It is a requirement of OSHA that employees have a safe and healthy workplace that is free of work hazards. However, it is unrealistic to expect accidents not to happen. Therefore, employers are required to have medical and first aid workers and supplies to deal with the hazards of the workplace. The type of first aid kit for work and its first aid program are dependent on the circumstances of each workplace and employer.
Workplaces may have an emergency and use their first aid kits. An employer who has special or changing first aid needs in the workplace may need to improve their first aid kits. By determining the specific needs of their workplace, employers can ensure that required supplies are available. Employers should evaluate the specific needs of their worksite occasionally and change the first aid kit appropriately.
Family, friends, coworkers, or bystanders are often first on the scene in a medical emergency. The situation could be a serious medical emergency. A first aid kit for work can play a significant role in reducing the severity of accidents that happen within the workplace.
The first aid kit should include the following: bandages, adhesive tape, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic, burn cream, dressings, gloves, scissors, splints, sterile pads, and cold packs. It would also be good to have a first aide guide to help you through basic first aid steps.
It is the responsibility of the employer to have appropriate first aid precautions for the employees. These should be in accordance with the Health and Safety Regulations and apply to all workplaces. In-house first aid courses are a popular choice for small and large businesses to learn what needs to be done in certain situations.
The first aid kit for the workplace should be kept in an easy-to-access place for any of the employees to locate. When stocking the first aid kit with medications, always check that all the medications marked and is used by the listed expiration date. Keep any directions for the medications in the kit. Restock the items before they become completely depleted.
The first aid program for your workplace should relate to the hazards which can be expected to occur in the workplace. You should evaluate the possible work-related hazards and provide for first aid accordingly. If the contents of the first aid kit are appropriate for most worksites, larger operations and industries should provide additional first aid kit for workplace to be place in various areas.
The purpose of the OSHA standards, in the workplace, is to assure that adequate first aid is available in the critical minutes between the occurrence of an injury and the availability of a doctor or hospital care of the injured employee. Reacting in a timely manner can mean the difference between life and death. The first aid provider must be quick to respond and get the first aid supplies to provide the first aid attention.
This Article Penned by Lora Davis.