Health And Safety: A Review Of First-Aid Basics To Keep Your Workers Well And Your Company Fine-Free

The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA) has several sets of first-aid standards, including detailed schemes for construction employers and similar, but less demanding, standards for most other businesses. Here’s an overview of what you need to know.

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General Industry

Six basic requirements apply to nonconstruction employers:

1. Emergency medical services. All employers must make sure medical personnel are readily available for advice and consultation.

    

2. Personnel training. Most employers are required to have staff trained to render first aid. Only nonconstruction employers that are near enough to an infirmary or clinic for first aid to be administered there are relieved of this requirement. Cal-OSHA rules don’t specify how many people should be trained in an organization, but generally there should be a trained person within close access to any employee who might need first aid. Training for first-aid providers must meet American Red Cross or Mining Enforcement and Training Administration standards. When evaluating whether you have sufficient first-aid providers, consider whether disabled employees would encounter obstacles and whether a power outage would impede employee access to a first-aid provider.

    

3. First-aid supplies. Employers must keep a suitable first-aid kit handy, maintain it in a sanitary and usable condition, inspect it frequently, and replenish supplies as needed. Supplies must be approved by a consulting physician.

    

4. Corrosive materials. In workplaces with a risk of exposure to injurious corrosive materials, the employer must provide facilities for the immediate drenching or flushing of the eyes and body in case of emergency. These facilities should be pointed out to new employees and clearly marked.

    

5. Stretchers and blankets. If ambulance service isn’t available within 30 minutes of the worksite, the employer may be required to maintain stretchers and blankets for use in emergencies. Even if ambulance service is available, keeping blankets and stretchers available is a smart practice.

    

6. Remote sites. Employers in isolated locations must arrange in advance for prompt medical attention in case of serious injuries. To avoid unnecessary delays in treatment, employers might be required to set up onsite facilities or procedures for emergency transportation.

Construction Industry

The first-aid standards for the construction industry are similar to the general industry standards and contain the following additional provisions:

1. Emergency medical services. Individual employers are responsible for medical services, but contractors and subcontractors working at the same site may share an arrangement for all employers on the project.

    

2. Personnel training. If more than one employer is involved in a single construction project on a given construction site, the employers may form a pool of employees trained in first aid. The pool has to be large enough to service the combined work forces of all affected employers.

    

3. First-aid supplies. The first-aid kit must be in a waterproof container and contain, at a minimum, adhesive dressings, adhesive tape, eye dressing packets, sterile gauze and gauze pads of various sizes, pressure dressings, triangular bandages, safety pins, tweezers, scissors, and a first-aid manual. The contents of the kit must be arranged to be quickly found and remain sanitary. Dressings have to be sterile in individually sealed packages. The kit should not include drugs, antiseptics, eye irrigation solutions, inhalants, medicines, and proprietary preparations unless recommended by the consulting physician.

    

4. Stretchers and blankets. First-aid supplies should include at least one basket equipped with straps and two blankets or other warm coverings must be provided for each building or structure of five or more floors, or 48 feet or more, either above or below ground level.

Penalties

Although the rules don’t specify penalties for noncompliance, Cal-OSHA can impose steep fines of up to $7,000 for each general violation or $25,000 for serious violations. Jail time is also possible.