Page 14 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2018

FIRST AID
OSHA recommends as a best practice that em- ployers designate one person the responsibility of choosing the types and amounts of first aid sup- plies, as well as maintaining them and the kit.
sionals are readily accessible. An adequate number of employees trained as first aid providers must be present at each work site dur- ing each workshift unless there is an on-site clinic or infirmary with first aid providers during each workshift or outside first aid provid- ers can reach the work site within five minutes of a report of injury or illness. First aid providers should be trained in first aid and CPR and maintain current first aid and CPR certifications issued by or- ganizations such as the Red Cross, American Heart Association, or their equivalent.
The number and location of first aid-trained employees should be determined based on factors that include the size and location of each work site, the number of employees and the hazards present at each work site, and the distance of each site from medical ser- vices. The same factors should apply to the placement, content, and amount of first aid supplies, which should be placed in a weather- proof container. Shipyard employers also must provide an adequate number of basket stretchers readily accessible to where work is be- ing performed on a vessel or vessel section.
Construction
The first aid requirements for construction are found in OSHA’s 1926 standards: If there is no infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physi- cian “reasonably accessible in terms of time and distance” to the site, there must be someone with a valid certificate in first aid train- ing from the American Red Cross or equivalent training that can be verified by documentary evidence available to render first aid. OSHA explained as recently as January 2007 that “reasonably ac- cessible” should be interpreted to mean that emergency care must be available within three to four minutes.
The standards also address the contents of first aid kits for con- struction work sites, stating that each type of item should be in in- dividually sealed packages and placed in a waterproof container. Additionally, the kits should be checked by employers before being sent out to each job and checked at least weekly as well, to ensure that any used items have been replaced.
For industries other than these, employers must evaluate their own first aid response and preparedness programs based not only on OSHA compliance, but the needs of their workplace and employees.
Jessica Davis is an associate content editor for Occupational Health & Safety and related titles published by 1105 Media Inc. She works in the company’s Dallas office.
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