OSHA: FUNDAMENTALS OF A WORKPLACE FIRST-AID PROGRAM

This best practices guide is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations, nor does it change any existing OSHA standard or regulation. The guide is advisory in nature, informational in content, and is intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA Act) requires employers to comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards and regulations as issued and enforced by either the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), or an OSHA-approved State Plan. In addition, employers must provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm under Section 5(a)(1), the General Duty Clause of the Act. Employers can be cited for violating the General Duty Clause if there is a recognized hazard and they do not take steps to prevent or abate the hazard. However, failure to implement this guide is not, in itself, a violation of the General Duty Clause. Citations can only be based on standards, regulations, and the General Duty Clause.

Introduction and Purpose First aid is emergency care provided for injury or sudden illness before emergency medical treatment is available. The first-aid provider in the workplace is someone who is trained in the delivery of initial medical emergency procedures, using a limited amount of equipment to perform a primary assessment and intervention while awaiting arrival of emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. A workplace first-aid program is part of a comprehensive safety and health management system that includes the following four essential elements1:

• Management Leadership and Employee Involvement
• Worksite Analysis
• Hazard Prevention and Control
• Safety and Health Training The purpose of this guide is to present a summary of the basic elements for a first-aid program at the workplace.

Those elements include:

• Identifying and assessing the workplace risks that have potential to cause worker injury or illness.
• Designing and implementing a workplace first-aid program that:
  • Aims to minimize the outcome of accidents or exposures
  • Complies with OSHA requirements relating to first aid
  • Includes sufficient quantities of appropriate and readily accessible first-aid supplies and first-aid equipment, such as bandages and automated external defibrillators.
• Assigns and trains first-aid providers who:
  • receive first-aid training suitable to the specific workplace
  • receive periodic refresher courses on first-aid skills and knowledge.
• Instructing all workers about the first-aid program, including what workers should do if a coworker is injured or ill. Putting the policies and program in writing is recommended to implement this and other program elements.
• Providing for scheduled evaluation and changing of the first-aid program to keep the program current and applicable to emerging risks in the workplace, including regular assessment of the adequacy of the first-aid training course. This guide also includes an outline of the essential elements of safe and effective first-aid training for the workplace as guidance to institutions teaching first-aid courses and to the consumers of these courses.

The Risks: Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities There were 5,703 work-related fatalities in private industry in 2004. In that same year there were 4.3 million total workplace injuries and illnesses, of which 1.3 million resulted in days away from work. Occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities in 2004 cost the United States’ economy $142.2 billion, according to National Safety Council estimates. The average cost per occupational fatality in 2004 exceeded one million dollars. To cover the costs to employers from workplace injuries, it has been calculated that each and every employee in this country would have had to generate $1,010 in revenue in 2004.2 Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may occur at work. According to recent statistics from the American Heart Association, there are 250,000 out-of-hospital SCAs annually. The actual number of SCAs that happen at work are unknown. If an employee collapses without warning and is not attended to promptly and effectively, the employee may die. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by abnormal, uncoordinated beating of the heart or loss of the heartbeat altogether, usually as a result of a heart attack.

Workplace events such as electrocution or exposure to low oxygen environments can lead to SCA. Overexertion at work can also trigger SCA in those with underlying heart disease. The outcome of occupational illnesses and injuries depends on the severity of the injury, available first-aid care and medical treatment. Prompt, properly administered first aid may mean the difference between rapid or prolonged recovery, temporary or permanent disability, and even life or death. Assess the Risks and Design a First-Aid Program Specific for the Worksite Obtaining and evaluating information about the injuries, illnesses and fatalities at a worksite are essential first steps in planning a first-aid program. Employers can use the OSHA 300 log, OSHA 301 forms, their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier reports or other records to help identify the first-aid needs for their businesses. For risk assessment purposes, national data for injuries, illnesses and fatalities may be obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website at www.bls.gov/iif. The annual data, beginning in 2003, are grouped by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) that assigns a numeric code for each type of work establishment. Prior to 2003, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was used to categorize the data instead of NAICS. The graphs that follow provide examples of fatality, injury and illness analyses that can be developed using BLS data.

Employers should make an effort to obtain estimates of EMS response times for all permanent and temporary locations and for all times of the day and night at which they have workers on duty, and they should use that information when planning their first-aid program. When developing a workplace first-aid program, consultation with the local fire and rescue service or emergency medical professionals may be helpful for response time information and other program issues. Because it can be a workplace event, SCA should be considered by employers when planning a first-aid program. It is advisable to put the First-Aid Program policies and procedures in writing. Policies and procedures should be communicated to all employees, including those workers who may not read or speak English. Language barriers should be addressed both in instructing employees on first-aid policies and procedures and when designating individuals who will receive first-aid training and become the on-site first-aid providers. OSHA Requirements Sudden injuries or illnesses, some of which may be life-threatening, occur at work. The OSHA First Aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151) requires trained first-aid providers at all workplaces of any size if there is no “infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees.” In addition to first-aid requirements of 29 CFR 1910.151, several OSHA standards also require training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because sudden cardiac arrest from asphyxiation, electrocution, or exertion may occur. CPR may keep the victim alive until EMS arrives to provide the next level of medical care. However, survival from this kind of care is low, only 5-7%, according to the American Heart Association. The OSHA standards requiring CPR training are: 1910.146 Permit-required Confined Spaces 1910.266 Appendix B: Logging Operations – First-Aid and CPR Training 1910.269 Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution.

1910.410 Qualifications of Dive Team 1926.950 Construction Subpart V, Power Transmission and Distribution If an employee is expected to render first aid as part of his or her job duties, the employee is covered by the requirements of the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). This standard includes specific training requirements. A few of the medical emergency procedures mentioned in this guide as first aid may be considered medical treatment for OSHA recordkeeping purposes. The OSHA Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses regulation (29 CFR 1904) provides specific definitions of first aid and medical treatment. If a medical emergency procedure which is considered by 29 CFR 1904 to be medical treatment is performed on an employee with an occupational injury or illness, then the injury or illness will be regarded as recordable on the OSHA 300 Log. First-Aid Supplies It is advisable for the employer to give a specific person the responsibility for choosing the types and amounts of first-aid supplies and for maintaining these supplies. The supplies must be adequate, should reflect the kinds of injuries that occur, and must be stored in an area where they are readily available for emergency access. An automated external defibrillator (AED) should be considered when selecting first-aid supplies and equipment. A specific example of the minimal contents of a workplace first aid kit is described in American National Standards Institute ANSI Z308.1 – 2003, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits. The kits described are suitable for small businesses. For large operations, employers should determine how many first-aid kits are needed, and if it is appropriate to augment the kits with additional first-aid equipment and supplies. Employers who have unique or changing first-aid needs should consider upgrading their first-aid kits. The employer can use the OSHA 300 log, OSHA 301 reports or other records to identify the first-aid supply needs of their worksite. Consultation with the local fire and rescue service or emergency medical professionals may be beneficial. By assessing the specific needs of their workplaces, employers can ensure the availability of adequate first-aid supplies. Employers should periodically reassess the demand for these supplies and adjust their inventories.

Automated External Defibrillators With recent advances in technology, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are now widely available, safe, effective, portable, and easy to use. They provide the critical and necessary treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) caused by ventricular fibrillation, the uncoordinated beating of the heart leading to collapse and death. Using AEDs as soon as possible after sudden cardiac arrest, within 3-4 minutes, can lead to a 60% survival rate.3 CPR is of value because it supports the circulation and ventilation of the victim until an electric shock delivered by an AED can restore the fibrillating heart to normal. All worksites are potential candidates for AED programs because of the possibility of SCA and the need for timely defibrillation. Each workplace should assess its own requirements for an AED program as part of its first-aid response. A number of issues should be considered in setting up a worksite AED program: physician oversight; compliance with local, state and federal regulations; coordination with local EMS; a quality assurance program; and a periodic review, among others. The OSHA website at www.osha.gov or the websites of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at www.acoem.org, the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org, the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org, Federal Occupational Health at www.foh.dhhs.gov, and the National Center for Early Defibrillation at www.early-defib.org can provide additional information about AED program development.

First-Aid Courses Training for first aid is offered by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council, and other nationally recognized and private educational organizations. OSHA does not teach first-aid courses or certify first-aid training courses for instructors or trainees. First-aid courses should be individualized to the needs of the workplace. Some of the noted program elements may be optional for a particular plant or facility. On the other hand, unique conditions at a specific worksite may necessitate the addition of customized elements to a first-aid training program. Elements of a First-Aid Training Program There are a number of elements to include when planning a first aid training program for a particular workplace. These recommendations are based on the best practices and evidence available at the time this guide was written. Statistical information is available from BLS to help assess the risks for specific types of work. Program elements to be considered are:

1.Teaching Methods Training programs should incorporate the following principles:

• Basing the curriculum on a consensus of scientific evidence where available;
• Having trainees develop “hands-on” skills through the use of mannequins and partner practice;
• Having appropriate first-aid supplies and equipment available;
• Exposing trainees to acute injury and illness settings as well as to the appropriate response through the use of visual aids;
• Including a course information resource for reference both during and after training;
• Allowing enough time for emphasis on commonly occurring situations;
• Emphasizing skills training and confidence-building over classroom lectures;
• Emphasizing quick response to first-aid situations.

2. Preparing to Respond to a Health Emergency The training program should include instruction or discussion in the following:

• Prevention as a strategy in reducing fatalities, illnesses and injuries;
• Interacting with the local EMS system;
• Maintaining a current list of emergency telephone numbers (police, fire, ambulance, poison control) accessible by all employees;
• Understanding the legal aspects of providing first-aid care, including Good Samaritan legislation, consent, abandonment, negligence, assault and battery, State laws and regulations;
• Understanding the effects of stress, fear of infection, panic; how they interfere with performance; and what to do to overcome these barriers to action;
• Learning the importance of universal precautions and body substance isolation to provide protection from bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials. Learning about personal protective equipment — gloves, eye protection, masks, and respiratory barrier devices. Appropriate management and disposal of blood-contaminated sharps and surfaces; and awareness of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard.

3. Assessing the Scene and the Victim(s) The training program should include instruction in the following:

• Assessing the scene for safety, number of injured, and nature of the event;
• Assessing the toxic potential of the environment and the need for respiratory protection;
• Establishing the presence of a confined space and the need for respiratory protection and specialized training to perform a rescue;
• Prioritizing care when there are several injured;
• Assessing each victim for responsiveness, airway patency (blockage), breathing, circulation, and medical alert tags;
• Taking a victim’s history at the scene, including determining the mechanism of injury;
• Performing a logical head-to-toe check for injuries;
• Stressing the need to continuously monitor the victim;
• Emphasizing early activation of EMS;
• Indications for and methods of safely moving and rescuing victims;
• Repositioning ill/injured victims to prevent further injury.

4. Responding to Life-Threatening Emergencies The training program should be designed or adapted for the specific worksite and may include first-aid instruction in the following:

• Establishing responsiveness;
• Establishing and maintaining an open and clear airway;
• Performing rescue breathing;
• Treating airway obstruction in a conscious victim;
• Performing CPR;
• Using an AED;
• Recognizing the signs and symptoms of shock and providing first aid for shock due to illness or injury;
• Assessing and treating a victim who has an unexplained change in level of consciousness or sudden illness;
• Controlling bleeding with direct pressure;
• Poisoning
  • Ingested poisons: alkali, acid, and systemic poisons. Role of the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222);
  • Inhaled poisons: carbon monoxide; hydrogen sulfide; smoke; and other chemical fumes, vapors, and gases. Assessing the toxic potential of the environment and the need for respirators;
  • Knowledge of the chemicals at the worksite and of first aid and treatment for inhalation or ingestion;
  • Effects of alcohol and illicit drugs so that the first-aid provider can recognize the physiologic and behavioral effects of these substances.
• Recognizing asphyxiation and the danger of entering a confined space without appropriate respiratory protection. Additional training is required if first-aid personnel will assist in the rescue from the confined space.
• Responding to Medical Emergencies
  • Chest pain; 13 14
  • Stroke;
  • Breathing problems;
  • Anaphylactic reaction;
  • Hypoglycemia in diabetics taking insulin;
  • Seizures;
  • Pregnancy complications;
  • Abdominal injury;
  • Reduced level of consciousness;
  • Impaled object.

5. Responding to Non-Life-Threatening Emergencies The training program should be designed for the specific worksite and include first-aid instruction for the management of the following:

• Wounds
  • Assessment and first aid for wounds including abrasions, cuts, lacerations, punctures, avulsions, amputations and crush injuries;
  • Principles of wound care, including infection precautions;
  • Principles of body substance isolation, universal precautions and use of personal protective equipment.
• Burns
  • Assessing the severity of a burn;
  • Recognizing whether a burn is thermal, electrical, or chemical and the appropriate first aid;
  • Reviewing corrosive chemicals at a specific worksite, along with appropriate first aid.
• Temperature Extremes
  • Exposure to cold, including frostbite and hypothermia;
  • Exposure to heat, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Fractures;
  • Sprains, strains, contusions and cramps;
  • Head, neck, back and spinal injuries;
  • Appropriate handling of amputated body parts.
• Eye injuries
  • First aid for eye injuries;
  • First aid for chemical burns.
• Mouth and Teeth Injuries
  • Oral injuries; lip and tongue injuries; broken and missing teeth;
  • The importance of preventing aspiration of blood and/or teeth.
• Bites and Stings
  • Human and animal bites;
  • Bites and stings from insects; instruction in first-aid treatment of anaphylactic shock.

Trainee Assessment Assessment of successful completion of the first-aid training program should include instructor observation of acquired skills and written performance assessments. Skills Update First-aid responders may have long intervals between learning and using CPR and AED skills. Numerous studies have shown a retention rate of 6-12 months of these critical skills. The American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee encourages skills review and practice sessions at least every 6 months for CPR and AED skills. Instructor-led retraining for life threatening emergencies should occur at least annually. Retraining for non-life-threatening response should occur periodically. Program Update The first-aid program should be reviewed periodically to determine if it continues to address the needs of the specific workplace. Training, supplies, equipment and first-aid policies should be added or modified to account for changes in workplace safety and health hazards, worksite locations and worker schedules since the last program review. The first-aid training program should be kept up-todate with current first-aid techniques and knowledge. Outdated training and reference materials should be replaced or removed.

Summary Employers are required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151 to have a person or persons adequately trained to render first aid for work sites that are not in near proximity to an infirmary, clinic, or hospital. It is advised that the first-aid program for a particular workplace be designed to reflect the known and anticipated risks of the specific work environment. Consultation with local emergency medical experts and providers of first-aid training is encouraged when developing a first-aid program. The program must comply with all applicable OSHA standards and regulations. (See section on OSHA Requirements.) OSHA requires certain employers to have CPR-trained rescuers on site. Sudden cardiac arrest is a potential risk at all work sites, regardless of the type of work. Serious consideration should be given to establishing a workplace AED program. First-aid supplies must be available in adequate quantities and be readily accessible. First-aid training courses should include instruction in general and workplace hazard-specific knowledge and skills. CPR training should incorporate AED training if an AED is available at the worksite. First-aid training should be repeated periodically to maintain and update knowledge and skills. Management commitment and worker involvement is vital in developing, implementing and assessing a workplace first-aid program.

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3317first-aid.pdf