“Anyone have a bandage?”
That's a pretty common request on a job site. From a small paper cut to more serious wounds, it’s important to have the correct first aid supplies on hand. OSHA requires that employees are given a safe and healthy workplace that is reasonably free of occupational hazards. Nevertheless, accidents will happen and employers are required by law to provide medical and first aid personnel and supplies based on the hazards of the workplace.
First aid doesn’t only provide wound care, it saves lives.
Why should having the right first aid equipment available at your jobsite be important to you? Well to start, for the minimal cost of providing proper first aid to workers in the event of injury, you can avoid costly fines that can amount to thousands of dollars. Avoiding unnecessary costs is the simplest and most cost effective way to stay on budget.
Secondly, in the event that an accident does occur, you will want to ensure that workers have all the essential supplies to tend to wounds, lacerations, abrasions and chemical or other dangerous material exposure. Having these supplies on hand is one thing; they should also be easily accessible at a moment’s notice in case of emergency. Besides providing first aid for injuries, employers should also ensure that workers have access to effective CPR training/resources as a staggering 10,000 people experience cardiac arrest in the workplace every year!
First Aid Options
Let’s explore some first aid options:
FIRST AID PROTECTS WORKERS
While it is vital to be compliant to industry specific safety regulations, there is nothing more important than ensuring that your workers are safe. Providing them with the tools and supplies they need to treat injuries and prevent infection can help reduce the severity of the injuries and risk to others. Check out this chart from First Aid Only comparing the ANSI standards for first aid kit supplies. From antiseptics and bandages, cold packs to AEDs, having the proper safety supplies on site can be the deciding factor in whether a worker goes home at the end of the day or ends up in the emergency room.
Safety: It's Your Life, Our Business.