OSHA RELEASES “BEST PRACTICES GUIDE: FUNDAMENTALS OF A WORKPLACE FIRST-AID PROGRAM.”
The newly released guide comes with a clear disclaimer that it is not a new regulation, does not establish any new standards or change any existing OSHA standard.
Having said that, it is a handy and informative guide for small businesses that are looking for convenient, easy to understand information on the general topic of workplace first aid.
We liked it so much that we’ve added a link to OSHA so that you could download the guide yourself. You might want to browse it before you download as it runs 27 pages.
In this guide you will find a handy outline on Risk Assessment, Training, Supplies and some new information on AEDs. Yes OSHA is now suggesting that AEDs should be considered at work. They say “Using AEDs as soon as possible after sudden cardiac arrest, within 3-4 minutes, can lead to a 60% survival rate.* 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.” In addition the suggest “All worksites are potential candidates for AED programs because of the possibility of sudden cardiac arrest and the need for timely defibrillation.”
More on the guide later.
*American Heart Association in collaboration with International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care: International Consensus on Science, Part 4: The Automated External Defibrillator. Circulation 2000; Vol. 102, Supplement: 161. Figure 1