More than 7,300 workplace injuries occur every day across the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s 2.6 million incidents annually that disrupt lives and businesses.
When these emergencies strike, the difference between a minor incident and a serious outcome often comes down to a single factor: preparedness. Employees trained in basic first aid can respond confidently in those critical first minutes after an incident, potentially saving lives and preventing complications.
Even the safest workplace environments can’t eliminate all risks. That’s why knowing how to respond to everything from minor cuts to cardiac emergencies isn’t just helpful – it’s essential for every workplace!
Let’s take a close look at five fundamental first aid strategies that can empower your team to create a safer workplace, one that’s truly prepared for when an incident happens.
WHAT IS FIRST AID IN THE WORKPLACE?
First aid in the workplace can be defined as the “necessary temporary assistance an injured person needs until professional medical care can be provided.” It’s critical to understand that first aid is not medical care – this distinction matters both for legal reasons and for setting appropriate expectations about the scope of assistance you can provide.
While first aid training provides essential skills, keep in mind there are limitations!
First aid providers are not medical professionals, and their role is to provide immediate, temporary care until professional help arrives. This could mean keeping someone stable, preventing a condition from worsening, or in some cases, providing life-saving interventions. However, first aid training does not qualify someone to make medical diagnoses or provide ongoing treatment.
The purpose of workplace first aid extends beyond just treating injuries. It creates a culture of safety and preparedness that really benefits everyone in your organization. When employees know that their workplace is equipped to handle emergencies, they feel more secure and confident in their daily tasks. This increased sense of security can lead to better overall workplace performance and reduced anxiety about potential incidents.
OSHA REQUIREMENTS AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains specific requirements for workplace first aid under standard 29 CFR 1910.151. This standard mandates there be trained first responders at all workplaces (of any size) if there isn’t “an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees.”
While this is OSHA’s basic standard, your workplace may have to meet additional first aid training requirements depending on the hazards in your work environment.
In manufacturing environments, for example, OSHA requires immediate access to first aid supplies and special protocols for chemical exposure. To further illustrate this, facilities working with corrosive materials must have quick-drench facilities and eye wash stations readily available. The standard also mandates specific training for dealing with chemical burns and exposure to hazardous substances.
5 FIRST-AID TIPS FOR YOUR WORKPLACE
Now that we have a shared understanding of the first aid basics — what it is, what it does, and what requirements your workplace may need to meet — let’s review five basic, yet incredibly important, first aid tips.
1. UNDERSTAND THE PRIMARY GOALS OF FIRST AID
When providing first aid in the workplace, start with the four fundamental objectives that should guide every action:
- Preserve life
- Alleviate suffering
- Prevent further illness or injury
- Promote recovery
These goals might seem straightforward, but implementing them takes careful consideration and proper training.
Preserving life is the absolute priority in any emergency situation. This might involve ensuring an injured person can breathe, stopping severe bleeding, or maintaining circulation until emergency services arrive. Understanding the hierarchy of needs helps first aid providers make quick decisions in urgent moments.
There are several reasons alleviating suffering is a key objective in first aid. It can improve the overall outcome by helping keep the condition from worsening, putting the victim more at ease, and promoting faster recovery. Calming the patient is particularly important in emergency situations, as calmer people better communicate essential information and are often easier to treat.
An equally important goal that can be overlooked in the heat of the moment is preventing further injury. This involves both protecting the injured person from additional harm and ensuring that other employees and first responders remain safe. Sometimes, this means making the difficult decision to wait for professional help rather than attempting a risky rescue.
The final goal, promoting recovery, focuses on actions that support a victim’s healing process. This might include proper wound cleaning, appropriate positioning of an injured limb, or keeping an injured person calm and comfortable. While these actions might seem less urgent, they can significantly impact the overall recovery process.
2. KNOW HOW GOOD SAMARITAN LAWS WORK
Good Samaritan laws exist to protect individuals who provide emergency assistance to others. These laws vary by state but generally share common principles that every workplace first responder should understand.
For example, California’s law protects anyone who provides emergency care “in good faith, and not for compensation,” while New York’s law covers anyone who “renders first aid or emergency treatment at the scene of an accident or other emergency outside a hospital, doctor’s office or any other place having proper and necessary medical equipment.”
These legal protections are necessary for encouraging people to help in emergency situations without fear of legal repercussions. That said, please understand that these laws don’t provide blanket protection for any action taken during an emergency – they typically protect individuals who act reasonably and within the scope of their training.
Consider this example:
An office worker trained in basic first aid assists a colleague who’s having an allergic reaction by helping them use their prescribed EpiPen. The Good Samaritan law would likely protect this action.
However, if that same worker attempted to perform a tracheotomy – a complex surgical procedure that requires specialized medical training and expertise (and isn’t covered in basic first aid training) – they probably are not protected!
3. ALWAYS ASSESS THE SCENE BEFORE STARTING
Scene assessment is a valuable skill that can be the difference between successful first aid and a dangerous situation becoming worse. This process starts before you even approach an injured person, and its importance cannot be overstated.
When assessing a scene, begin by surveying the area for potential dangers. In a warehouse setting, this could mean checking for unstable shelving, spilled chemicals, or powered industrial equipment that is in motion. Only after confirming the scene is safe should you approach the injured person.
When evaluating the cause of an injury, take note of environmental factors that may have contributed to the incident. This information serves two main purposes:
- Help you provide better immediate care
- Assist in preventing anyone else in the area from being injured
For instance, knowing someone was hurt because they slipped on a wet floor can help you treat their injuries and alert others in the area to prevent additional injuries from occurring.
Managing the scene goes beyond just the immediate area of the injury. It also involves controlling bystanders, maintaining clear access for emergency services, and preserving any evidence needed for an incident report or investigation. A well-managed scene allows first aid to be provided effectively while keeping the workplace safe for everyone else involved.
4. USE PROPER PERSONAL PROTECTION
Personal protection isn’t only about having the right equipment – it’s also a matter of developing a mindset that prioritizes safety for both the first responder and the injured person or persons. This approach begins with proper training and extends through every aspect of first aid.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) forms the foundation of first aid safety. Disposable gloves, face masks, and eye protection should be readily available in multiple locations throughout the workplace. But having the equipment isn’t enough. Workers also need to know how to use it properly and understand when each type of protection is necessary.
Cross-contamination prevention requires careful attention to detail. This means changing gloves between tasks, properly disposing contaminated materials, and maintaining cleaning techniques throughout any first aid incident. These practices protect the provider, the recipient of the first aid, and the rest of your team.
5. RECOGNIZE COMMON WORKPLACE MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Understanding common workplace medical emergencies and their appropriate responses can significantly improve outcomes in emergency situations. Let’s explore some of the most frequent scenarios you and your team might encounter and how to handle them effectively.
Respiratory distress is one of the most common workplace medical emergencies. The key is to recognize the signs such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, or chest tightness early.
- Help the person find a comfortable position (typically sitting upright) and assist them with loosening clothing or helping them obtain their prescribed medication, if relevant.
- Keep them calm and call emergency services if symptoms don’t improve quickly.
- Provide supplemental oxygen (if you are trained).
Severe bleeding requires immediate attention and proper technique. Direct pressure remains the most effective first aid response for most bleeding injuries.
- Use clean cloths or gauze and apply steady pressure.
- Don’t keep checking under the dressing, as this can disrupt clot formation. Apply additional cloths or gauze if bleeding continues.
- Elevate the injured area, if possible.
- Watch for signs of shock, such as pale skin, cold-and-clammy-to-the-touch skin, chills, nausea, and irregular breathing.
- If victim exhibits shock symptoms, lay the person down and elevate their legs and feet slightly above their heart (as long as it does not cause pain or further injury).
Heart attacks in the workplace often present differently than the dramatic chest-clutching scenarios we see in movies. Someone experiencing a heart attack might complain of chest pressure, shortness of breath, or pain radiating to their arms or jaw. They might also experience nausea or break out in a cold sweat. Response time is crucial in these situations.
- Call 911 immediately while keeping the person calm and still.
- Help them loosen any tight-fitting clothing.
- Document the time symptoms began, as this information is important for medical professionals.
- If you are not alone and there is an AED available, discreetly send someone to retrieve it. Keep it out of the person’s sight until it is needed.
MAINTAINING FIRST-AID READINESS IN YOUR WORKPLACE
Maintaining an effective first aid program involves more than training your first responders. Regularly checking and restocking first aid supplies and equipment ensures that it is always ready when needed. This creates a systematic, proactive approach to emergency preparedness.
First aid kits and emergency equipment should be inspected monthly and after every incident at minimum, with a thorough documentation process. This inspection should verify not only the presence of required items but also their condition and expiration dates.
The location of first aid supplies and emergency equipment is also important. Supplies and emergency equipment should be stored in clearly marked, easily accessible locations throughout your workplace. Consider creating a map showing the location of all first aid kits and emergency equipment, and include this information in new employee orientation.
DOCUMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES
Properly documenting incidents serves multiple purposes. It helps protect both the workplace and the first responder, provides valuable information for preventing future incidents, and ensures appropriate follow-up care.
If it doesn’t already, your workplace should have a standardized incident reporting and investigation program to capture all relevant details.
HOW TO DOCUMENT AND FOLLOW UP AFTER FIRST AID
When documenting an incident, include the date, time, and location of the occurrence, along with a detailed description of the injury or illness and the first aid provided. Note any witnesses present and collect their statements while memories are fresh. This information could prove essential for insurance purposes or if questions arise later while investigating the incident.
Follow-up procedures include checking on the injured person’s recovery, investigating the incident to determine contributing or preventable factors, and making sure that any updates in training, equipment design, safe practices, etc., take place based on the outcome of the incident investigation. This process helps create a cycle of continuous improvement in workplace safety.
TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR YOUR TEAM
First aid knowledge and skills require regular updating to remain effective. The American Heart Association and American Red Cross recommend refresher training every two years to maintain certification, but your workplace might benefit from more frequent review sessions. These sessions can focus on specific scenarios relevant to your company or address any gaps identified during actual incidents.
You may want to implement monthly meetings for your first responders that include first aid components. You can use these meetings to review recent incidents, introduce new safety protocols, and practice emergency response scenarios. This ongoing education helps maintain readiness and builds confidence among your first responders.
FIRST AID RESOURCES
Keep in mind that workplace first aid requirements and best practices continue to evolve. You can stay current with updates from OSHA, the American Red Cross, and other trusted sources. If you’d like more detailed information, check out:
- OSHA’s First Aid Standards
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- National Safety Council’s Safety First Blog
MAKE FIRST AID TRAINING EASY WITH ESAFETY!
If it’s been a while since your team has completed certified basic first aid training, a refresher course could be quite beneficial. The eSafety Basic First Aid two-part course is a great fit, offering information on everything from assessing the scene to properly administering first aid for some of the most common injuries and illnesses.
For more information about eSafety courses, contact our team online or request a free quote today!