Question: When do employees need to be trained to administer first aid?
Answer: The purpose of first aid is to provide an injured person with a minimum level of medical attention as quickly as possible. In minor cases, first aid may be all that is necessary to help an injured person. In more serious cases, providing first aid until an emergency medical technician, nurse or doctor is available can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) standard for first aid training says: “In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first aid. Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available” [29 CFR 1910.151(b)].
In an interpretation letter, OSHA clarifies that their definition of “in near proximity” means that emergency medical services must be available within 3 to 4 minutes if there is the potential for serious injuries that involve uncontrolled breathing, cardiac arrests or stopped breathing such as falls, amputations, or electrocutions. If the possibility of injuries is more remote, such as in an office setting, a reasonable response time may be up to 15 minutes.
For workplaces that are not located near infirmaries, clinics or hospitals, training onsite employees to administer first aid until emergency medical services arrive is a recommended method of complying with this requirement. These designated employees should be taught the skills needed to provide assistance in the first moments after an injury or medical emergency.
OSHA does not require CPR or AED training as part of first aid training for every facility, but they do recommend it as a best practice. Some specific OSHA standards, such as permit-required confined space [29 CFR 1910.146]; electrical power generation, transmission and distribution [29 CFR 1910.269]; and logging operations [29 CFR 1910.266] do require employees to be trained in both first aid and CPR.
Employees who are trained in first aid and who will render assistance need to have ready access to first aid supplies. OSHA recommends the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2015 Standard as a reference for the types and amounts of items that should be maintained in first aid kits or supply areas.
Because employees who will provide first aid could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials, they are covered under the bloodborne pathogens standard [29 CFR 1910.1030]. Each employee who will render first aid must be made aware of bloodborne hazards, provided with proper protective equipment to avoid exposure and offered a hepatitis B vaccine.
Training employees to provide first aid gives them the knowledge they need to quickly and accurately help an injured coworker. It also helps to minimize panic and empowers employees to take immediate action during medical emergencies.