First Aid for General Industry First Aid Kits First Aid/CPR Training Emergency Washing Equipment February, 2011
Employers must be prepared for emergencies and maintain stock of first aid supplies for the workplace. Workplace Hazard Assessment When you complete your hazard assessment for your work sites, you should also assess the hazards for the types and quantities of supplies for your first aid kits.
Employer Responsibility Make sure trained personnel are available to provide quick and effective first aid Make sure appropriate first aid supplies are readily available Make sure emergency washing facilities are functional and readily accessible (if applicable to your workplace) Inspect and activate your emergency washing facilities (if applicable to your workplace) Make sure supplemental flushing equipment provides sufficient water (if applicable to your workplace) DOSH First Aid Rules - WAC 296-800-150
Make sure trained personnel are available to provide quick and effective first aid First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. CPR training is not required for all workplaces. You make that determination based on your hazard assessment. In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, a person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first-aid. Near proximity generally means within 3-4 minutes. Wikipedia: Conditions that often require first aid
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 2-step CPR 3-step CPR U.W. School of Medicine website: LEARN CPR - You Can Do It!
Heat stroke - A Medical Emergency Call 911. While waiting, do the following: Move the person to a cool, shaded area. Don t leave the person alone. Lay him on his back and if the person is having seizures, remove objects close to him so he won t hit them. If the person is sick to his stomach, lay him on his side. Remove heavy and outer clothing. Have the person drink small amounts of cool water if he is alert enough to drink anything and not feeling sick to his stomach. Try to cool the person by fanning him or her. Cool the skin with a cool spray mist of water, wet cloth, or wet sheet. If ice is available, place ice packs in armpits and groin area L & I Heat Illness Card
Must be: First Aid Kits Readily available and easy to access for ALL employees Stocked with first aid supplies appropriate to your occupational setting, and will provide adequate care until emergency medical services arrive Stored in containers that are protected from damage, deterioration, or contamination and can be moved to location of injured employee. Containers must be clearly marked, unlocked, and sealed. First aid kits from your local retailer or safety supplier are adequate for most nonindustrial employers.
Possible Contents for a First Aid Kit [Modify to suit your particular needs] Provided by SurvivalCenter.com o Activated Charcoal (for poisoning emergencies) o Adhesive strip bandages - assorted sizes o Adhesive tape o Alcohol - rubbing 70% o Alcohol wipes o Antacid o Antibiotic ointment o Baking soda o Calamine lotion o Chemical ice packs o Chemical hot packs o Cotton balls o Cotton swabs o Decongestant tablets & spray o Diarrhea medication o Disposable latex or vinyl gloves o Elastic bandages o Face mask for CPR o First aid guide o Flashlight o Gauze pads - various sizes o Hot-water bottle o Household ammonia o Hydrocortisone cream.5% o Hydrogen Peroxide o Hypoallergenic tape o Ice bag o Insect repellent o Insect sting swabs o Matches o Meat tenderizer (for insect bites) o Moleskin o Needles o Non-adhering dressings [Telfa] o Oil of Cloves o Over-the-counter pain medication [aspirin] o Paper & pencil o Paper drinking cups o Roller gauze - self adhering o Safety pins o Salt o Scissors o Soap o Space blanket o Sam splint o Sugar or glucose solution o Syrup of Ipecac o Thermometer - oral & rectal o Tongue blades o Triangular bandages o Tweezers o Waterproof tape
First Aid/CPR/AED Training* American Red Cross First Aid Training American Heart Association CPR Training Evergreen Safety Council * L & I does not provide first aid training
Emergency Washing Facilities Emergency washing facilities or equipment eyewashes or emergency showers - are considered a form of first aid. Emergency eyewashes are required where there is the potential for worker eye exposure to corrosives, strong irritants or toxic chemicals. If major portions of a worker s body would be exposed to these substances, an emergency shower is required. Note: If emergency washing facilities are needed they must be located within 10 seconds travel time from the worker.
Emergency washing equipment is required if employees are exposed to the following types of chemicals: Corrosives destroy living tissue includes acids and caustics includes chemicals with ph less than 2.5 or more than 11 Strong Irritants cause an inflammatory effect at point of contact Toxic Chemicals are absorbed through the skin and cause ill health effects includes pesticides DOSH Emergency Washing Equipment Online Course
First Aid in Construction and Logging All logging employees except truck drivers must have first aid training. Training topics are specified and first aid kit contents are prescribed. Logging First Aid Requirements Every crew must have a person trained in first aid and every crew leader must be training in first aid. All vehicles that transport work crews must have first aid supplies. Construction First Aid Requirements
Resources and Additional Information CPR Tools - University of WA School of Medicine DOSH First Aid Rules - WAC 296-800-150 WEB MD - Online information for first aid care Mayo Clinic - First Aid Guidelines Red Cross - Anatomy of a First Aid Kit Wikipedia - First Aid Wikipedia Automated external defibrillator (AED)