be your best armor to combat or at least minimize its negative results.
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