Designing Your Workplace First Aid Program

by jeffp | Sep 11, 2014 | Workplace Safety

If you’re running a business, you already know that you’re legally obligated to provide your employees with a workplace that is free from recognized hazards that may cause serious physical harm or death. However, do your employees know what to do when an accident—preventable or otherwise—or unexpected health emergency strikes on the job? A comprehensive workplace first aid program should be part of every safety management system in addition to hazard prevention and control.

Private industry employers reported nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries in 2012. There were also 4,628 occupational fatalities. The causes of these incidents were many. In addition to preventable slips, trips, falls and exposure to dangerous chemicals, workers may suffer from unexpected health emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest.

The outcome of any occupational illness, injury or health emergency depends on the availability of first aid care and medical treatment as well as the severity of the incident. Prompt and properly administered first aid can make the difference between temporary and permanent disability or even life and death. Consider these suggestions from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) when designing your workplace first aid program.

1. Assess the risks. Take a look at the injuries and illnesses that have occurred within your workplace in the past. You may also want to review national data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at www.bls.gov/iif. What incidents are most common within your industry? When designing your workplace first aid program, you’ll want to be sure to address these types of incidents thoroughly.

2. Determine EMS response times. Whether your business takes place in a single location or you have multiple jobsites, you should obtain estimates of emergency medical service response times for all hours of the day and night during which your employees are working. You can consult with the local fire and rescue service, hospitals and ambulance companies to gather this data.

3. Understand the law. The OSHA First Aid Standard (29 CFR 1910.151) requires a business have trained first-aid providers on site if there is no “infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, which is used for treatment of all injured employees.” Additionally, OSHA standards require that training to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

4. Obtain supplies. The types and amounts of first-aid supplies on site should reflect the kinds of injuries and illnesses that are likely to occur. Your workplace risk assessment is an invaluable tool for this process. Store all supplies in an area that is readily available in the event of emergency.

5. Train your on-site first aid providers. The American Red Cross, the National Safety Council and other private educational organizations offer general first aid courses, though you may want to invest in training customized to the needs of your worksite. All training should address both potential life-threatening and non-life-threatening incidents. OSHA advises instructor-led retraining every six to 12 months.

6. Put policies and procedures in writing. You should document your workplace first aid program and communicate it to all of your employees, including those who do not read or speak English. If your workforce contains those for whom English is their second language, you may want to train both English and non-English speaking employees to become on-site first-aid providers.

7. Periodically review your program. At least once a year, review your first aid program and determine if the changing needs of your workplace have rendered it ineffective. Adjust your first aid supplies, training and policies accordingly.

Whether you’re designing your first workplace first aid program or adjusting a program you already have in place, your workers compensation insurance agent can help. Contact your agent today to discuss how first aid integrates into your complete safety management system.

The Real Costs of Substance Abuse and Misuse on the Job

by jeffp | Aug 28, 2014 | Workplace Safety

You obviously don’t want your employees consuming alcohol or using mind-altering substances while they’re on the clock. However, have you ever considered what after hours binge drinking, alcoholism or abuse of prescription drugs might be doing to your company’s bottom line? The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates the total costs of drug abuse and addiction are $524 billion a year. Illegal drug use alone accounts for $181 billion in healthcare, productivity loss, crime, incarceration and drug enforcement.

My Employees Would Never Use Drugs!

If you don’t think any of your employees are drug misusers or abusers, you could be wrong. According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, 8.5 percent of Americans have alcohol-use disorders. Millions more abuse illegal or prescription drugs. They may work within any type of business and within any industry. They may hold positions at any level within an organization—from entry level to c-suite executives. And because of the side effects of substance abuse—from reduced coordination and slow reflexes to overconfidence and reckless behavior—they are more likely to make devastating mistakes or cause accidents in the workplace.

Yikes! What Are the Warning Signs?

Employees who abuse or misuse alcohol and other drugs often exhibit performance or behavioral problems. While the presence of one or more of these issues does not necessarily mean a particular worker is an abuser, they may warrant closer observation. Extreme stress due to life events such as divorce, death or health problems may also cause these symptoms.

• Inconsistent quality of work
• An increase in mistakes
• Inability to concentrate
• Faltering productivity
• Chronic absenteeism or tardiness
• Extended lunch hours
• Early departures
• Unexplained disappearances
• Errors in judgment
• Risk-taking behaviors
• Avoidance of colleagues
• Blame throwing
• Frequent complaints
• Lack of personal hygiene or deterioration in appearance

All of these issues may cause your business to lose money through the deterioration of workplace morale (which can increase turnover), reduction in employee productivity, and increase in accident risks. When workplace injuries increase, workers compensation insurance rates follow.

So What Can I Do?

It’s essential that you create a company substance abuse policy, document it in writing, and communicate it to your employees. The best policies clearly define what constitutes substance abuse and misuse in your workplace, outline the disciplinary actions that you will take if an issue is identified, and tie into your organization’s drug and alcohol testing program.

Additionally, you should train managers and supervisors to recognize the symptoms of possible drug and alcohol abuse and misuse and communicate with the employees in question in a caring, confidential and effective fashion. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes education on substance abuse and misuse as well as short-term counseling for employees with personal problems that are impacting their work performance can also be a valuable investment.

If you’re concerned about substance abuse and misuse within your workplace, contact your insurance professional for assistance and insight into appropriate policies, protective and preventative measures.